Administration
Executive Director, Debra Lissak
Deb has been an employee of The Urbana Free Library since 1980 and executive director since 2007. Due to her long tenure at the library, she brings tremendous knowledge of library operations and the Urbana community. Before becoming executive director, Deb was the library’s associate director and head of adult services, and was director of the Burnham City Hospital library in Champaign. She enjoys gardening, musicals and soccer (watching not participating), and the company of her four (adult) children.
Associate Director, Kathryn Wicks
Kathy has been an employee of The Urbana Free Library since 1989, first as the director of circulation services, and currently as the associate director. Before coming to our library, she was the circulation department head for the Evans Library at Texas A&M University. With a background in marketing, Kathy is actively involved in promoting library services and may be found at many library outreach events. She is a current member of the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Committee. She enjoys writing, photography, participating in marathons, and fishing.
Director of Circulation Services, Dawn Cassady
Dawn became director of circulation services in 2007. Before coming to our library, she served as training and technical assistance coordinator for the University of Illinois Library’s Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, a law librarian for Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Peoria, and an adult services librarian for The Urbana Free Library. Dawn likes cooking (and enjoying the results), and spending time with family and friends. She is also a lifelong fan of the Cubs and the Illini, and an NPR junkie.
Director of Adult Services, Anne Phillips
Anne has been an employee of The Urbana Free Library since 1992, first as an Adult Services librarian and currently as the director of Adult Services. Prior to coming to our library, she was the director of the Rantoul Public Library and has also worked as a library consultant and as supervisor of Interlibrary Borrowing for the University of Illinois Library. Anne writes a column on books and reading for the Sunday book page in our local newspaper. Besides reading and writing, she likes to travel, cook, and garden. She is a fan of extreme climates.
Director of Children’s Services, Lora Fegley
Lora has been director of children’s services for The Urbana Free Library since November 2010. Prior to coming to our library, she was youth services coordinator at the Martin County Library System in Stuart, Florida, and worked in the children’s department at the Champaign Public Library. Lora has 20 years experience working in public libraries, focusing most of her attention on youth services. Although Lora was born and raised in Florida, she is now the proud owner of a winter coat and snow boots and is liking life in the Midwest. She enjoys hiking, cooking, reading (of course), and spending time with her family.
Director of Special Collections, Anke Voss
Anke joined The Urbana Free Library staff as the director of the Champaign County Historical Archives in 2005. Prior to coming to our library, she was the archivist and special collections librarian for the Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University, an archivist for the Rockefeller Archive Center in New York, and is currently an adjunct faculty member for the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Born in Germany, Anke came to the United States while in high school. She has an avid interest in women’s history and is currently co-editing a volume of essays on the history and development of women’s archives.
