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2023 Awards & Honors |
2023 WLA AWARDS & HONORS2023 Awards AnnouncementsThe Wisconsin Library Association is pleased to announce the 2023 Library Awards & Honors recipients for their outstanding contributions to libraries and librarianship: WLA/DEMCO® Librarian of the Year Library of the Year Programming Innovation Award Trustee of the Year Citation of Merit WLA President’s Volunteer Award SSCS Paralibrarian of the Year Award The Wisconsin Library Association congratulates each winner and will celebrate their accomplishments at the Awards & Honors Reception during the WLA Annual Conference, October 24 - 27 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton. Congratulations to all of these deserving winners! Inductees into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame will also be recognized during the awards reception. (To learn more about the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees, visit the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center website.)
The WLA Awards program is supported by the WLA Foundation and through individual charitable contributions. WLA engages, inspires and advocates for library workers and supporters to improve and promote library services for the people of Wisconsin. The awards program is one way the association acknowledges the dedication of its members to provide exemplary library service. Librarian of the Year - Steve PlatteterSteve Platteter has been a quiet, impactful presence in the library community for 30 years. Recently, he demonstrated exceptional leadership as he guided the merger of the Arrowhead Library System (ALS) and Lakeshores Library System to form the new Prairie Lakes Library System. His nominators described Steve as someone who is humble, inclusive, willing to honor multiple perspectives, trustworthy, and collaborative. He has the ability to have difficult conversations and bring people together in pursuit of the common good. These qualities led to the 2022 endorsement of every ALS member library board and in the unanimous vote (26-0) of the Rock County Board of Supervisors to move forward with the merger. Steve is a mentor to many and active in the profession serving on the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium Board, the System and Resource Library Administrator’s Association of Wisconsin, the WiLS Board, and serves as a photographer for the Wisconsin Library Association. Library of the Year - Brown County LibraryBrown County Library (BCL) is a consolidated library system serving more than 270,000 residents that the nominators described as people-focused and action-orientated, putting people at the center of all that they do. In the last 2 years, BCL has developed a Belonging Action Plan after completing DPI’s Inclusive Services Assessment, hosted a Reading Success Summit to tackle the challenge of declining reading proficiency rates, and moved forward with long-delayed capital projects including a new Each Branch and Bookmobile. BCL also serves as host sites for summer lunch programs, has a grant-funded vertical grow unit that provides fresh lettuce for library visitors year-round, distributes free hats made by volunteers, serves as collection sites for community diaper and blanket drives, coordinates a seed library, and hosts rotating exhibits of local art. Public programs like Genealogy 101, Ren Faire, and PopCorn utilize library spaces creatively and resourcefully. BCL also has a presence in statewide organizations such as Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries and Wisconsin Library Association, UW-Green Bay’s Learning in Retirement program, Library Workforce Connection, and many other library and community initiatives. BCL has made significant impacts to the community to help make the area a better place to live, work, and play. Programming Innovation Award -Milton Public Library’s Little Owl/Wise Owl Reading Program puts a new spin on the summer reading program and serves as a way for teens to support, encourage, and guide younger readers to help them become more confident and to instill the joy of reading. This eight-week program pairs up a student in grades 1 through 3 (Little Owls) with a teen volunteer in grades 7 through 12 (Wise Owls) for weekly one-on-one reading sessions. The experience culminates in the creation of an original picture ebook that the pairs create together using iPads provided by the library. The program is in its tenth year with participation doubling in the last year. Recently, the program partnered with a retired Literary Specialist to share best practices with the Wise Owls related to connecting with and mentoring younger readers. Parents have indicated that their Little Owls thrive during the following school year and some Little Owls eventually have become Wise Owls. The program not only builds an important shared love of books but also allows practice of life skills while encouraging positivity and the enjoyment of reading. Trustee of the Year - Amy SchlotthauerAmy Schlotthauer has been a member of the Menomonee Falls Public Library Board since 2021 and served as President in 2022 and 2023. During this time, she has led strategic planning efforts, donating her own skills and time as a professional consultant, which resulted in a robust strategic plan at no cost to her library. But her work didn’t stop there. She has continuously used the strategic plan to advocate for increased budgets, to check in with staff on their goals, to plan and attend library programs, and advocate on a local and state level for the library. Through her background in public health, Amy was able to introduce health initiatives like Narcan training and fentanyl testing, free period products, and blood pressure monitors available for checkout. Library staff and fellow board members alike describe her as fair, inclusive, transparent, exceptionally supportive, and always willing to lend a helping hand. For these reasons and more, Amy Schlotthauer has been selected as the Wisconsin Library Association 2023 Trustee of the Year. Citation of Merit - Lisa Baudoin Lisa Baudoin, owner of Books & Company in Oconomowoc, is the winner of Wisconsin Library Association’s Citation of Merit in 2023. As a local business owner, Lisa Baudoin has demonstrated her support of literacy and libraries through her planning of author events at local libraries and bringing authors to local schools in order to create a “community of readers” in Oconomowoc, as well as planning events especially for librarians and educators at her store. Her support for the library means she often directs her own customers to the library, generously promotes library events and services, and speaks passionately about the value of public libraries. Her nominators describe her as “an effective advocate, enthusiastic partner, and steadfast friend.” WLA President’s Volunteer Award - Anne Moser
Anne is Senior Special Librarian at the Wisconsin Water Library and Education Coordinator at the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. Anne is well known and well-loved among public librarians all around Wisconsin, and their patrons, for the cheerful, fun and educational programs she presents on STEM and water-related topics. Anne is a highly regarded colleague at the University of Wisconsin Madison who has collaborated with others on campus to present unique and impactful exhibits and lectures that explore the connection between science and art. Anne is a person who seeks connections with all types of agencies, institutions and people in the pursuit of sharing understanding and educational opportunities about the Great Lakes and the people who live near, and depend on, the Great Lakes. Anne is supportive of librarians of all types and in all stages of librarianship, always willing to collaborate, commiserate and celebrate fellow librarians. Anne is an innovative educator, reaching out to young students, book club participants, librarians, teachers, and art enthusiasts. Anne is also the life force of the Association of Wisconsin Special Libraries, a division of WLA. Anne has been a great mentor and friend to countless other librarians in the state. Anne has hosted several informal gatherings of special librarians and iSchool students, providing a welcoming space for librarians who often work solo to network and learn from each other. Every year, Anne hosts an iSchool intern and empowers that student to learn and explore. Anne has almost singlehandedly kept AWSL viable the last few years. She is currently serving as Past Chair. A member of AWSL since 2008, Anne has held every position of leadership in AWSL at least one time, and she has held some positions multiple times. She is currently serving as Past Chair. Anne served on the WLA Board of Directors as the AWSL representative from 2011 to 2013 and during that time she chaired the Professional Development Committee that looked at the way WLA does conferences. Recently, Anne formed plans to pilot the Great Lakes, Great Read program, a Wisconsin-based pilot of a larger watershed-wide read program, in partnership with WLA and funded by a grant from WiLS. SSCS Paralibrarian of the Year Award
A collaboration between Hoge and other library colleagues to establish protocols for a new 24/7 holds pickup locker service underscores her abilities in teamwork, strategic planning, and project implementation, which are crucial for numerous library initiatives. Her role as MCFLS’ Circulation Services Committee Chair for 2022-2023 illustrates her knack for leading and helping to shape strategies and initiatives that benefit circulation services. Her contributions to MCFLS’ ILS Task Force and ILS Functionality Committee are notable. Her involvement in researching, quoting, reviewing, and recommending new systems reflects her goal to stay at the forefront of technology and her desire to use the best tools for patrons and staff. Her involvement in these key roles within MCFLS highlights her collaborative skills, expertise, and willingness to take on significant responsibilities. Overall, Theresa’s proactive involvement in implementing new services, her devotion to her staff, library, and community, and her willingness to collaborate and share her experiences demonstrate her as a true leader in the library profession.
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