Celebrating an amazing first year at the Islamic Resource Center Library

Photos by Cherrie Hanson

Islamic Resource Center librarian Jenny Wegener loves books!  In her first year she added over 300 books to the catalog.

A year has gone by since librarian Jenny Wegener was hired to manage the Islamic Resource Center (IRC) library in Greenfield. The Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition was blessed to find a seasoned professional of her caliber to oversee the collection of Islamic books. For a growing Muslim community, the timing was spot on.

Career librarians like Wegener require an alchemy of abilities – computer literacy, strong organizational skill, detail-oriented, problem solving, conscientiousness, a love of books, research, a desire to work around people and patience. Lending libraries also need to be accessible, easy to navigate and alluring. Wegener continues to self-educate on all facets of Islam, expanding the catalog with relevant and essential books for every age group.

In August, the Wisconsin Library Association  (WLA) named Wegener member of the month. She has been an active member of for more than 20 years and has benefitted from continuing education opportunities they offer. 

Wisconsin Muslim Journal wanted to learn more about Wegener’s interest in library science and her passion to inspire excitement for the written word. In a recent interview, she shared her history with libraries, insights about the past year and goals for the IRC lending library.

Khaled Abukamireh and his wife, Karen Squire enjoy spending time at the Islamic Resource Center library.

The Wisconsin Library Association recently named you member of the month for August, tell us about WLA and the benefits of membership?

The Wisconsin Library Association is a professional organization for librarians, library staff and supporters in Wisconsin. It provides a variety of continuing education resources, professional development and networking opportunities and groups for special interests. In smaller libraries, such as the IRC, there may only be one librarian on staff so it is helpful to have an organization of professionals to help guide you.  

I have been a member of WLA for a long time. I have been active in the YSS – Youth Services Section for many years and was proud to serve on the board from 2020 to 2022. I am currently serving on the WLA Scholarship Committee. 

A large part of the job caring for books is cataloging and creating protective jackets before they can be checked out by patrons.

Why did you choose library science as a career? 

I did not always plan on a library career.  I was at UWM and was working towards a bachelors degree with the intention of becoming a classroom teacher.  While doing fieldwork in a combined third and fourth grade classroom, one of my duties was to take the students to the “school library” which was an empty classroom with shelves of donated books. I was frustrated because although I had been a voracious reader at that age (and still am) I didn’t have the knowledge to recommend book choices to the students.

To learn more about children’s literature I started taking some classes through the School of Library Science. My professor, Dr. Vida Stanton, suggested that I might enjoy a career as a public librarian. As they say, the rest is history. I worked in public libraries for almost 25 years. I love my profession because it allows me to share my love of reading with children and adults. 

The Islamic Resource Center library began with a list of 100 titles. Thanks to generous donors, the catalog has expanded to over four thousand books.  Keeping it organized takes the patience and conscientiousness of a librarian like Wegener.

As a child, did you love libraries? 

I have always loved books and reading. I remember the joy I felt when I was able to read a book all by myself and how powerful it was. I also remember a summer day in the early 70’s when my mom took us to the library and I sat in the car and read ALL THE BOOKS before coming back into the house to announce that “I read them all, can we go back now?”  

I currently have library cards in two counties and a big stack of books waiting to be read. I also love that libraries are not just shelves of books but valuable third spaces for communities. 

Libraries offer educational resources, book clubs and activities for all ages, and such diverse resources like free passes for area attractions, streaming video, board games, music cd’s and so much more. Libraries are an exceptional resource that help patrons expand their creativity, feed curiosity, and grow a community. 

Activities bring the children into the center so they can follow their interests into books that broaden their knowledge.

Every librarian has his/her influence on the materials within the collection. What were your immediate goals when you took the position and what are your future plans for the IRC library?

My main goal is to get more books into the hands of our young readers. As writer Emilie Buchwald stated, “Children are made readers in the laps of their parents” and my personal mission is to provide beautiful books that reflect our families’ faith and experiences to share with their children so they can discover the joys of reading together. 

I have done some reorganizing of the children’s books and have plans to continue to update the collection to make it more appealing and accessible. I have also been busy adding about 300 new books since last year, including subscriptions to children’s educational activity-based magazines, myDeen and Atlasia Kids. Plus I have created book lists and displays to help patrons find the perfect titles.