We are proud to highlight our members who commit their time and resources to helping Wisconsin libraries and librarians thrive through their work with the Wisconsin Library Association. Each month, we will be sharing their stories and hope you will be inspired to learn more about our programs or get involved!
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Summer 2026
Patrick Leeport
UW Madison iSchool
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Hi! My name is Patrick Leeport. I love my job at UW-Madison’s iSchool! I spend about half of my time serving as the department’s Teaching & Learning Librarian, and the other half teaching classes within the MA LIS program!
What is your very first library memory?
It is a very fuzzy recollection of a summer reading program and part of the end of summer “reward” was story time with a clown. (I think this was back when Bozo was still aired on Sunday morning network TV.) Generally, I remember both the clown and children having a rough day. An older sibling confirmed that this wasn’t a strange fever dream I had. More specifically, they remembered the ornateness of the balloon animals being heavily oversold prior to the event.
What’s something you are proud of?
I’m so proud of my family! My kids are in 2nd grade and Kindergarten and are my inspiration; if you’ve met my wife Cassy, you likely know of the amazing work she is involved in at tribal libraries, archives, and museums across what is now called Wisconsin; I have 7 siblings and they are all doing great things in the world (including parenting my 14 wonderful niblings); my dad is my role model and my mom is one of my best friends! I’m so proud and appreciative of them all!
What’s a skill you wish you had?
My daughters can keep their feet touching, squat down, and put their elbows/arms flat on the ground. (Stand up and try it!) They are also good at cartwheels. I’m pretty jealous of both of these skills.
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