Thank you to our MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY donors listed inside on pages 3-8. EEADEADE Events Books Services RJuly/August 2018 Vol. 76 No. 6R Board President John Gurda Retires Milwaukee historian John Gurda retires from the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees after an unprecedented 25 years of service. Local historian and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 4. “One reason I Milwaukee son John Gurda accepted the post and stayed for so long was to repay some retired from the Milwaukee of what I’ve received over the years.” Public Library Board of Trustees on Monday, May 21 And repay he has. During his tenure on the Building and after 25 years of service. His Development Committee of the Board of Trustees, Gurda last four years on the board helped lead numerous capital projects from tuck-pointing, were served as president. renovations of branch libraries and the beautiful down- town Central Library, redesigns such as the Central Gurda is the descendant of Polish immigrants who settled Library Drive-up, total rebuilding projects of the Bay in Milwaukee in the late 1800s. “Our ancestors came to View, Washington Park, and Tippecanoe libraries, and the a strange country with almost nothing but hope, and the new mixed-use developments including the Villard Square, present generations have, to one degree or another, realized East, Mitchell Street, and upcoming Good Hope branches. that hope,” said Gurda. Gurda is frequently in attendance at library programs and In 1974 he wrote a neighborhood history of the south side events, not only as a board member, but as a concerned surrounding Journey House, interviewing residents of the and involved member of the community. His presence area as they reminisced on the changes that took place puts a stamp of importance on events for both the public through the years. From there, Gurda developed a career of and the staff alike. documenting the histories of Milwaukee area businesses, churches and neighborhoods, culminating in The Making of As one of the library’s most faithful patrons and researchers, Milwaukee, his defi nitive history of the city. That book, in he is a familiar face in the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities conjunction with the many others he has written, ensured Room, and staff feel a kinship with him that has extended his induction to the Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame at the beyond his role as a board member. So much so, that when Central Library in 2000. the Milwaukee Public Library held its biennial staff retirement dinner this year, Gurda was invited to attend John Gurda is an author, photographer, lecturer, columnist as a “retiree” and special guest. and, possibly of greatest importance to the library, a civic-minded individual dedicated to preserving the Though he may be retiring from the Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Public Library and its place both in the history there is little doubt that Gurda is nowhere near retiring and future of Milwaukee. from writing, or from continuing to serve the interests of the Milwaukee Public Library. Benjamin Franklin, father “When Mayor John Norquist appointed me to the board in of the public library, said “Either write something worth 1993, I was near the midpoint of my career and absolutely reading, or do something worth writing.” John Gurda dependent on the public library’s collections, particularly continues to do both. its local history materials,” wrote Gurda in his column for FROM THE ITY LIBRARIAN Celebrate Hmong C PAULA A. KIELY Culture with According to Forbes online magazine, LunaBellas there are four essential questions a company’s mission and vision state- Experience a Hmong cultural ments must answer: What do we do? presentation through dance to How do we do it? Whom do we do it for? What value learn about the Hmong journey at are we bringing? the Central Library Schoenleber Reading Room on Saturday, When we developed the library’s current vision and July 14, from 2-3 p.m. mission statements in 2013, we knew the library’s identity as a “keeper of books” was already well LunaBellas is a Hmong dance team established. What we needed to impart was the vital role the library plays in the community and how it from Sheboygan, Wisconsin whose dances are inspired by the beauty contributes to a strong city - beyond the catalog of Central - Schoenleber books. of the many different cultures of Southeast Asia.7/14 Sat. 2-3 pm Celebrate Vision - MPL is an anchor institution that helps build Hmong Culture with LunaBellas. Expe- healthy families and vibrant neighborhoods - the rience a Hmong cultural presentation foundation of a strong Milwaukee. through dance to learn about the Hmong Journey. LunaBellas is a Hmong dance Mission - Inspiration starts here - we help people team from Sheboygan, WI. Th eir dances read, learn, and connect. are inspired by the beauty of the many It is important to the community that the library diff erent cultures of Southeast Asia. provides access to books, materials, and free online resources for early literacy, English as a Second Language, academic studies, job and career enhance- ment, and of course self-improvement and enjoyment. However, the library’s role within the neighborhood and throughout the city at large is equally important. Our free meeting spaces, computer classes, job help, homework help, outreach to childcare centers, summer reading programs, book clubs, story times, author visits and special events and programs touch the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY And we continue to find new ways to build up our EADE Events Books Services community. The new Office of Early Childhood Initiatives, which will be located within the Vision: Th e Milwaukee Public RLibrary is an anchor institutionR that helps build healthy Milwaukee Public Library, will coordinate and families and vibrant neighborhoods – the foundation of a strong Milwaukee. Mission: increase access to quality services and programs Inspiration starts here – we help people read, learn, and connect. Library Director ............................................................ Paula A. Kiely available to Milwaukee parents, ensuring that their Board of Trustees .......................................................... Michele Bria, president; young children get an equal start in life and are Joan Prince, vice president; Chris Layden, fi nancial secretary; Ald. Milele Coggs, prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Sharon Cook, Ald. Cavalier Johnson, Ald. Nik Kovac, Supv. Marcelia Nicholson, Dir. Mark Sain, Jennifer Smith MPL Foundation Board of Directors President ............ Nancy Hernandez Whether we are helping to build healthy families and Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library President .... Barbara Franczyk vibrant neighborhoods, or encouraging people to read, Th e Reader is published ten times per year by the Milwaukee Public Library to celebrate learn, and connect, inspiration reading and share news about books, library services and events. Th e Reader is mailed truly starts here. to members of the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library, distributed free at library locations and available at www.mpl.org. Call (414) 286-3572 or send an e-mail with 2 questions or comments to [email protected] FROM THE FOUNDATION Th ank You For Your Support in 2017 Milwaukee Public Library Foundation is grateful for the generous donors and community partners who have made a difference in 2017 for those who rely on the Milwaukee Public Library every day – that’s 2.2 million annual visitors. The following gifts to the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation were made between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Thank you! $50,000+ M. Lucille Neff Revocable Trust Herbert Hentzen Rose Marie Baron Pax Holdings, LLC IN Marketing Services Clair & Mary Baum The Lynde & Harry Bradley Dan & Nicole Renouard Dorothy Inbusch Foundation, Inc. Arlene Brachman Foundation, Inc. Robert W. Baird & Company JP Morgan Chase Teresa Carpenter Cargill Corporation Foundation, Inc. KeHE Distributors, LLC Constance Crooks Cramer-Krasselt Mary H. Sprague Carrie & Grant Killoran Dorothy Dean The Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Marcus Corporation Gretchen Doege Foundation Charitable Trust Marquette University Kevin Ehlert Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc. We Energies Foundation Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Inc. Linda Elmer Estate of Lucile Krug Passion Growers, LLC Teresa Esser & Pehr Anderson National Endowment of the Arts $5,000 - $9,999 Deborah & Jamshed Patel Charles Gillette Northwestern Mutual Foundation Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation, John Gilligan & Janice Ereth Schoenleber Foundation, Inc. Anon Charitable Trust Inc. Greater Milwaukee Foundation, AZ Pro PureRED Inc. $25,000 - $49,999 Natalie Beckwith Scribner, Cohen & Company, S.C. Annette J. Roberts & David & Diane Buck Shully’s Cuisine and Events Joan R. Robertson Fund for Brewers Community Foundation, BVK Matthew Simon World Peace, World Law & Inc. Colectivo Coffee Margy Stratton & Greg Norman Peace Education Brighter Futures Grant Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. The Wisconsin Club Barbara & Michael Guolee Friends of the Milwaukee Public Arthur Harrington & Jon & Ann Hammes Library Connie Carson $1,000 - $2,499 Andrew & Paula Holman Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Ely Leichtling & Sally Merrell Susan & Howard Hopwood Inc. Joan Lubar A.O. Smith Foundation, Inc. Ellen & Steve Irion Clarence G. Reible Fund McDill Design Barry & Linda Allen JTS Direct, LLC McBeath Community Partners Milwaukee Bucks, Inc. Fund Milwaukee County Genealogical Kohl’s Corporation Society, Inc.