By Chris Spangler
Eric Robinson was closing the book on his seven years at the Dwight Foster Public Library as Fort Atkinson bid him a fond farewell Monday afternoon.
Robinson, who has served as library director since October of 2017, will assume the same position at the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville May 13.
On Monday, library board members, friends and patrons gathered for a reception to thank Robinson for his service.
“This has been the best staff, the best library and the best community I’ve ever worked with,” he said in between congratulatory handshakes Monday. “ It’s been a pleasure.”
While many things stand out from his seven-year tenure, Robinson cited continuing to provide library services during the COVID-19 pandemic as being among the most memorable.
“There have been a lot of different challenges, especially through COVID, but everybody that I’ve worked with always has been amazing at being able to understand what challenges we have, what things we can provide the community and (the importance of) being able to serve the amazing patrons who come through our door every day,” Robinson noted.
When COVID-19 caused the closing of public spaces in March of 2020, the library staff kept busy with curbside pickup of books and other materials, a storywalk “trail,” a fine forgiveness program and virtual programming, among many other things.
“We were able to reopen as one of the earliest libraries in the state,” the library director said. “The fact that we were able to do it in a very safe way that people, if they were interested in using us as they had, could …” was wonderful.
He praised his co-workers, who became very close during COVID.
“It’s like any job where when there are difficult times, they are the folks I can always rely on to see what can be, what’s good about what we’re doing and what’s working right. They always have great insights,” he said of the library staff.
The Friends of the Library organization also is “incredible,” he pointed out.
“They are growing and they support a lot of amazing stuff for us,” Robinson said, citing the free Explore passes for library users and their families to visit Madison and Milwaukee museums and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
“I think the things we can add as a library community give people more experiences than just books,” he concluded.
An Edgerton resident, Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 2001 and a master’s degree in library and information science in 2004, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Starting in 2002, he worked as a project assistant at Wendt Commons Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Later, he was an employed in various roles at the Steenbock Memorial Library and UW Memorial Library while completing his schooling.
Before arriving in Fort Atkinson in 2017, he was resource sharing coordinator for Wisconsin Library Services from June 2005-January 2013 and university library director at Mount Mary University from January 2013-October 2017.
Robinson has been a member of the Jefferson County Literacy Council Board of Directors since October 2017 and secretary of the Wisconsin Library Association Executive Board since September 2023.
It was his wealth of experience in library administration and passion for community engagement that caught the attention of the Hedberg Public Library, according to Dr. Patty Hernandez, president of the Hedberg Public Library Board of Trustees.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eric Robinson as our new library director,” she stated in a March news release. “His proven track record of leadership, dedication to promoting literacy, and commitment to serving the community make him the ideal candidate to lead our library forward.”
As the incoming library director in Janesville, Robinson said in the news release that he is eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by his predecessors.
“I am truly honored to have been chosen for this role and am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead,” he said. “I am eager to bring my skills, experience, and passion to the team, working alongside each of you and the librarians to achieve our collective goals.”
Meanwhile, the Fort Atkinson Library Board was to meet in closed session Monday afternoon to discuss an interim library director.
Robinson succeeded Kelly TerKeurst, who left in September 2017 to join her husband in England. She had served as director since February 2014, following longtime library employee and director Connie Meyer.
Outgoing Dwight Foster Public Library Director Eric Robinson, from left, visits with Luke Bocher, Trudianne Thom and Joan Fitzgerald during Monday’s reception.
Fort Atkinson Fire and EMS Chief Bruce Peterson, at center, explains the significance of a “challenge coin” he presented to Eric Robinson, at left, in recognition of his service to the community as library director. At right is City Manager Rebecca Houseman.
Two photos above: Photographic images of outgoing Dwight Foster Public Library Director Eric Robinson are adhered to balloons which decorated the library Monday. Many were embellished with playful additions made by well-wishers with Sharpies. The balloons were left over from a recent event and staffers had fun decorating them with a photo of their soon-to-be-former boss.
Guests greet Dwight Foster Public Library director Eric Robinson during a farewell reception Monday afternoon. He will begin his duties as library director at Janesville’s Hedberg Public Library on May 13.
Minetta Lippert, assistant director/youth services librarian at the Dwight Foster Public Library, refills the refreshment trays during Monday’s reception for outgoing library director Eric Robinson. The doughnut holes were provided by the Friends of the Library.
Chris Spangler photos.
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