[ISLMA-Share] Valerie Wilford Obituary

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

For those who knew Valerie, here is her obituary from the Mason Funeral
Homes website--

[image: Valerie J. Wilford]

EAST PEORIA-Valerie J. Wilford, 76, of East Peoria passed away on August
31, 2016 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

She was born on December 6, 1939 in Indianapolis, IN daughter to the late
Oliver L. and Virgil Marie Daebelliehn Wilford. Surviving is one sister,
Sharon Wilford of Littleton, CO.

Valerie retired as executive director of the Alliance Library System after
a forty-year career improving libraries and librarianship in Illinois. She
was a colleague of librarians, and mentor to hundreds of librarians, noted
for her leadership, creativity, and enterprise. On the state level, she
served as ILA President in 1984, was honored as ILA’s Librarian of the year
in 1992 and received the Hugh Atkinson Award for contributions to
multi-type library cooperation and resource sharing. National recognition
included ALA’s Margaret E. Monroe Award and ASCLA’s Leadership Achievement
Award for setting new standards in cooperation among all types of libraries.

She spearheaded the first national virtual conference for the American
Association of School Libraries (AASL) and developed a FREENET for rural
libraries. She is a member of the American Library Association, the
association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, the Illinois
Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians and the
Illinois School Library Media Association.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education from Illinois State University
and a Master’s Degree in library science from the University of Illinois.
Her studies included post-graduate work at the University of Minnesota,
Northwestern University and Illinois State University.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A Memorial Celebration is scheduled for
Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1pm at the Par-A-Dice Hotel, 21 Blackjack
Blvd. East Peoria, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be
given to a specific scholarship fund to be established for purposes of
fostering innovative initiatives by local libraries through out the state,
to be administered through the Illinois Library Association. Mason-White
Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements and notes condolences may be
sent using www.masonfuneralhomes.com

Lou Ann Jacobs
louajcbs at gmail.com
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