GSLIS alumna Nancy Gillfillan (MS '66) has been named an Illinois
Library Luminary by the Illinois Library
Association (ILA). This distinction honors individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to Illinois libraries and whose supporters have made a financial contribution of at least $1,000 to the Illinois Library Association Endowment on their behalf.
In the award announcement, ILA recognized Gillfillan as follows:
Nancy Gillfillan has dedicated more than 30 years to the Illinois library community. Spending the majority of her career at the Dixon Public Library, her accomplishments include introducing the rural community to library automation and Internet access. She extended her passion for libraries to the greater Illinois community by presenting at a wide variety of conferences and workshops and serving on a variety of committees.
Her committee work included serving as President of the University of Illinois Graduate Library School Alumni Association in 2001, a member of the ILA Conference Committee from 1991-1995, a member of the ILA Executive Board from 1997-2000, and as ILA president in 2003.
After Gillfillan's retirement from the Fondulac District Library in 2005, she continued to impact and inspire the library profession by teaching the Administration & Management of Libraries and Information Centers course for seven years at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at University of Illinois.
Illinois Library Luminaries honor those who have made a significant contribution to Illinois libraries and whose supporters make a contribution of at least $1,000 to the Illinois Library Association Endowment on their behalf. This honor roll for Illinois libraries serves the dual purpose of recognizing outstanding voices in the library community, while creating a legacy through the ILA Endowment to continue their important work.
Gillfillan was recognized by GSLIS in 2004 when she received the Distinguished Service Award given by the Library School Alumni Association. Past Illinois Library Luminaries include GSLIS alumni Judith Fingeret Krug (honorary degree ’05, inducted 2009), Bridget Later Lamont (MS '72, inducted 2009), Robert Wedgeworth (MS ’61, inducted 2010), Kathleen Balcom (MS '72, inducted 2011), Nancy L. Smith (MS ’68, inducted 2012), Beverly Lynch (MS ’59, inducted 2013), and Valerie Wilford (MS '68, inducted 2013).