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Ripon, Stoughton Public Library Directors Receive WLA President’s Volunteer Awards

 (Madison, Wisconsin) The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) has announced Desiree Bongers, Director of the Ripon Public Library, and Jim Ramsey, Director of the Stoughton Public Library, as recipients of the 2021 President’s Volunteer Award.  This annual recognition is bestowed by the WLA Board President to association members who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service. Bongers and Ramsey were honored during the WLA Annual Conference in Green Bay last month.

 “WLA is a stronger, more impactful organization because of the efforts of volunteer leaders who are willing to share their time and talents for the good of the association and the library community overall, “ said WLA President Sherry Machones. “It was a challenge to select just two award recipients from among such a strong pool of candidates! However, Desiree and Jim have each given of their time and professional expertise so selflessly, they both quickly rose to the top of the list this year. Their commitment to WLA is an inspiration, and I am proud to work with them.”

Bongers has served the association in various leadership roles since 2005, including her current role as Board Secretary. A long-time member of the Annual Conference Planning Committee, Bongers stepped into the role of Conference Chair in 2021. Machones cited Bongers’ long history of service to the association, along with her ability to meet the challenge of planning the association’s first in-person event since the global pandemic, among the many reasons Bongers was selected for the award.

In recognizing Ramsey, Machones praised his professionalism as volunteer scheduler for the association’s annual Legislative Day event. Since 2017, Ramsey has coordinated appointments between 132 legislators and more than 100 of their constituents representing public libraries throughout the state. According to Machones, this complex effort was made an even greater challenge in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced WLA to move the event to a virtual platform.

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The Wisconsin Library Association is a professional organization representing all types of libraries – school, public, academic, and special. Its membership comprises nearly 1000 librarians and support staff, library trustees, friends of libraries, and business vendors who advocate and work for the improvement of library  services for all Wisconsin citizens.