Bernard Oppenneer
Bernard Lee Oppenneer (1928-2024) was adminstrator of the Des Plaines Public Library from 1977 to 1994. During his tenure he oversaw the conversion from the card catalog to the online catalog and the installation of the self-checkout machines. He also brought literacy classes to the library.
During his time in Des Plaines, he also served as president of the Kiwanis Club and the Art Guild.
Mr. Oppenneer was born December 5, 1928 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He served as a Private First Class in the Engineer Corps as a radioman and cartographer in the United States Army.
He began his library career as a page in his junior high school in Grand Rapids. He received his Master's of Library Science from the University of Michigan.
Before coming to Des Plaines, he was head librarian at the Reddick Public Library in Ottawa, Illinois, Travers Area District Library in Traverse City, Saginaw Public Libraries, and the Gail Borden Library in Elgin.
He was known for his love of Alice in Wonderland and often dressed as the Mad Hatter.
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Notes
- ^ The Illinois Secretary of State is also the state librarian. Edgar would become governor in 1991.
