Get to know Joe

Meet Joe Bongers, Head of Information Services
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading two books. The first is the novel Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen.  It tells the story of a grieving widower who retreats to the woods to find solace. I’m also listening to the memoir Every Day Is Extra by former Secretary of State John Kerry. 

What inspired you to become a librarian?
I discovered librarianship in college, first as a student at UW-Stevens Point Library, where I worked and later at UW-Madison after transferring there. 

In Madison, I worked as a research assistant for a political science professor, whose wide-ranging research interests took me to most of the university’s more than 30 libraries.  Also, during my time in Madison, I discovered the Wisconsin Historical Society Library and Archives.  I was originally introduced to this incredible institution as a history major and found it an invaluable resource for my coursework.  It didn’t take long, however, to discover that the library also featured one of the world’s great genealogy collections. I eventually started working there helping patrons research their family history.  

Collectively, these experiences led me to understand that I enjoyed – and had a talent for – library work.  It’s rewarding work that offers intellectual engagement, endless variety, and the satisfaction of meeting people’s needs. 

Tell us a little about your work experience?
I moved home to Menasha after college and found part-time work in the libraries at UW-Fox Valley and Fox Valley Technical College.  In 1999 I took a position at the Neenah Public Library and found my true calling as a public librarian.  While in Neenah, I completed a Master of Library and Information Science, and in 2007 I took a position as an Adult Services Supervisor at the Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha where I worked until starting here.

What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?
My wife and I moved to Oshkosh in 2005 and have three children in Oshkosh schools. I’ve been involved in the community as a scout leader, Walking School Bus Coordinator, and as a board member of the Oshkosh Zoological Society.  I’m incredibly excited by this opportunity to bring my professional life to Oshkosh and to make a greater contribution to the quality of life in this wonderful community.

Tell us about your favorite book, movie or musical artist.
I’ve always believed that there are just too many great books to settle on one favorite.  A few of my favorite novels include So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell, Dalva by Jim Harrison, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, and A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean.  Some of my favorite nonfiction reads include Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by Fr. James Martin, Fire Season by Philip Connors, and Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.