WLA Announces 2022 Board Leadership

The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) announces new board members and officers for 2022. These leaders represent a variety of roles and types of libraries from across the state:

• Nyama Reed, Director of the Whitefish Bay Public Library, will serve as Board President.
• Kristopher Turner, Associate Director, UW-Madison Law Library, will serve as President-Elect.
• Rachel Arndt, Library and Special Collections Consultant, Rachel Arndt Consulting, LLC, will serve as Treasurer.
• Maureen Olle-LaJoie, Director, Chalmer Davee Library, UW-River Falls, will serve as WLA Board Liaison representing the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) division.
• Carrie Doyle, Academic Librarian; Head of Acquisitions & Serials, UW-Madison Law Library will serve as WLA Board Liaison representing the Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians (AWSL)

“I am thrilled to welcome such talented individuals into these leadership roles!” said WLA Executive Director Laura Sauser. “Their unique backgrounds and diverse experience will help elevate our already strong board of directors and our organization overall.”

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Incoming President Reed said, “WLA is at a pivotal point as it enters its 131st year as an association. With over 1400 members across Wisconsin, we are a vital and long-lasting organization focused on serving the people and libraries of Wisconsin. Through leadership development, statewide engagement, and annual conferences, WLA strives to be your go-to resource about Wisconsin libraries. I can’t wait to work hard with our dozens of volunteer leaders and the WLA staff to learn new things, rethink ‘how we’ve always done it,’ and continue the organization’s positive trajectory.”

Wisconsin Library Association 2022 Board of Directors Officers:

• Board President: Nyama Reed, Director, Whitefish Bay Public Library
• Vice President: Kristopher Turner, Associate Director, UW-Madison Law Library
• Treasurer: Rachel Arndt, Library and Special Collections Consultant, Rachel Arndt Consulting
• Secretary: Desiree Bongers, Director, Ripon Public Library

Directors at Large:

• Past-President: Sherry Machones, Director, Northern Waters Library Service
• ALA Council: Kristina Gómez, Community Engagement Librarian, Madison Public Library
• Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) WLA Board Liaison: Maureen Olle-LaJoie, Director, Chalmer Davee Library, UW-River Falls
• Association of Wisconsin Special Libraries (AWSL) WLA Board Liaison: Carrie Doyle, Academic Librarian; Head of Acquisitions & Serials, UW-Madison Law Library
• Support Staff & Circulation Services (SSCS) WLA Board Liaison: Jennifer Cook, Library & Information Services Instructor, General Studies Liaison, Chippewa Valley Technical College
• Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL): Tracy Vreeke, Director, Nicolet Federated Library System
• Wisconsin Small Libraries (WISL): Gina Rae, ILS Database Support Specialist, Northern Waters Library Service
• Wisconsin Library Trustees & Friends (WLTF): Kathy Michaelis, retired librarian
• Youth Services Section (YSS): Linda Jerome

The Wisconsin Library Association is a professional organization representing all types of libraries – school, public, academic, and special. Its membership comprises more than 1400 librarians and support staff, library trustees, friends of libraries, and business vendors who advocate and work for the improvement of library services for all Wisconsin citizens.