“I want to share some fun news about a colleague of ours, Dawn Wacek.

Earlier this year Dawn was invited by the local TedX hosts at UW-La Crosse to share an “idea worth spreading” – her ideas about creating fine-free libraries. Her talk caught the attention of the curation team at the international TED level and today, her talk was featured on the main page of the national TedX website! It’s been fun watching the views head towards 180K.

Dawn, who is the manager of youth services at La Crosse (WI) Public Library, has been a fierce advocate for equitable access in the libraries she works at. It has been great watching the transformation of the youth area and the approach she has brought and encouraged among the staff to make the library more welcoming, more inclusive and a focal point of community for youth and caregivers.

We’re all happy to see this issue so eloquently advocated for by Dawn!”