Illinois Reading Council names Becky Anderson Hall of Fame winner

Becky Anderson Wilkins - co-owner of Anderson's Bookshops and Anderson's Bookfair Company in Naperville, Downers Grove and Aurora - has been named the 2014 Hall of Fame Award winner by the Illinois Reading Council.

The award is designed to distinguish Illinois reading activists who have given outstanding contributions to reading or reading education.

The qualifications required of the recipient are as follows: a native of Illinois or has been actively involved in work in reading in Illinois for a minimum of five years; well-known and respected colleague in the profession; has held a position of responsibility in the field of reading; has made meritorious contributions in professional activities (such as writing publications, research reports, speaking, organizing programs, helping teachers, and involvement in professional organizations); and has upheld the philosophy and principles of the IRC.

Anderson-Wilkins has received many awards, including the Illinois Family Business of the Year in 2002 and the prestigious national award for Bookseller of the Year by Publisher's Weekly in 2013.

As co-founder of both Naperville Reads and Andrea's Angels, Wilkins has provided her community with the gift of reading. Naperville Reads, a communitywide reading initiative, and Andrea's Angels, a program dedicated to distributing new and used books to disadvantaged children, are both successful due to her passion and generosity.

In 2006, Wilkins was awarded the Illinois State Board of Education's Award of Excellence for community volunteerism.