During her forty-year professional library career Leslyn M. Shires (1939-2015) made significant contributions to the improvement of library service to the residents of the communities she served and to the residents of the state of Wisconsin.

Leslyn M.

Connie Meyer has a fervent love of public libraries, and an unshakeable belief that they can change lives. Connie has worked tirelessly to improve and promote Wisconsin public libraries since, at age 16, she was hired as a part-time page.

John DeBacher made a huge impact on the Wisconsin Library Community over more than 25 years. He served as the director of the Monona Public Library for 10 years before moving to the Department of Public Instruction as the Public Library Administration Consultant and later the Director of Public Library Development.

Jane Botham received her Master’s Degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Library and Information Science. Before becoming Coordinator of Children’s Services for Milwaukee Public Library (1980-1998), she worked at New York Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, New York State Library and as the marketing director at Bradbury Press.

Miriam Erickson began working in the library world in 1968 and fifty-four years later continues to support libraries today. As a school library media specialist, she was a visionary leader who demonstrated in practical terms how the internet, online resources,

Tom Hennen was nominated for the Library Heritage Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the Wisconsin library community, as well as to the planning, evaluation, and development of public libraries throughout the United States during his 40-year career as a librarian.