Monona Public Library Named Wisconsin's Library of the Year

The Wisconsin Library Association awarded the Monona Public Library with the 2010 Library of the Year award for excellence, service and innovation.

“We are deeply grateful for this recognition from the Wisconsin Library Association,” Interim Library Director Erick Plumb said. “Monona embraces its library as a place for building community.  Library staff members in turn embrace our role of developing a space that serves as an enrichment center for people of all ages and backgrounds.” 

The Wisconsin Library Association honored the Monona library for launching several innovative programs and initiatives and for developing new partnerships and collections. These include:
 

• Maximizing limited financial resources during difficult budget times by partnering with the City of Monona, the South Central Library System, Madison Community Foundation, the Friends of the Library, The Natural Step Monona, Monona Grove School District and many other organizations.
• “Great Stories,” an outreach program using a grant from the American Library Association to reach at-risk teens, which garnered more than 80 percent participation from an alternative high school in the community.
• The Teen Advisory Board initiated several community-wide literacy programs and year-round activities for teens.
• “Book a Librarian,” a program allowing patrons to schedule a session of uninterrupted library staff assistance for reference or research.
• Development of two special library collections based on assessments of community needs, including sustainability and environmental concerns, and consumer health and wellness.
• The supplemental Komen for the Cure Special Collection of breast health materials funded by a 2010 grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in Madison.
• Installation of an Early Literacy Center in our Children’s Room, complete with literacy computer stations and new early literacy materials, funded by the Monona Community Pie Party.

“We are honored to receive such high recognition for our library from the Wisconsin State Library Association,” said City of Monona Mayor Robb Kahl. “It is a tribute to great staff, a dedicated board and a community that understands the importance of all the things our library does for our residents and visitors. Moving forward, Monona is committed to making our library even better. It is clear that services like our library, schools, and recreation opportunities will be important factors to attracting and retaining young families in our city.”

The statewide award will be presented during the Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference Nov. 2-5.

In addition, the Monona Public Library is being honored with the South Central Library Association’s Library of the Year Award based on those programs; increases in program participation (up 25 percent compared to the previous year), circulation (up 10 percent) and number of library card holders (up 8 percent); and the “Booked for Life/Booked for a Day” fundraising campaign. Under the leadership of former Director Demita Gerber, who passed away in June, and Interim Director Erick Plumb, the Monona Public Library secured more than $153,000 through contributions and a matching grant from the Madison Community Foundation for its unique fund drive. The drive allowed patrons to rename the library for a day in their own or a loved one’s honor and to showcase their favorite library materials.

“The Monona Public Library is truly a community touchstone for many community resources,” said Michelle Heitzinger, Executive Director at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We are so proud to be a partner with them in providing important breast cancer resource materials.”