University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine 2017 Summer Libraries Magazine | Page 22

A Message from the Friends President
S
ince the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Friends of the Libraries were founded in
1948, it has been fortunate to count among
its board members and supporters many of
the most prominent members of the UW–
Madison community. Campus luminaries
have included Gilbert Doane, Louis Kaplan,
and (currently) Mary Rouse, Bill Reeder and
others. Frederic Cassidy, Frank Horlbeck, Art
Hove, and ellsworth snyder, among others,
served long stretches as Board President. I’m
very lucky to work as part of a group with
such a history.
My path into libraries was from the
bookselling world. Coming from several
decades in book retail (and as a relative
newcomer to the university), I was always
most impressed with the Friends’ Book Sale.
When I became involved with the Friends,
I quickly realized that the book sale, too,
was an area where prominent members of
the UW community had made their mark
Elwyn and Evelyn Weible (photo courtesy of the Weible Family).
22 | LIBRARIES Summer 2017
over the years. Like me,
you may have picked
up a book containing
a stamp or bookplate
or notation that it was
from the library of
Art Hove, or William Cronon, or one of the
many professors, administrators, students
and others who donate regularly to the book
sale. (I recently pulled my 1961 hardcover
New Directions Complete Ronald Firbank, with
“Arthur Hove” written in pen on the inside
cover, from the shelf.) This is how books are
passed from booklover to booklover, through
many decades.
The late Elwyn and Evelyn Weible were
two such booklovers. Both worked in libraries
for years. Evelyn, who passed away in August
2013, was from Iowa, took her first post-MLS
library job at the New York Public Library.
Later, (“New York City was a bit too exciting
for a country girl,” she wrote), she returned
to the midwest and moved to Madison with
her new husband Elwyn in 1962. She worked
at the UW–Madison Libraries, the Madison
Public Library, and for 30 years, as an
elementary school librarian in the Middleton-
Cross Plains School District. Elwyn, who
passed away in December, 2016 was also from
Iowa, and started work at Memorial Library in
1963, only a year after their move to Madison.
He worked at Memorial until his retirement
in 1999. After that, he and Evelyn, with their
trademark unflagging energy, began to learn
to play the cello. Both Elwyn and Evelyn
were incorrigible bibliophiles, which was
reason enough to like them. But as I can say
from talking with them during bookstore
visits over 20 years, they were also one of the
smartest, nicest, and most engaging couples
in Madison, brightening the day of anyone
who was lucky enough to run into them.
After Elwyn’s death, the Weible family
decided to donate Elwyn and Evelyn’s
remaining book collection to the Friends.
Jim Dast, the Friends’ long-time book sale
administrator, notes that this is perhaps “the
best donation the Friends have ever received.”
Some of the Weibles’ books will wind up
back in the collections of UW–Madison,
while the majority will go into the book sale.
(When I last ran into Elwyn, perhaps a year
ago, he was browsing the Friends book sale).
The Friends are honored to help the Weibles’
books reach many new and grateful readers.
Donating to the book sale is just one way
among many that individuals can help the
Friends, and thus the Libraries. There are
opportunities to volunteer at some of our
events, including the book sale; you can also
help by attending library events, or donating
to one of the many library funds that the
Friends support. Please feel free to get in
touch if you’d like to know more, and thank
you for being part of this long-term (almost
70 years!) group of UW–Madison Libraries
admirers.
Sincerely,
Michael Chaim
UW – Madison Friends of the Libraries Board
Michael Chaim Bill Reeder
Richard Leffler Yvonne Schofer
Kathryn Jones Robin Rider
Jim Dast Jim Fleming
Pat Bender Joshua Calhoun
Beth Kubly Toni Good
Ken Frazier Joanne Berg
Mary Rouse Elton Crim
Maria Saffiotti Dale Oscar Mireles
John Dillon Laura Monahan
Richard Pifer Catrina Sparkman
Grants
Grants to Scholars 2017 recipients:
Benjamin Feldman
Carlos Andres
Clare Robinson
Eddie Cole
Emily Morgan
Ian Tonat (John Peters Fellow)
Justin Ritzinger
Kimberly Killion
Kyle Williams
Mary Barr
Nicole Meyer
Sarah Riva
Neeraja Sankaran
Kristjan Arnason
Rare Book School grant recipient:
Laura Schmidt
Event
November 1st–4th: Fall Book Sale
University of Wisconsin–Madison | 23