The Wisconsin Library Association proudly inducts Marge Loch-Wouters into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame in recognition of her nearly 50 years of leadership, innovation, and unwavering dedication to youth services and librarianship in Wisconsin and beyond.
Marge’s distinguished career began in 1976 after earning her degrees in English and Library Science from UW–Madison. While at Madison, she was a founding member of Wisconsin Women Library Workers, a feminist library advocacy network that supported equality and women’s rights in Wisconsin libraries. During the organization’s 30 year existence, WWLW members were – and still remain – a seminal influence on her advocacy, leadership and collaborative work.
Marge transformed youth services at La Crosse Public Library and Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha through visionary programming, thoughtful leadership, and a fierce commitment to children and families. From creating a community-wide Winter Reading Program with area schools and launching 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, to collaboratively developing state-of-the-art programs like the Book Buying Bunch Club, the concept of Unprogramming, and Badger Detectives, Marge set statewide standards for innovation and engagement.
Her leadership extended far beyond the library walls. Marge served as President of the Wisconsin Library Association, WLA Youth Services Section Chair and board member, WLA board member and member of numerous WLA committees and WLA’s ALA Councilor. She also represented Wisconsin nationally, as a member of the ALSC Board, an ALSC Priority Group Consultant and served on numerous ALSC committees throughout her career including the Caldecott, Sibert and Newbery Award Committees. She became a trusted voice in state and national conversations about youth services, advocacy, and literacy. As Shawn Brommer wrote, “Marge is a WLA treasure… She demonstrates leadership at every turn and remains rock steady during challenging times”.
Marge’s dedication as an educator has shaped generations of library workers. She presented more than 200 professional workshops, classes and keynotes during her 35 years of free-lance youth library consulting – including stints at Southwest Wisconsin Library System and Winding River Library System – taught graduate student and continuing education classes at the UW–Madison iSchool, and mentored emerging leaders through WLA’s WE Lead program. Combined with her 40 year career as a freelance storyteller that took her around Wisconsin, these experiences instilled a deep respect for the innovative and creative youth work she observed being done by library staff – especially in our state’s smallest communities and rural areas.
Librarians across the state credit her with practical wisdom, generous mentorship, and a contagious passion for the profession. Known affectionately as the “Marge Effect,” her encouragement has inspired countless colleagues to step into leadership roles. Jean Anderson recalled, “Marge has this ability to see what her colleagues are capable of and encourage them to step outside their comfort zones and into leadership roles. There are a lot of us lucky enough to have experienced the Marge Effect”.
An advocate at heart, Marge has consistently elevated youth services from the margins to the forefront of library work. She used her platform to champion the expertise of youth librarians, promote equitable access to learning, and foster statewide networks of collaboration. Her Tiny Tips for Library Fun blog—amassing over 1.1 million views—along with her stewardship of the YSS Blog, became invaluable professional lifelines for librarians across Wisconsin and beyond.
As Anita Taylor Doering reflected, “The youth areas of La Crosse Public Library were always busy and vibrant places, thriving under her leadership. Marge is always delighted in showing students what a public good is and how libraries enrich communities.” And as Marla Sepnafski noted, “Her contributions to youth librarianship are not only profound—they are enduring. Marge’s legacy lives in the people she has influenced and the elevated standard of service she helped establish”.
Marge Loch-Wouters embodies the values of service, leadership, and vision that define the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. Her extraordinary contributions have strengthened libraries in every corner of the state, and her influence will continue to shape the profession for generations to come.