LHRT (Library History Round Table)

Kathleen Weibel (1945-2024)

Kathleen Weibel died on July 29, 2024. Many friends contributed to the American Library Association Memorial Resolution.

MEMORIAL RESOLUTION  January 26, 2025

A Memorial Resolution Honoring Kathleen Weibel

 *Whereas, the American Library Association (ALA) and the library community lost a beloved and valued colleague on July 29, 2024, with the death of Kathleen Weibel;

*Whereas, from her student days at Columbia University School of Library Service and throughout her career Kathleen Weibel was an organizer and driving force for social
justice for library workers and library users;

*Whereas, as a new librarian at the Jackson Square Branch Library and Jefferson Market Regional Library, The New York Public Library, Kathleen was a founding
member of the New York Social Responsibilities Round Table, the ALA SRRT Women’s Task Force, the Congress for Change and Librarians for Change;

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel was instrumental in establishing a philosophy of women in librarianship with her classic article, “Toward a Feminist Profession” in Library Journal,
January 1, 1976, and as editor of the Role of Women in Librarianship, 1876-1976: The Advancement and Struggle for Equalization with Kathleen Heim (Neal-Schuman
Professional Book, 1979); 

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel served in VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in Gary, Indiana in 1969, worked at Gary Neighborhood House and Metro Corp (Community
Action Agency) and established deposit book collections to promote reading;  

*Whereas during 1970 -1974 Kathleen Weibel was Adult Specialist and Librarian, Special Extension Services, Chicago Public Library, and later wrote The Evolution of
Library Outreach 1960-1975 (University of Illinois, 1983) based on her extensive knowledge of the library outreach movement;

* Whereas, Kathleen Weibel was a bold and courageous teacher and mentor during her years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including her time as director of the
University of Wisconsin Extension's Continuing Library Education Planning and Coordination Project (1976-1977)  where she wrote the 421 page Directory Of
Wisconsin Continuing Library Media Education Producers And Programs;

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel, grounded in irrefutable research on women in libraries and spurred by her generous heart, buoyant spirit and humanitarian ideals, founded
Wisconsin Women Library Workers, an organization that broadened understanding of sexism in libraries to include all women who work in libraries and all women served by
libraries. In doing so, she inspired, encouraged, cajoled, fostered and led countless library workers to center their work in a vision of social justice for all;

*Whereas, as Continuing Education Consultant, New York State Library, from 1978 -1980 she developed and taught continuing education classes for public librarians in
New York State; 

*Whereas,  Kathleen Weibel was an advocate and strategist for continuing education for  librarians and wrote Planning Coordinated Systems of Continuing Library Education: a Workbook and Discussion Guide for the Continuing Library Education Network and Exchange, 1982. She gave presentations in 30 states ranging from speeches to week-
long institutes;

*Whereas, as reference/instruction librarian she developed new classes at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Library/Learning Center and in the Office of the Assistant
Chancellor for Educational Services; 

*Whereas, as Director of Libraries at Ohio Wesleyan University in the 1980's, Kathleen Weibel made Beeghly Library a home for all students and for many international
students and her home was a sanctuary by the Olentangy River where the left-behinds always had a place to go to for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kathleen was the ultimate
connector and opportunity creator with a gift for spotting each person's potential and connecting them with people and opportunities to nurture their talents launching many
Ohio Wesleyan University students towards paths of personal and professional growth;

*Whereas, from 1990 -1994 Kathleen Weibel was Principal Consultant, for libraries, Chicago, Illinois and at the American Library Association's 3rd Congress on Professional Education held May 16-17, 2003 at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Kathleen suggested that managers should give primary attention to listening and
laughter;

 *Whereas, Kathleen Weibel wrote many articles and book chapters including “If They Could Solve the (Library) Problems in Champaign-Urbana, They Could Solve the
Problems of the World” with Linda Crowe and Mattye Nelson, Wilson Library Bulletin (1972; “What Is the Newcott-Caldeberry?” Top of the News (1974); “The Women Arisen”
with Patricia Glass Schuman, (American Libraries, 1979); “Public Library Response to Women and Their Changing Roles Revisited,” (Library Trends, 2007) and “Celebrating
National Women’s History Month @Your Library” (American Libraries, 2010) with Kay Ann Cassell; “Funding Academic Libraries,” with Carla J. Stoffle;  and “The Status of
Women in Librarianship”  for several volumes of the ALA YEARBOOK;  

*Whereas, Kathleen was an innovative, respected and loved Head of Staff Development at Chicago Public Library from 1994 - 2004 and a fierce advocate for staff, providing
opportunities for many staff to develop new skills and move forward in their careers;

* Whereas, Kathleen Weibel was a faculty member and teacher in the Simmons College Vietnamese Scholar Librarian Program and taught Vietnamese librarians in Da Nang,
Vietnam in 2007 where she assisted Vietnamese academic libraries to develop their collections and market them to faculty and students;

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel served as a consultant and teacher for librarians in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam in 2009 traveling from library to library teaching academic,
public and school librarians computer and searching skills to enable them to provide information resources to their users;

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel taught for many librarian education programs including Simmons University, Boston; University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, School of
Information Science; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Graduate School of Library and Information Science; College of St Catherine/ Dominican University
Graduate School of Library and Information Science, St Paul, Minnesota; College of DuPage, Library Technical Assistant Program, Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Kent State University,
School of Library and Information Studies; University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Library and Information Studies;

*Whereas, Kathleen was a global citizen interested in learning about other countries and in sharing her expertise to develop skills of librarians around the world, her teaching
provided opportunities for library workers to enhance services to their communities.  She taught project management for the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Mortenson Center for International Library Programs including Vietnam, Ghana, Nigeria, and Thailand;  

*Whereas,  Kathleen loved gardening and museums and volunteered at the Krannert Art Museum garden in Champaign and shared flowers from her own garden with friends;

*Whereas, Kathleen was a generous host who welcomed many friends, family and international visitors to her home; and 

*Whereas, Kathleen Weibel  devoted her life to the vitality of library services with passion and concern for all library workers. 

Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members;  
1. recognizes the significant contributions and accomplishments of Kathleen Weibel and mourns her death; and 
2. extends its sincerest condolences to her family, and her many friends and colleagues.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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