WHSLA's newest award: The Robert Koehler Exemplary Service Award

This past Monday, June 6 the WHSLA Board had the honor of presenting Robert Koehler with the new WHSLA Robert Koehler Exemplary Service Award. Robert received this newly designated award for his service to WHSLA and health science librarianship in Wisconsin for over 37 years. 

Here are a few highlights of his time in WHSLA:

• Issue 177 from November 1985: Robert Koehler listed as a new WHSLA member.  Location is Methodist Hospital Library.
• Issue 194 from July 1987: Robert Koehler listed in the WHSLA Election Committee report as one of six newly elected representatives. 
• Issue 217 from November 1989: Robert is the Program chair for the 1990 WHSLA Annual meeting to be held in April.  Fun fact: on the conference registration form for the meeting (included in issue 221) they asked for your social security number if you wanted to collect CEU credits!
• Issue 222 from May-June 1990: Congratulations to Robert as he is elected President-elect in spring 1990.
• Issue 230 from May-June 1991: Robert’s first president’s column talks about how he’s recharged after the conference in Green Bay and that the class he attended on computers was helpful as he prepares to bring CD-Rom technology into the library.  Blast from the past!
• Issue 240 from May-June 1992: Robert’s first past-president’s column talks about how when he was first approached about running for WHSLA president, his initial reaction was, “I’m not really qualified to handle the position.”  His second thought was, “I don’t have the time.” He went on to say that his fears on both counts were quickly dispelled.  He said he had so many WHSLA members to turn to for help and there are so many unsung heroes in the organization.  He found it easy to find people to agree to help and had people calling him to offer to help with committees.
• Issue 248 from April-May 1993.  Robert’s elected Rep-at-large again.
• Issue 251 from October 1993: Robert gave the Treasurer report at the April 1993 Board meeting
• Issue 314 from November/December 2003: In the President’s letter, Robert’s mentioned as the 2003 WHSLA Librarian of the Year.  The award garnered attention for Robert at Meriter Hospital; he was featured in the hospital newsletter and honored by the CEO. 

Robert was also featured as a 2016 WHSLA Spotlight. 

We wish you all the best in your retirement, Robert!