Bill Wilson has provided leadership in the improvement of library services to the people of Wisconsin for more than forty years. He has worked at all levels of public library service – local, regional and state. His past library positions include serving as Institutional Consultant for the Buffalo and Erie County (New York) Public Library; Assistant Administrator, Winding Rivers Library System, La Crosse; Director, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids (1984 – 1991) ; Director, Milwaukee County Federated Library System (1991-1993); Adjunct Faculty, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee School of Information and Library Science; and Administrator (State Librarian), Wisconsin Division for Libraries and Community Learning in Madison (1993-1996). He has worked as a partner in his own firm, Himmel & Wilson Library Consultants since 1987. For most of his career Wilson has served as an advocate for and an innovator in library service to special needs populations. Wilson served president of the Wisconsin Library Association in 1987 and recieved WLA’s Special Service Award in 1990. He has served as President of the Wisconsin Center for the Book. He currently serves as President of the board of trustees of the Milton Public Library and as Vice President of the Arrowhead Library System board of trustees.
Wilson recieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts in 1971; a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY in 1974; and pursued Doctoral Studies in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison from 1988 to 1991. He lives with his wife and business partner Ethel Himmel (also a past WLA President) in Milton, WI.