Valerie J. Wilford

EAST PEORIA-Valerie J. Wilford, 76, of East Peoria passed away on August 31, 2016 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She was born on December 6, 1939 in Indianapolis, IN daughter to the late Oliver L. and Virgil Marie Daebelliehn Wilford. Surviving is one sister, Sharon Wilford of Littleton, CO. Valerie retired as executive director of the Alliance Library System after a forty-year career improving libraries and librarianship in Illinois. She was a colleague of librarians, and mentor to hundreds of librarians, noted for her leadership, creativity, and enterprise. On the state level, she served as ILA President in 1984, was honored as ILA's Librarian of the year in 1992 and received the Hugh Atkinson Award for contributions to multi-type library cooperation and resource sharing. National recognition included ALA's Margaret E. Monroe Award and ASCLA's Leadership Achievement Award for setting new standards in cooperation among all types of libraries. She spearheaded the first national virtual conference for the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) and developed a FREENET for rural libraries. She is a member of the American Library Association, the association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, the Illinois Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians and the Illinois School and Media Association. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in education from Illinois State University and a Master's Degree in library science from the University of Illinois. Her studies included post-graduate work at the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Illinois State University. Cremation rites have been accorded. A Memorial Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1pm at the Par-A-Dice Hotel, 21 Blackjack Blvd. East Peoria, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be given to a specific scholarship fund to be established for purposes of fostering innovative initiatives by local libraries through out the state, to be administered through the Illinois Library Association. Mason-White Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements and notes condolences may be sent using www.masonfuneralhomes.com