On July 25, 2022 our Henderson Libraries Foundation Board of Directors presented Renee Hudacek with 2022’s Joan T. Wholihan Scholarship. Renee’s passion and interest of furthering her career in library services shined in her application. Her experience in library services spans over two decades between university, public, and school libraries. She has had a 13 year teaching career in English and Drama sandwiched in between her library commitments. Working mostly in Adult Services, Technical Services, Youth Services and Circulation, Renee has been responsible for a myriad of tasks.
Dedicated to pushing towards her passion she quit her teaching job in June 2018 and was hired two weeks later as a part-time Adult Services Specialist in the Henderson Library District. Three years and several supplemental jobs later, she was hired as the full-time Circulation Specialist at our Gibson Library branch. It was during the 2020 pandemic where she did some soul searching and decided to pursue her Master’s Degree. In December 2020, she applied and was accepted into Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management as a graduate student and began classes the following January. She is on track to graduate with her master’s degree in Library Science in August of 2023!
Renee has chosen a concentrated path towards youth services due to her love of working with teens and her background in teaching. She believes youth services in the public library will be the best melding of her love of education and the library. Her goal is to achieve a full-time library position, making optimal use of her skills and interests that provide value to our community.
We wish Renee the best of luck in her pursuit of education and great success further uplifting youth services in our community!