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News
- Member Spotlight - Matthew Matkowski
- August 11, 2023
- This week's member spotlight is on Matthew Matkowski. Matthew is the Head of Public Services at the Palos Heights Public Library. He previously served as chair of ILA's Intellectual Freedom Committee and is a member of the Reaching Forward Commi…
- Member Spotlight - William Pleas
- April 24, 2023
- This week's member spotlight is on William Pleas. William is the page and volunteer coordinator at the Highland Park Public Library. He is a member of the Reaching Forward Forum and served on the ILA Conference Program Committee in 2020 and…
- Literacy Focus: Welcoming Places, Safe Spaces
- January 17, 2023
- ILA member Rosie Camargo, Reaching Forward Forum Manager-Elect, spoke to Publisher's Weekly about the importance of libraries being welcoming and safe spaces. "Camargo is also a speaker and trainer of teachers/librarians across the country, encouragi…
Events
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Jun
7
2024
Reaching Forward Committee Meeting
Friday, Jun 7, 2024 11:00am–12:30pm
Reaching Forward North Committee Charge
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Coordinates program planning for the Reaching Forward North Conference with a focus on providing opportunities for library support staff * to grow, learn, and connect with new ideas and colleagues.
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Various subcommittees take on the work of recruiting and liaising with vendors, putting together a performers’ showcase, and managing social media as well as other functions necessary to run the conference.
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Solicits awards nominees and selecting winners for the Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant which recognizes the contributions of a support staff member to the library community and the role of support staff in libraries and the Robert Doyle ILA Conference Grant for Support Staff to encourage ILA membership and support staff attendance at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference.
*Library support staff, or library paraprofessionals, are involved in all library operations at all levels. The range and complexity of their duties varies with each position, the size and type of the library in which they work, and each library's specific needs, goals, or mission. The one distinction usually drawn between "support staff" and "librarians" is that those in the latter group typically have a Master of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS).
Reaching Forward North Committee Reports
2023 Reaching Forward North Award Winners
Robert P. Doyle ILA Annual Conference Grant Annette DeLuna Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District |
Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant |
Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant
Selection Process: The deadline to submit a 2023 nomination is March 31, 2023. Nominations will open in January for 2024 nominations. You may submit nominations for yourself or for a colleague. A panel of judges from the Reaching Forward Committee will be responsible for choosing the recipients.
Committee Composition
The committee is composed of up to sixteen members serving three-year staggered terms. Fewer than 25% of the committee members are in a managerial/director position. Chairs (chair, incoming chair, and past chair) will serve a three-year term.
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Rosie M Camargo, Chair
Cultural Literacy Specialist at South Holland Public Library
Chair Term ends 06/30/2024
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Nicole Cowan, Member
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Shawn R Erens, Member
Palatine Public Library District
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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Jennifer Hovanec, Member
La Grange Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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Elizabeth Lugo, Member
Youth Services Librarian at South Holland Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Matthew Matkowski, Member
Head of Public Services at Palos Heights Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Bill Ohms, Member
Library Services Coordinator at Evanston Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Georgia Pichinos-Anderson, Member
Patron Services Assistant Supervisor at Niles-Maine District Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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William Pleas, Member
Page and Volunteer Coordinator at Highland Park Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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Liz Poppenhouse, Member
Indian Trails Public Library District
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Liz Reyes, Member
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Hayley Rightnowar, Member
Inclusive Services Librarian at Elmhurst Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Jessica Rodrigues, Member
Head of Information Services at Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library District
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Jen Ryjewski, Member
Assistant Director at Downers Grove Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Martha Sullivan, Member
Young Adult Services Manager at Forest Park Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2025
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Maurice Thomas Jr., Member
Librarian IV at Chicago Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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Fallon White, Member
Chicago Public Library
Member Term ends 06/30/2024
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Esther Curry, Board liaison
C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District
Board liaison Term ends 06/30/2025
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Wendy Roe-Chapman, Chair Elect
Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District
Chair Elect Term ends 06/30/2024
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Sara Horn, Past Chair
Deputy Director at Green Hills Public Library District
Past Chair Term ends 06/30/2024
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Kristin Pekoll, Staff liaison
Conference and Continuing Education Manager at Illinois Library Association
Staff liaison Term ends 06/30/2027