Algonquin library board president dies

Lynn Hammerlund, president of the Algonquin Area Public Library District Board of Trustees and a Judson University associate professor who gained a measure of national fame by winning $22,500 on "Jeopardy!," died Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

The library district posted on its Facebook page: "Too soon we lost a passionate advocate for libraries, an avid supporter of AAPLD, and a strong champion of Library staff."

The district noted her 28 years of service to the board, including 23 years as president.

A catalog librarian and associate professor at Judson University for more than 30 years, she was also named an Illinois Library Association Library Luminary in 2013.

At Judson, she taught Faith and Learning in the school's traditional and adult undergraduate liberal arts program and was instrumental in helping to write and update coursework for the classes. She also was a member of the General Education Committee, scored basketball games, and worked as a faculty sponsor of Alpha Lambda Delta.

Hammerlund also led film discussions, made presentations in chapel, sang in Judson recitals and appeared in at least two theater productions, including "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Godspell."

Last August, she received the Christ-like Servant Award during Judson's annual Welcome Back staff and faculty picnic.

Around Judson, she was known as the "Trivia Queen," proving her prowess with her successful appearance on "Jeopardy!" in 2012.

She correctly gave Wrigley Field as the answer to a question about which facility at 1060 W. Addison was given by Elwood as his home address in the movie "Blues Brothers."

According to a 2012 story in the Daily Herald, it was the third time she was called to audition for "Jeopardy!" In September 2001 she couldn't get on a plane, and in 2008 she needed to attend the funeral of her mother-in-law, who was also a big fan of the show, she said.

"This time it was meant to be, everything worked out perfectly," said Hammerlund, who wore her mother-in-law's cross at the taping for good luck.

Lynn's supervisor, Judson Library Director Larry Wild, said that in addition to her daily duties of purchasing and cataloging books and teaching information literacy classes, Lynn "did whatever was needed in the library."

He said she served a stint as interim library director, overseeing the circulation, interlibrary loan and reference departments.

He recalled her exuberance when library staff prepared goodie bags for their student workers every year for fall semester finals' week. "As we placed the candy, fruit, popcorn and granola bars into each bag, Lynn would always say, 'This is my favorite day of the year, when we do this for the students,'" he said.

Hammerlund leaves behind two adult children, Sarah and Bryan.

Funeral arrangements are pending.