From WOOD COUNTY DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Wood County District Public Library has awarded Children’s Place librarian, Ali Hultz, the John M. Gibson Award for 2025. Nominators say Hultz has a genuine interest in every child and family that visits the library, and demonstrates great kindness and enthusiasm in every greeting and every book suggested. Hultz was nominated because she embodies the excellence of The Children’s Place at WCDPL. Always ready with a laugh or a smile, Hultz is commended for her outgoing personality, her ability to connect to young readers, and her creativity that shines in displays and decorations.
Since being established in 2005, the Gibson Award has been presented to 19 library employees: Mandy Hackley (2005), Mary Boone (2006), AJ Heilman and Donna Mertz (2007), Debra Born (2008), Kristin Wetzel (2009), Linda Conrad (2010), Maria Simon (2011), Nancy Weiland (2012), Katherine Lawn (2013), Anne Render (2014), Matt Mehling (2015), Victoria Forgette (2016), Tara Bahnsen (2017), JJ Hofner (2018), Kevin Puffer (2019), The Children’s Place (2020), Angie Babcock (2022), Daniel Hergert (2023) and Lauren Canaday Johnson (2024). It is a tradition and is given to library staff to recognize excellence in their work and in customer service.
Hultz was awarded the John M. Gibson Award during the library Staff Development Day on Oct. 17.
