Supporting the Friends, supporting the Libraries

October 24, 2012

In honor of National Friends of Libraries Week, we welcome two important people to Library News & Events, and, since this is the first year for both of them, to the Libraries in general. Friends Program Administrator Elizabeth Nevers and Friends Student Assistant Katrina Dombrowsky cover a lot of the “behind the scenes” responsibilities for the Friends of the Libraries, from promotional materials to website upkeep to event coordination. Without their hard work, the vital work of the Friends would not be possible.

Liz Nevers.

Liz Nevers grew up on a dairy farm in northeast Ohio where books and reading were considered as important as the farm work. She then came “way out west to Wisconsin” to go to school. She now calls Wisconsin home and has lived and worked in various communities around the state.

Liz has a BA from Beloit College and a MS from the UW-Madison. She has worked in community and economic development since 1998. One of her areas of focus is nonprofit management. She has served on several nonprofit boards and has worked as administrator for several nonprofits.

Liz is currently the administrator for the UW-Madison Friends of the Libraries. Says Liz, “Libraries and books have always been an important part of my life. I remember how excited I was when my mother would drive us to town to visit that small rural library. And I still feel that delightful sense of discovery whenever I walk into a library.” Liz and her husband Fridtjof reside in Baraboo along with two bossy dachshunds and a mellow yellow cat.

Katrina Dombrowsky.

Katrina Dombrowsky is the new Student Assistant for the Friends of the Libraries. Katrina is a first year Graduate student at UW-Madison’s School of Library and Information Studies. She is from Park Rapids, MN and attended college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth for her Bachelor’s degree in English.

Katrina and her husband are still new to the area as they just recently moved to Madison so she could attend grad school. Katrina is really enjoying living in Madison and looks forward to continuing to explore all that the area has to offer.

Says Katrina, “Being an avid library-goer my whole life, I am very excited to be able to have the opportunity to work for the Friends of the Libraries. It is very satisfying to work for a group that actively promotes library collections and events. Having no prior library work experience as an incoming SLIS student was a little intimidating, so I would have to say that the most exciting thing about my job is probably the fact that I now get to work inside a library! It is an environment in which I feel very comfortable and happy.”

We are so pleased to welcome Liz and Katrina to the Libraries! Learn more about the Friends of the UW-Madison Libraries.