November 6, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Three Lakes woman receives Wisconsin Library Association 'Citation of Merit' award
Three Lakes woman receives Wisconsin Library Association 'Citation of Merit' award
When she became president of the Edward U. Demmer Memorial Library's board of trustees in 2009, Reuling began the process of committing herself to a decade of work to bring a $2.2 million remodeled and expanded library building to the Three Lakes community, according to a press release announcing the award.
Reuling began as a trustee on the Demmer Library board in the early 2000s.
She then accepted a nomination to be president at a point when the 40 year-old Demmer Library building needed upgrades both to the physical structure and spaces for providing modern library services.
Reuling began by forming the Demmer Library Building Committee (DLBC), a group representing library staff, library patrons, and interested members of the Three Lakes community. The committee assessed the needs of the aging building, changes required to meet Wisconsin Public Library Service Standards and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and then commissioned a survey to gather community input into the services and facilities residents and visitors wanted. The board of trustees then engaged an architectural firm and Reuling led the Three Lakes Public Library Foundation in a capital campaign that raised $1.3 million in private donations towards the building project. A vigorous "get out the vote" campaign resulted in a successful building referendum to approve $900,000 in tax levy.
Reuling resigned from the board of trustees in 2017 and accepted an appointment to chair the Demmer Design and Construction Committee (DCC) and devoted herself entirely to the building project. In April 2018, construction began, and Reuling further increased her involvement in the project with weekly construction meetings to review all aspects of the project.
"Her methodical thinking, tenacity, attention to detail, and her familiarity with administrative processes and financial procedures yielded steady progress toward the final goal: a 21st century library designed to meet the unique needs of the Three Lakes community," the release states.
The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) "Citation of Merit" award recognizes Wisconsin citizens who are neither librarians nor library trustees who have made outstanding contributions to quality library services. Reuling received her award in October at the WLA annual conference in Wisconsin Dells.
It was presented by current Demmer board trustee Ann Asbeck.
"Vicki has shown her support in many roles of leadership she has taken over the years on behalf of the Demmer Memorial Library," said Asbeck. "We are so pleased to recognize her and to appreciate the many hats she has worn on behalf of the Demmer Memorial Library and truly, as a community library supporter."
"I want to thank WLA; it is humbling for me. Usually I don't like to get citations, but this is one I'm really proud of," Reuling said. "I'm just a community supporter, but the community center in a lot of communities like Three Lakes is the library, and I'm so happy to be a part of that."
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