Wisconsin Library Heritage Center
The Wisconsin Library Heritage Center is a program of the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation promoting understanding and appreciation of the history of libraries and librarianship in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Library Association will be celebrating its 125th anniversary when it holds its Annual Conference this week (Oct. 25-28) at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee. In addition to a full slate of regular programs there will be some special activities related to the 125th anniversary.
On Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. there will be a 125th Anniversary Reception and WLA/WLAF membership meeting. Read More
Pinback buttons have been used by libraries, library organizations, and library vendors for many years to promote a variety of library related events, programs, services and products. These buttons are great souvenirs and most librarians have at least a small collection. The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) has been among the organizations creating pinback buttons to promote its conferences and programs. Below is a selection of these. Read More
Parcel post, the delivery of packages through the mail, began in the United States on January 1, 1913. Libraries had long lobbied for a special rate for library materials sent through the mail, and in 1914 the postmaster general authorized the shipment of books at the parcel post rate. This decision opened up significant possibilities for library service to geographically remote populations. Read More
The first White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS) took place in Washington, D. C. on November 15-19, 1979. Preceding WHCLIS each state in the nation held a pre-conference. In September, 1978 148 delegates representing communities and institutions from around Wisconsin gathered in Madison for the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Library and Information Services. The Governor’s Conference had been preceded by meetings of hundreds of citizens in ten areas of the state in June-July, Read More
The Wisconsin Library Association celebrated its centennial in 1991. As with this year’s 125th anniversary celebration, WLA’s annual conference took place in Milwaukee. The conference theme was “Celebrating Ourselves”. In the introduction to the conference program, WLA President Peter Hamon wrote : “The choice for our theme became obvious. We serve our various publics every day, year in and year out. Read More
Seeking increased funding and legislation in support of libraries has been a long standing priority for the Wisconsin Library Association. One of the most ambitious such efforts occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The effort was titled “Inform Wisconsin” and was the result of the Final Report of the Task Force on Public Library Legislation and Funding to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction which was submitted in October, Read More
The Wisconsin Library Association published the Wisconsin Literary Travel Guide in 1989. The guide highlights Wisconsin’s literary contributions and connections. It connects Wisconsin writers with the places in Wisconsin where they lived and wrote about. It is arranged alphabetically by community. The source for much of the material were the Wisconsin Notable Authors list and the Banta Award recipients. Read More
When World War I broke out in Europe in 1914 the United States was officially neutral. However, it proved impossible for the United States to maintain its neutrality and on April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Germany. The American Library Association saw an opportunity to provide library service to the men in the armed forces, Read More
Andrew Carnegie was often referred to as the “Patron Saint of Libraries”. He donated $56,162,622 for the construction of 2509 library buildings throughout the English-speaking parts of the world. He donated $40,000,000 for the construction of 1679 public library buildings in the United States. Sixty Wisconsin communities were the recipients of 63 public library grants from Andrew Carnegie. In addition, Read More
Education for librarianship in Wisconsin dates back to 1895 when the newly created Wisconsin Free Library Commission (WFLC) sponsored the first Summer School of Library Economy. The summer school was the idea of Frank Hutchins, the Commission’s first Secretary. The school was personally financed by library legislative champion Senator James H. Stout and was directed by Katharine Sharp, Read More