MARGARET WOLFE

Commissioner

Michigan Commission for the Blind

Margaret Wolfe is Librarian Coordinator of the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) in Ann Arbor.

Throughout her career of nearly 40 years, Margaret has provided and expanded library services for people who are blind and have other physical disabilities at the national, state, regional, and local level. She was instrumental in establishing Michigan's network of subregional libraries, and she has served on two committees at the national level, planning audio cassette tape machine and Braille services.

In 1995, she became Librarian Coordinator of the LBPD, where she continues to find ways to enhance services. These include the very popular LBPD Book Lovers Club established 10 years ago, the Many Ways of Seeing workshops that bring University of Michigan ceramics students together with library patrons to create art with clay, and the biennial VISIONS Vendor Fair, sponsored by LBPD and MCB since 2002 with an average of 1,200 participants.

Margaret holds a bachelor of arts degree from Northern Michigan University and a master's degree in library science from Western Michigan University. She is a recipient of the New York Times Librarian Award (2003), the 2006 Library of Michigan's State Librarians Excellence Award, the Michigan Commission for the Blind 2006 Community Partner Achievement Honor Roll Award, and the 2006 Network Subregional Library of the Year Award (National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress).

Margaret is married to Charles Wolfe, who also works with Washtenaw County as Web Content Coordinator for the Information Technology department. They live in Ann Arbor and have a son, Patrick, who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In her role as a Commissioner on the Michigan Commission for the Blind board, Margaret looks forward to supporting innovative services and programs that sustain the social, emotional and intellectual health of Michigan citizens who are blind or visually impaired.