Ruth Evelyn Katz has distinguished herself in many areas touching on the humanities, including services promoting the visual and performing arts, as well as efforts to advance public access to the printed word through the City of Rock Island's libraries. For more than thirty years she has served on the board of trustees of the Rock Island Public Library, including a stint as president from 1985 to 1987. During her presidency, she was the driving force in an extensive remodel and renovation of the nearly one hundred-year-old main library building in downtown Rock Island. Also working with the Public Library, she has arranged for a series of lectures focusing on famous authors whose names are inscribed on the frieze of the main library building. Her years of service to the community prompted one observer to note her ?discerning eye and exquisite good taste with her generous gifts of time, talent, monetary and moral support to the Quad City cultural organizations, and the result is a much richer community.?
Select Illinois Humanities Council programs are now available for listening or download at Chicago Public Media (WBEZ) as a part of Chicago Amplified, a web-based audio library of diverse public events recorded throughout the Chicago region.
