Lynn Hammerlund Inducted as Illinois Library Luminary

Lynn Hammerlund has been inducted and named the twenty-sixth Illinois Library Luminary. Since 1988, Hammerlund has served as a trustee and board member of the Algonquin Area Public Library District (AAPLD), and is described by AAPLD Director, Lynn Elam, as “One of Illinois’ unsung heroes who quietly goes about the business of ensuring that her hometown library functions at the highest level, that her peers are colleagues are taught the principles of librarianship well and that her students are information literacy over-achievers.”

Hammerlund earned her Master in Library and Informational Science from Northern Illinois University and is a key part of the library staff at Judson University with a thirty year tenure as Associate Professor. She was appointed to the Algonquin Area Public Library District Board of Trustees in 1988, served as President of the Board since 1992 and is now serving her 24th consecutive year. In 2012, Hummerlund was a winning contestant on Jeopardy, cementing the reputation of librarians being smart and resourceful individuals.

Hammerlund’s work speaks for itself. As a trustee and president of the Board at AAPLD, Hammerlund has done big things that allowed AAPLD to earn a 4 Star ranking from Library Journal.  She led two successful referenda resulting in the construction of a new 35,000-square-foot central Library and the renovation of an 18,000 square-foot branch Library. From 1988 through 2002, she led the Library District through eight successful annexations of the Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, and Cary communities.

Hammerlund’s praises from AAPLD Director Lynn Elam describe her at best, Hammerlund is “Selfless in pursuit of excellence, Lynn Hammerlund is a role model for library workers and volunteers. She has and continues to play a key role in the greatness of Illinois libraries –truly one of those library people who are often overlooked, but who has accomplished much for her university and for her community.”

Hammerlund joins the ranks of Peggy Sullivan, Judith F. Krug, Bridget Lamont, and Burton Joseph, among others, in this Illinois hall of fame for the library community. For more information about the Illinois Library Association, http://www.ila.org/about-ila/illinois-library-luminaries.