Schaumburg Township Librarian Receives Prestigious ILA Award

Genealogy Coordinator Tony Kierna of the Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL) is the 2018 recipient of the Illinois Library Associations (ILA) Reference Services Award, according to Monica Harris, STDL Executive Director. Kierna will receive his award during the ILA's Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 9 in Peoria.

Sponsored by Ancel Glink, this award recognizes an Illinois librarian or institution that exemplifies excellence in providing assistance to library users as they seek and use information. The ILA sited Kierna's key role in developing STDL into a powerhouse of genealogical research and service since 1997.

"We're proud to have Tony on our staff," Harris said. "He's very popular with the patrons who attend his monthly Genealogy Group, and has helped countless people learn to use modern technology and other resources to discover their ancestors."

Over the past few years, Kierna has led the library in creating screen case trainings of genealogy research tools. These recorded trainings allow patrons to gain additional skills they need to deepen their research practice and has increased the libraries reach within the community. In January, 2018, he connected with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project and began videotaping personal narratives of local American war veterans to add to the national archives. According to the ILA, achievements like this and his role in making genealogy accessible to all played a significant role in Kierna receiving the Reference Services Award.