Wisconsin Library Association Foundation

Mission

The mission of the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation is to support the role of Wisconsin libraries as essential institutions in a democratic society.

Governance and structure

The Wisconsin Library Association Foundation is governed by a 10-member board of directors. Three of the Foundation's nine board members are appointed through the Wisconsin Library Association appointments process; three are elected by the WLA membership; and two community representatives are appointed by the Foundation board. The WLA treasurer also holds a seat on the Foundation board, and the WLA executive director is a nonvoting member of the Foundation board.

Every Wisconsin Library Association member automatically becomes a member of the WLA Foundation. This enables all WLA members to be able to serve on the Foundation board, to elect members of the WLAF board, and to participate in the Foundation's annual business meeting.

The WLA provides management and administrative services to the Foundation, and the WLAF president sits on the WLA Personnel Committee in order to participate in the executive director's performance overview.

Funding

The WLAF is supported almost entirely by contributions, the majority of which come from individual Wisconsin Library Association members.

Other individuals or corporations are encouraged to support the WLAF through annual giving and major donations to support any of the current programs. Individuals may also contribute through planned giving. Annual giving is recognized at varying levels of support. Aside from donations, the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation earns investment income on its endowment.

Programs

Awards and Honors

The Foundation funds expenses related to annual literary awards along with Wisconsin Library and Librarian of the Year awards.

Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries (CFWL)

In 2006, the WLA Foundation embarked on an ongoing, state level, multi-media advertising campaign to promote a wider understanding of the value and importance of Wisconsin's libraries. The Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries provides a collective voice on behalf of Wisconsin libraries of all types (academic, public, school, and special). This centralized state level campaign benefits all libraries, but especially those with limited promotional resources. The campaign takes advantage of national level efforts to promote libraries that are keeping with the purpose of Wisconsin's campaign.

Scholarships

The Foundation maintains several educational development funds for continuing education for librarians and for library students. They are: The George Bauer Continuing Education Scholarship; the Vida Cummins Stanton Scholarship; the Library Education Scholarship; the Sally Davis Scholarship; the Diversity Scholarship; and the Gloria Hoegh Scholarship for the Education of Rural Librarians. These scholarships are administered by the WLAF Scholarship Committee, which is responsible for following guidelines for each scholarship, soliciting applicants and selecting recipients.

Wisconsin Library Heritage Center

In March 2008, the Foundation supported the establishment of the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center. The Center was established to:

promote an understanding and appreciation of the history of libraries and librarianship in Wisconsin by the general public and the Wisconsin library community.

promote the preservation of artifacts and archives which contribute to an understanding and appreciation of Wisconsin's library heritage.

promote research and publishing that would contribute to an understanding and appreciation of Wisconsin's library heritage.

Additional

The WLA Foundation also provides programming sponsorship to the WLA Annual Conference; supports programming related to effective fundraising promotions and foundation development; and makes grants for activities related to the Foundation's mission to support Wisconsin libraries.