University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine 2018SpringLibrariesForJoomag | Page 20
Geography Library:
Landscape of a Family Legacy
By Natasha Veeser,
Head of Communications,
UW–Madison Libraries
20 | LIBRARIES Spring 2018
T
he apple doesn’t fall far from the
tree when it comes to University of
Wisconsin–Madison graduate student Emmon
Rogers and her mother, UW–Madison alumna
Anne Hedrich. They not only mapped their
educational paths through Madison . . .
“I was an undergrad here from 1979 to
1985,” explained Hedrich, who returned in
the spring of 1986 to take one undergraduate
course as a non-degree-earning student.
“Then I came back again in 1989 to get my
library degree.”
...they have literally been walking the same
paths through their time on campus—right
through the Geography Building.
“I finished my undergraduate career here,
and now I’m getting my library degree as
well,” said Rogers.
“I like geography and I was looking for a job
on campus,” said Hedrich. “The Geography
Library offered me a position and it was just a
perfect fit. It was always fun to work here.”
Years later her daughter would find
herself in the same role, but for Rogers, the
Geography Library has been a part of her life
for far longer than just her time on campus.
“My mom actually worked with Geography
Librarian Tom Tews! Anytime we would come
back to visit Madison, we would come visit
Tom,” explained Rogers. “I would always draw
on the stories my mom would tell of the fun
she had when she was here, so my decision to
come to Madison for school was an easy one.”
For Tews, it’s a fun tie that has come full
circle.
“It’s neat to see how they’re both interested
in the same things,” said Tews. “They have
vastly different personalities, but working
with both of them through the years has been
a lot of fun.”
As Rogers noted, she might have the
Geography building to thank, in part, for her
existence.
“My mom actually met my dad here,” said
Rogers.
“It’s true,” continued Hedrich. “[Paul] was a
geography grad student working on his thesis.
I helped get him a class reserve reading that
he needed one day, and that’s how we met!”
For Rogers, who received a Masters in
Library Science in May 2018, the family legacy
at UW–Madison is more than just a fun
coincidence.
“I’m living and working in the spaces,
walking the very floors that helped shaped
my parents’ futures, and mine, before I even
knew it. It’s a neat experience,” said Rogers.
“Madison, this campus, and this building,
[and even some of the very people in this
building], have always offered me a sense of
home and a place of belonging, from a very
young age.”
I n December 2017, Hedrich, who now works
as a reference & instruction and science
librarian at Utah State, made a special
trip back to Madison. As the Geography
Department and the Libraries prepared to
close and renovate the Geography Library
space over the coming years, Hedrich
returned to work the final desk shift in the
library alongside her daughter.
“It’s emotional, for sure,” said Hedrich. “But
what an opportunity to have this experience
with my daughter, and with Tom as well.”
January 2018 marked the start of a
transformation for the Geography Library.
Books were moved to other campus libraries
or to offsite shelving. The empty stacks will
be removed to make way for a new home for
the Cartography Lab, with expanded capacity
to teach map-making and data visualization,
produce high quality maps for the public,
and provide creative ‘makerspace’ for the
UW community. The removal of books and
stacks will also open up a new seminar
room overlooking the Memorial Union.
Both projects are underway under close
supervision of the Geography Department
and the Libraries, aiming for completion by
the end of this calendar year. Plans are also
being made for a second phase to transform
the reading room into more flexible and
accessible learning and workspace for the
University community, while maintaining
the lofty beauty of the large space.
As for Rogers, she said she plans to take a
slight detour from her mother’s career path
in academic librarianship, instead opting for
public librarianship. However, this mother-
daughter duo note their Badger family roots
and Madison will always offer a home away
from home.
“It’s a place of great meaning for both of
us,” said Hedrich.
“Plus, we have to visit to keep Tom on his
toes,” joked Rogers.
Images:
Alum Anne Hedrich stands in the Geography Library with her daughter Emmon Rogers (left) and with Geography
Librarian Tom Tews (above). Top of page - Rogers decorates a cookie during fall finals.
University of Wisconsin–Madison | 21