WLA Awards Announced

A huge congratulations to all the awardees this year! And a special shout-out to Terry Ehle and Kris Adams Wendt, both former chairs of the Youth Services Section and noted youth librarians in our state. Hope all youth librarians going to WLA this fall can come to the ceremony and celebrate these youth librarian leaders! WLA Announces 2024 Award Recipients, Library Hall of Fame Inductees

We are pleased to announce the 2024 WLA award and honors recipients and the inductees into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. They will be recognized at the Awards & Honors Ceremony during the WLA Annual Conference on November 7, 2024, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. Many thanks to the Awards & Honors Committee, the WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Selection Committee, and the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Steering Committee for their hard work, and to everyone who submitted a nomination.   To learn more about these outstanding award recipients, visit the WLA website and the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center website. Library of the Year University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire McIntyre Library, Eau Claire WLA/DEMCO® Librarian of the Year Terry Ehle, Youth Services Coordinator, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers Paralibrarian of the Year Danielle Zeamer, Library Services Associate, Brown County Library, Green Bay Trustee of the Year John Van Dyck, Brown County Library, Green Bay Programming Innovation Award The Library Memory Project from Bridges Library System, Waukesha Citation of Merit Kristen Mildenhall, Friends of the Middleton Public Library, Middleton Muriel Fuller Award Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Manager, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse  WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Rebecca Puhl, Library Director, Phillips Public Library, Phillips.   2024 Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Kristine "Kris" Adams Wendt Dr. Mohammed M. Aman (1940 - 2024) Kurt Kiefer Carla J. Stoffle   Awards & Honors Dinner  If you have already registered for the conference and now would like to register for the Awards and Honors Dinner and Ceremony, please fill out this separate registration form and select "Other Attendee."  Tickets are $39.00 per person.    AWARDS & HONORS DINNER REGISTRATION

Jane Botham to be Inducted into WI Library Hall of Fame

Jane Botham, noted WI Children’s Librarian at the Milwaukee Public Library, where she served as Children’s Coordinator from 1980-1998, will be inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame at the WLA Awards and Honors reception at WLA’s fall conference. It’s always special when a children’s person is recognized for their substantial contributions to Wisconsin librarianship.

Jane was a mentor to many youth librarians both in Milwaukee and statewide during her time in Wisconsin. Her commitment to excellence in children’s literature; early commitment to building networks of youth-serving community colleagues to collaborate together; support of youth librarians in becoming active member leaders in ALA; encouragement for young librarians to become leaders and share their knowledge through presentations; and respectful, child-centered library service are just a few of the hallmarks of her career. 

Jane Botham 1987 
WI Librarian of the Year

Jane served on and chaired numerous ALSC committees; served on the ALSC board as well as ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) President in 1986-87; received the Wisconsin Librarian of the Year Award in 1987; received the ALA Grolier Award (awarded for "an unusual contribution to the stimulation and guidance of reading by children and young people.”) in 1994 and the ALSC Distinguished Service Award in 2009.

You can read her nomination here.

When Jane received the news she was surprised and delighted. She says she loves a party, so if you are attending WLA or near Madison, we’d love to have you help honor Jane when she is inducted. We invite you to either or both of the following events Thursday, October 26 at the Madison Marriott West (1313 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton, WI 53562)

Meet-and-Greet with Jane and friends

5:30-6:15 pm at the Atrium Bar in the Marriot

Jane’s nominating team has reserved the Great Table at the Atrium bar before the ceremony. There will be a few tasty noshes and cash bar. If you or people you know can’t make the awards, this is a great time to come by and congratulate Jane! No registration needed.

Awards & Honors Ceremony    

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.     Superior & Michigan Rooms  

10/10/23 Update: registration for the WLA reception has now closed. Please feel free to congratulate Jane at the Meet and Greet event listed above.

Featuring a buffet and cash bar, there is a $30 registration fee to attend (you do not have to register for the WLA conference to attend.)   Register by using this form: WLA Awards & Honors Reception to RSVP.  The reservation form has space for attendees to indicate who they are attending on behalf of.  While WLA cannot guarantee that all an awardee’s guests will be seated together, they will do their best to accommodate them in the same area.  Registrations are due by noon on Monday, October 9.  If you have questions, please contact WLA Conference Manager Cindy Foley at event@wisconsinlibraries.org.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might like to celebrate Jane’s special honor.