WVLS Scholarships and Grants
WLA Annual Conference 2023 Scholarships
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) is awarding scholarships to library staff and trustees to attend the 2023 Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Conference in Middleton on October 24-27. More conference details can be found here.
Up to $1,200 is available for the scholarship, and it covers expenses for the following:
– Conference registration (WLA member or non-member)
– Can include the Award’s Reception and conference tours; it does not include the WLAF Fundraiser
– Mileage reimbursement (WVLS rate) to/from the conference
– Up to 3 nights of conference lodging (Oct. 24, 25 and 26)
Eligibility and Requirements
– Applicant must currently work at a WVLS member public library or serve as a trustee for a member library.
– Applicant must have one year of experience working in public libraries or serving on a public library board as of October 1, 2023.
– Applicant is expected to make their own conference arrangements.
– The WVLS WLA Conference scholar is expected to share their conference experience and knowledge gained with library colleagues via a written report submitted to WVLS within 30 days of the conference (a form will be provided).
Congratulations to the scholarship recipients!
Alexander Johnson, Marathon County Public Library
Andrea Bennett, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Denise Chojnacki, Rhinelander District Library
Krista Blomberg, Rib Lake Public Library
Maria Pregler, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Maxx Handel, Frances L. Simek Memorial Library (Medford)
Rita Ludvigsen, Western Taylor County Public Library (Gilman)
Sarah Moscatello, Marathon County Public Library
ALA Annual Conference 2023 Scholarships
WVLS is awarding scholarships to area library staff to attend the national 2023 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference.
The 2023 ALA Annual Conference will be held in Chicago, IL and will run from June 22-27. As the world’s largest library event, the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition brings together thousands of librarians and library staff, educators, authors, publishers, friends of libraries, trustees, special guests, and exhibitors.
Valued at $3,800, this WVLS ALA Conference scholarship includes the following:
– Early Bird Conference registration
– 6 nights of lodging/parking
– Round-Trip mileage
– Meals
Congratulations to Leah Giordano (MCPL) and Annette Miller (Tomahawk) for receiving ALA Conference scholarships!
Library Legislative Day 2023 Scholarships
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) is awarding scholarships to library staff and trustees to attend the 2023 WLA Library Legislative Day in Madison on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. More details can be found here.
Valued at $300, this scholarship can be used to cover: Registration, Transportation, 1 night of lodging; Dinner (Feb. 6) and Lunch (Feb. 7) per diem.
Congrats to the following for receiving scholarships!
Ada Demlow (Antigo Public Library)
Teresa Hall (Loyal Public Library)
Carla Huston (Jean M. Thomsen Memorial Library, Stetsonville)
April Lammert (Demmer Memorial Library, Three Lakes)
Laurie Ollhoff (T.B. Scott Free Library, Merrill)
Katelyn Sabelko (Marathon County Public Library)
Virginia Woods Roberts (Rhinelander District Library)
WEMTA Conference 2023 Scholarships
WVLS is awarding scholarships to public and K-12 school library staff to attend the 2023 Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Conference in Rothschild, WI on February 5-7, 2023. More conference details can be found here: https://www.wemta.org/events/conference.cfm
The scholarship includes: conference registration, WEMTA membership, lodging, mileage, and meal reimbursement.
Applicants must currently work at a WVLS area public or K-12 school library and have one year of experience working in libraries.
Congrats to the recipients! Julie Beloungy (School District of Thorp), Kay Heiting (Granton Community Library), and Kristie Heistad (Antigo Public Library).
WVLS WLA Conference 2022 Scholarships
WVLS is awarding several full scholarships to area library staff to attend the 2022 Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Conference in at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva on November 1 – 4.
This year’s theme, “Rising to the Challenge” celebrates the strength, unity, and resilience of libraries and library workers who have persevered despite the tests of the past few years. Registration will open soon. The scholarship covers conference registration, transportation, 3 nights of lodging, and a meal per diem.
WVLS ARSL Conference 2022 Scholarships
WVLS is awarding full scholarships to area library staff to attend the 2022 Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference. This year’s conference will be held Sept. 14-17 in Chattanooga, TN.
The 2022 conference will feature pre-conference workshops, concurrent sessions, dine-arounds, and an exhibit hall with companies/vendors relevant to the profession.
Congratulations to the recipients! Laura Wood: MCPL- Rothschild; Carla Huston: Stetsonville; Maxx Handel: Medford; Allison Puestow: Tomahawk
Conference Updates can be found here.
WVLS WAPL Conference 2022 Scholarships
WVLS awarded full scholarships to area library staff to attend the 2022 Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference in Pewaukee on May 11-13.
With a theme of INFINITE POSSIBILITIES, the goal of this year’s WAPL conference is that attendees would leave empowered to explore possibilities beyond their library and community.
The recipients were:
Andrea Bennett (T.B. Scott Free Library/Merrill)
Krista Blomberg (Rib Lake Public Library)
Cindy Hultman (Minocqua Public Library)
Katrina Kubeny (Elcho School District)
Esther O’Brien (Rhinelander District Library)
Jessica Zellers (T.B. Scott Free Library/Merrill)
WVLS PLA Conference 2022 Scholarships
WVLS awarded six full scholarships to area library staff to attend the national 2022 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference.
Offered biennially, the PLA Conference—the premier event for public library professionals—is an opportunity for librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world to reconnect with one another, recreate the services they provide, and revitalize the passion for the work they do every day.
Scholarship recipients are:
Jennifer Davis, Minocqua Public Library
Julie Kinney, Marathon County Public Library
Laurie Ollhoff, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Ashley Polinski, Rhinelander District Library
Dan Richter, Marathon County Public Library
Elisha Sheffer, Rhinelander District Library
WVLS 2021 Scholarships
WVLS offered several scholarships in 2020-21. Below are the recipients.
Due to the coronavirus, scholarship recipients for face-to-face conferences will defer to 2021.
- WAPL/WLA Conference Scholarships: Heather Bain, MCPL-Hatley; Brandon Hardin, Withee Public Library; Loralee Peterson, Owen Public Library
- WAPL/WLA Conference Youth Services Scholarship: Laurie Renel-Faledas, Crandon Public Library
- ARSL Conference Scholarships: Kay Heiting, Granton Public Library; Janay Ziebell, Neillsville Public Library; Teresa Hall, Loyal Public Library; Jenny Jochimsen, Abbotsford Public Library; Julie Beloungy, Thorp School District, Tammie Blomberg, Rib Lake Public Library
- Back in Circulation Again Conference Scholarships (online): Virginia Roberts, Rhinelander District Library; Cathy Oelrich, Rhinelander District Library; Loralee Petersen, Owen Public Library
WVLS Innovation and Collaboration Literacy Grant
Congratulations to the Rib Lake Public Library and the Tomahawk Public Library for being selected as the winners for the 2019 WVLS Innovation and Collaboration Literacy Grant.
To support literacy for all library users of Wisconsin Valley Library Service member libraries, a $20,000 grant will be provided to partnering WVLS libraries to create a space in their libraries where families can talk, read, sing, write, and play together.
Watch the presentation of the final project.
Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Scholarship
(L to R): Loralee Petersen, Dominic Frandrup, Erica Brewster and Heather Bain.
In 2019, the Wisconsin Valley Library Service offered four, $1,600 scholarships for directors or branch managers of a member public library to attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference. The conference was held in Burlington, Vermont, from September 4-7.
The ARSL conference is specifically targeted for rural library staff. Previous conference topics have included building community advocacy; effective trustee recruitment, inexpensive programming ideas, innovative web services with few resources, virtual networking, customer service, and many more.
Scholarship winners will be expected to complete a report (a form will be provided before attending the conference) within 30 days of the conference.
2019 ARSL Conference Scholarship Recipients:
Erica Brewster, Demmer Memorial Library (Three Lakes)
Loralee Peterson, Owen Public Library
Dominic Frandrup, Antigo Public Library
Heather Bain, Marathon County Public Library – Hatley Branch
WLA Membership/Professional Development & Youth Services Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide WVLS new directors and support staff the opportunity to attend a Wisconsin Library Association-sponsored conference to enhance professional development. Applicants can choose to attend the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference in May, or the WLA Conference in October. It is also meant to serve as a tool to develop technology and presentation skills. Also, the post-conference assignment is intended to reinforce/develop the scholarship winner’s technology and presentation skills. People who are selected for the scholarship will also be awarded a one-year membership to WLA.
Two scholarships worth $700 will be issued in 2019. Up to $500 in scholarship funds will be issued for the conference, and up to $200 will be issued for the WLA Membership.
2019 WLA Membership/Professional Development Scholarship Recipients
Denise Chojnacki, Rhinelander Public Library – Conference Report
Stephanie Schmidt, Crandon Public Library – Conference Report
2018 Scholarship Recipients:
Dominic Frandrup, Antigo Public Library – Webinar Recording
Teresa Miniatt, Withee Public Library – Webinar Recording
Heidi O’Hare, Tomahawk Public Library – Webinar Recording
Youth Services Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide WVLS youth services staff an opportunity to attend a WLA-sponsored conference in 2019. The person selected for the scholarship will also be rewarded a one-year membership to the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA). One scholarship worth $700 will be issued in 2019. Up to $500 in scholarship funds will be issued for the conference, and up to $200 will be issued for the WLA Membership.
This scholarship will also enhance professional development. Applicants can choose to attend the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference in May, or the WLA Conference in October.
2019 Youth Services Scholarship Recipient:
Erica Dischinger, Minocqua Public Library – Conference Report
WVLS Innovation and Collaboration Grant
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) offered a competitive grant to a member library to develop and implement a service for their community that is both innovative and collaborative. The relevant aspects of the grant and, ultimately, of the new service are innovation, collaboration, value to the community and sustainability.
Recipients
- 2018 Owen Public Library Grant Proposal
- 2018 Tomahawk Public Library Grant Proposal
- 2017 and 2016 Grants and Reports
Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, welcomes Library Legislative Day participants.
Library Legislative Day Scholarship
WVLS awards scholarships to first-time, WVLS-member librarians to attend Library Legislative Day.
Recipients
- 2019 Stephanie Schmidt, Crandon Public Library
- 2018 Dominic Frandrup, Antigo; Laurie Ohlloff, Merrill; Heidi O’Hare, Tomahawk
- 2017 Sarah Steinbacher, Rhinelander District Library
- 2016 Julie Beloungy, Thorp Public Library
- 2015 Anne LaRoche, Frances L Simek Memorial Library- Medford
Carol Ruth Wessler Memorial Scholarship
The moneys in this fund are to be invested as a special fund, the earnings of which are to be disbursed for the purpose of providing financial assistance for continuing education opportunities in the areas of reference, referral and interlibrary loan services for personnel employed by WVLS libraries.
As long as the applicant can describe how their attendance is likely to improve their ability to perform the reference/referral and interloan tasks currently assigned to them, their application will be given serious consideration by the WVLS Board of Trustees and/or its Executive Committee. Topics which could be considered for Wessler funding might include (but are not limited to) the following: reference skills, reference materials, referral patterns, interloan procedures/protocols, collection development, book selection, personal improvement such as how to communicate more efficiently, supervisory skills, office efficiency, most internet and computer skills sessions, space studies in current or new facilities, etc.
Wisconsin Valley Library Service
300 N 1st Street
Wausau, WI 54403
715-261-7250