Newsletter -- From the Ground Up
• Summer 2008 • Winter 2009 • Summer 2009
News
Hamons to receive Foundation’s ‘Cornerstone Award’
August 2009
In recognition of their lifetime of work in support of area libraries, and most recently to the South Central Library System Foundation, Peter and Ann Hamon will receive the “Cornerstone Award” at a Nov. 11, 2009, fundraising reception. The event will be held in the atrium of Promega's world-renowned BioPharmaceutical Technology Center, 5445 East Cheryl Parkway, in Fitchburg.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to say a public thank you to Peter and Ann, who have dedicated their lives to public libraries,” said Linda Davis-Brown, foundation board president. The award is given to an individual or individuals who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the SCLS Foundation.
“What better way to honor their lifetime commitment, while at the same time raising funds for the SCLS Foundation,” Davis-Brown said. “ This reception will surely set the tone for the recognition of future recipients.”
Their combined library careers over the last half century have included jobs at public libraries in Scottsbluff, NE, Appleton and Oshkosh, at university libraries at Lawrence and Oklahoma, at the Wisconsin Reference and Loan Library, and of course, the South Central Library System.
Ann usually was found in the cataloging department and Peter in a less cloistered position. Both are now theoretically retired, although Ann still catalogs for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and Peter still mixes consulting with occasional clowning.
Alliant Energy grant supports family literacy
August 2009
In support of family literacy, Alliant Energy recently awarded a $2,100 grant to the South Central Library System Foundation. The grant will help fund the “Do and Learn Initiative,” through which staff at 25 member libraries will learn ways to work with families that live in poverty.
The goal of the project is to build literacy skills by providing kinesthetic activities that will strengthen existing family literacy programs. The Alliant grant will cover the cost of the training workshop, at which Jim Gill will be the featured speaker. He has a Master’s degree in Child Development, and uses music and play to enhance and encourage literacy.
The literacy workshop will be held in September.
CTA donates $10,000 for youth programs
August 2009
Commercial Tenant Advisors, which helped South Central Library System secure it’s new space on Biltmore Drive (the move will happen later this year), has made a $10,000 contribution to the SCLS Foundation to support programs for youth.
The money will be used specifically for Summer Library Program performers that might otherwise have been eliminated by libraries because of budget cuts.
CTA helped SCLS find potential locations that would fit our unique needs, and they managed the RFP process for our tenancy and negotiated the pricing and lease. According to Stef Morrill, associate director, “Their knowledge of the in-and-outs of the real estate market created opportunities we would not have found on our own.”