We are proud to highlight our members who commit their time and resources to helping Wisconsin libraries and librarians thrive through their work with the Wisconsin Library Association. Each month, we will be sharing their stories and hope you will be inspired to learn more about our programs or get involved!

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Fall 2026

Dawn Tevis
La Crosse County Library

What’s something you are proud of? I love book arts and present lots of suminagashi (ink floating on water) workshops in addition to the Western marbling I do (acrylics floating on a thickened water), and I recently wrapped up my first ever exhibit thanks to an emerging artist grant! It included 14 original paper marbling works through which I explored themes from the natural world and the connection between inner and outer landscapes. A few years ago I promised myself I’d make regular goals that require me to be brave. What started out as tiny steps of bravery became increasingly large strides (some of which involved rock climbing at Devil’s Lake State Park). To mix metaphors, the ripples continue outward, and the resonance grows. It’s great to start from where you’re standing.

What song would be your personal theme music? I am really passionate about ideas of place and the possibilities that arise when one experiences love for and from particular place—and how that translates not into an insular way of being, but into living a life of intention and understanding the world as place. I might pick “Harmonize” by Rising Appalachia as my love song to the world and an expression of my respect for openness, meaningful communication, and presence. I might also pick “Stand” by R.E.M. for its focus on awareness and intentionality and action.

What was your dream job as a child? I was torn between being a concert pianist, a writer, or a naturalist. I made it through teenage angst by tickling the ivories, writing poems, and exploring the woods and creek behind my childhood home—and those activities still pull me through the toughest times and inspire me even in the best. Someone asked me a few years ago what in the world I did for all those hours in the forest that meant so much to me, and I found myself turning to a Mary Oliver poem and “nothing between me and the white fire of the stars” to explain: Sleeping in the Forest.

Kent Barnard

Patterson Memorial Library

Library Memory: Growing up, my library was in the Mabel Tainter Memorial. If you go there now, it is the gift shop, the room to the right as you enter. The librarians were the Pinkepank Sisters. The stacks

were around the corner from the desk, and there was a library ladder that was probably 20 feet tall, to get to the top! Of course, as boys do, we wanted to climb up that ladder! The problem was it squeaked,

and you would hear "get off that ladder!" from the desk.

Make your day better: There are two little things that always make my day better is when I read to kids and they come up and give me a hug! The second thing is having one of our cats come up and get on my lap for some love time!

Perfect Weekend: My perfect Wisconsin weekend would be taking our VW bus out on the road, probably up North, to go exploring our amazing State Parks, especially waterfalling! It would involve camping, sitting around the fire, reading in a hammock or comfy chair, and the peace and quiet of the woods.