Mindy King, director of libraries at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been named the 2026 Wisconsin Library Association/Demco Librarian of the Year, UW-Stevens Point announced Oct. 16. King is scheduled to receive the award Thursday, Oct. 22, at the association’s annual conference in Madison, according to the announcement.
The award recognizes King’s leadership and library service, the university said. She guided the relocation of the library’s 500,000-volume collection to a temporary off-site facility while maintaining access for students and faculty to materials, research assistance, instruction and other services, according to UW-Stevens Point.
King also worked with architects and university partners on the Gale and Paul Kirby Library and Student Resource Center, which opened in April 2026, the announcement said. The 151,274-square-foot facility combines library resources with tutoring, advising, financial aid, veterans services, disability resources and other student services; more than 1,600 people toured it on opening day, according to the university.
UW-Stevens Point said King has also championed open educational resources and open-access publishing, worked to improve the accessibility of digital library resources, supported undergraduate research and helped establish a campus bikeshare program. The university said she purchased multiuser e-books to provide required course readings to students at no additional cost.
The university said King has held leadership and volunteer roles with the Wisconsin Library Association, WiLS, the Universities of Wisconsin libraries and the Portage County Public Library Foundation. She has also supported professional development for library faculty and staff and helped develop a library internship course, according to the announcement.
