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.
2021
Kathryn Harris
Kathryn Harris is a tremendous force for good in Springfield, Illinois, her hometown for five decades. Her commitment to scholarship, especially the sharing of her remarkable research of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, is a continuation of her life’s work around history and exploration. A native of Carbondale, Harris earned a degree in French, with a concentration in education, from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and a master’s in library science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Harris served as the director of library services at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield from 1990-2015. Prior to that, her experience includes stints at the Illinois State Library, Southern Illinois University, and the Lincoln Library. Since her retirement in 2015, Kathryn spends her time volunteering in the community, including vibrant portrayals of Harriet Tubman. In February 2021, she received the Illinois Treasurer’s Office Black History Month Award for Outstanding Service in Arts and Humanity. She was recognized in 2020 by the State Journal-Register as the First Citizen Award winner, an award that recognizes Springfield-area residents who give selflessly of their time and resources in service to others.
Harris has served on the Illinois Humanities Council, the Springfield mayor’s study circles on race, and the city’s zoning commission. She was the first African American and woman to be president of the Abraham Lincoln Association. She holds “distinguished alumnae” honors from the universities she attended and received the Webster plaque from the Springfield Branch NAACP. She has been interviewed many times by the media, always with acknowledgments for her many professional and volunteer accomplishments. Kathryn is someone who is dedicated to her family, community, and profession.
Inducted September 23, 2021
Patricia Jarog
Long before Patricia Jarog pursued a career in public libraries, she found herself volunteering on a library referendum committee and directing several “Murder at the Library” fundraisers. Those early experiences at the Villa Park Public Library played a huge role in her next act: earning a MLIS from Dominican University and landing at the White Oak Library District (the Des Plaines Valley Public Library District in 2006). Her career coincided with that library’s massive expansion in services as well as the total revamp of its three facilities. Serving as adult services librarian, children’s services librarian, children’s services manager, and Lockport Branch manager, her inspirational leadership and innate ability to bring people together in compromise became the hallmarks of her career.
Patricia’s ability to connect with community organizations resulted in a plethora of partnerships including the library’s largest event, Comicopolis, a comic and fandom “con” that topped 2,000 attendees in 2019. It also drew the attention of the City of Lockport, resulting in significant funding from the city’s Summer Art Series and cementing a strong partnership between the library and the city. Her unique capacity for collaboration also made a long-lasting impact on how public-school students would receive library cards. She spearheaded the Student Success Card Initiative that removed barriers from the application process, resulting in the issuance of almost 20,000 cards in a two-year period.
Inducted May 20, 2021
James R. Johnston, 1947-2021
James R. (Jim) Johnston served as the Director of the Joliet Public Library for more than 33 years from 1976–2009. Jim was a visionary leader who touched many lives and made a deep and lasting impact on the Joliet community. During his tenure, Joliet’s historic downtown library was renovated and expanded, an innovative branch in a local mall opened, and the Black Road Branch built. Ahead of his time, Jim testified in front of the Illinois General Assembly arguing for financial assistance in bridging the digital divide in 1979.
Jim showed courageous leadership when the library was firebombed in 1989. He used the terrible tragedy as an opportunity to build back stronger and to revitalize services at the library, and shared his insights into handling a crisis with the ILA community at the ILA Annual Conference the following year. He spoke on disaster response and recovery to library and municipal organizations around the United States over the three years following the firebombing.
Jim was a champion for library service in his community and throughout the state. A fierce advocate, he could be counted on to play the devil’s advocate and stand firm for his convictions. He fought hard for the library and was never afraid to vigorously defend his position. What may be most remembered, however was what an excellent mentor he was to many in the creative, it was said of him that he gave you the room to fail and the support to try again. Through that support, countless individuals were able to succeed.
Jim was actively involved in many Joliet community organizations such as the Joliet Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kiwanis Club of Joliet, Joliet/Will County Project Pride (now Project Acclaim), and United Way of Will County. His career included awards and honors, including Joliet/Will County Project Pride Community Service Award and induction into the Hall of Pride. He was a member of ILA’s Public Library Forum and served on the public library standards committee to update Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, an ILA publication.
Inducted May 20, 2021
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