This honor roll for Illinois libraries serves the dual purpose of recognizing outstanding voices in the library community, while creating a legacy through the ILA Endowment to continue their important work.
2012
Diana Hunter
Diana Hunter has served on the board of the Skokie Public Library for more than forty years. First appointed in 1969, she was re-elected numerous times in her long and noteworthy career. She became president of the board in 1980 and served as president or vice president thereafter.
In 1982 Hunter inaugurated the “Young Steinway Concert Series” with the acquisition of a Steinway piano, offering a showcase for young musicians and Hunter’s vision of the library as a cultural center. A continual source of ideas and inspiration, Diana brought numerous exhibits and speakers to the library through her many connections in the community and beyond.
She was named Trustee of the Year by the American Library Association (ALA) in 1983 and received the Humanities Service Award from the Illinois Humanities Council in 1999.
As an active member of the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and the Public Library Association (PLA), as well as ALA and United for Libraries: Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), Hunter advocates for libraries at legislative days in Springfield and Washington D.C.
The Skokie Public Library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute for Museum and Library Service (IMLS) during Hunter’s board presidency in 2008.
Inducted November 9, 2012
Susan K. Roberts, 1947-2007
Throughout her career, Susan Roberts mentored countless new librarians and library directors, encouraging them to join the profession and become colleagues.
She served as administrative librarian of the Grande Prairie Public Library in Hazel Crest from 1993 until 2007. Passionate about library collaboration, she was active in the Illinois Library Association and the Illinois Library Systems, serving on many committees that helped define reference standards, resource sharing, and working on system consolidation issues.
At Grande Prairie, she tirelessly sought grant support for programs and events that ranged from training library volunteers to read to children in homeless shelters to library advocacy and bringing together community stakeholders. She was the impetus for a statewide effort dubbed Capped Crusaders that sought to inform legislators about the impact of tax caps on libraries and advocate for tax cap relief in Illinois communities.
Earlier in her career, she held positions at the Oak Lawn Public Library, American Medical Association, and Governors State University.
Inducted November 9, 2012
Nancy L. Smith, 1945-2011
Nancy Smith was a Dixon native who earned her MLS degree from the University of Illinois, and devoted more than thirty years to serving Illinois libraries.
She was Director of the Mount Morris Public Library from 1976 to 1985, when she accepted a position at the Dixon Correctional Center, where she worked to establish the prison library. In 1998, Smith went to work for the Prairie Area Library System, where she served as a consultant to public libraries until those positions were eliminated due to budget cuts in 2010.
Through her tireless efforts and her compassion, Smith proved to be the public librarian's best friend. She always found the answers we needed, generally the same day. Her orientation for new library directors and trustees started many of us on the correct path through the maze of legislation and policies within which libraries operate.
Smith was an enthusiastic cheerleader who guided many librarians through the labyrinth of grant applications and other projects. She always managed to make us feel that our questions were not stupid, even when they were.
She was an unassuming individual who avoided the limelight, but her mentorship meant so much to so many in the Illinois library community.
Inducted June 15, 2012
Tobi Oberman and Tom Rich
Tobi Oberman and Tom Rich are founding members of the Reaching Forward Conference, and currently serve as co-chairs. The inaugural Reaching Forward Conference was held in 1990 to serve the continuing education needs of library support staff. Now in its third decade, Reaching Forward is the nation’s premier one-day conference serving library staff at all levels.
Under Oberman and Rich’s leadership, Reaching Forward has provided education opportunities to tens of thousands of library staff in Illinois. The Reaching Forward Committee recognized their contributions by naming an award in their honor, the Oberman-Rich Award, acknowledging the contributions of a support staff member to the library community by providing a scholarship to attend the Reaching Forward Conference.
After years of working in partnership with the Illinois Library Association (ILA), they oversaw the process by which Reaching Forward became a forum of ILA. Obermand and Rich have served ILA in many capacities. Both have served on the Executive Board, on multiple ILA Annual Conference Program Committees, and on the ILA Awards Committee. Oberman has also served on an exhibitor relations task force and the ILA Nominating Committee and considers serving on the Executive Director Selection Committee that hired Bob Doyle to be her finest moment of service to the association.
In 1993, they were named the first Public Librarians of the Year by the North Suburban Library System for their work with Reaching Forward. Nationally, they have both served on the ALA Empowerment Conference Planning Committee, bringing the Reaching Forward model to the ALA Annual Conference. Oberman has also served on several ALA Awards Committees.
At the time of induction, Oberman was Head of Circulation Services at Skokie Public Library and Rich was an Independent Library Consultant and serves as President of the Zion-Benton Public Library Board of Trustees.
Inducted February 10, 2012
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