Penny Weller and Craig Wilson named ALA Trustee Citation recipients

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania – The American Library Association and United for Libraries have named Penny Weller and Craig Wilson, Trustees at Kent District Library (KDL) in Kent County, Mich., recipients of the ALA Trustee Citation.

The ALA Trustee Citations were presented on June 22 by 2017-2018 ALA President Jim Neal at Opening General Session of the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, which featured former First Lady Michelle Obama and Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. Accepting the ALA Trustee Citations were Weller and Lance Werner, executive director of Kent District Library (on Wilson’s behalf).

The ALA Trustee Citation, established in 1941 to recognize public library Trustees for distinguished service to library development, honors the best contributions and efforts of the estimated 60,000 American citizens who serve on library boards. 

Weller has served on the Kent District Library Board of Trustees since 2010, and is currently chair. She has served on the pension board, development board, and on the Alliance of Friends. She has also served on the Book Bash and Literary Libations committees.

Wilson has served on the Kent District Library Board of Trustees since 2013, including two years as chair. He worked to gain city support to pass a bond that financed a renovation and expansion of the East Grand Rapids location of Kent District Library. He is a member representative for Kent District Library on the Ada Library Building Committee, which is establishing a 20th branch of the Kent District Library.

“We as an organization have been very fortunate to have Penny Weller and Craig Wilson serve as Trustees because they both have been incredibly supportive of KDL’s mission and KDL’s leadership,” said Werner. “They have given valuable insights when facing promising and positive situations, but problematic ones as well, and they’ve each shown to be passionate and dedicated chairpersons and have always given more than what is expected.”

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.