The Prairie Landscape

The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006


Dennis Nottmeyer

Nominated By The Honorable William A. Guile


Hoffman


Dennis Nottmeyer

Dennis Nottmeyer was the driving force in the establishment of the Hoffman Library (now the Ralph W. and Bernice S. Sprehe Library). Before the Library was built, the nearest public library that could be accessed by Hoffman residents was 12 miles away. Mr. Nottmeyer was particularly concerned about the ability of children to get to a library after school hours. He contacted the Centralia Regional Library System and with their aid was able to place the annexation of the library system on the local election ballot. After much debate and many meetings, the proposal was successful. The library now services the local school with resources that would not otherwise have been available to the students. This has had a dramatic positive impact on the lives of some local residents; for example, one student who didn't have internet at home was able to use it at the new library to her advantage, which helped her to become a National Honor Society member and win a scholarship to the local community college. Mr. Nottmeyer is awarded with the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award for his vision and his effort in bringing the humanities closer—literally and figuratively—to the people of Hoffman.

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