Janice Rice, an Elder and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, was recently recognized with the 2026 Distinguished Achievement Award from the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences at University of Wisconsin–Madison for her decades of work in librarianship, education, and advocacy for Indigenous communities.

     Rice said receiving the award came as a surprise.

     “I just did what I do and never thought about it,” Rice said. “Especially from the information school where I got my degree. I didn’t even think they noticed much of what I’ve been doing over the years.”

     Rice’s path into librarianship began long before her time at UW–Madison. Growing up in Tomah, she worked at the Tomah Public Library through a Neighborhood Youth Corps program connected to the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. Seeing Native leadership connected to that opportunity left a lasting impression on her.

     Rice said access to books was limited while growing up in a rural country school, where collections were small and rotating. That experience later inspired her to help create access to books and information for others.

     “I felt like I really missed a lot by being in a rural area,” Rice said. “So, I thought, why don’t I stay with that so that others can benefit from books and learning.”

     Rice originally studied education before eventually finding her way into library science. While attending University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, an advisor encouraged her to explore library science as a minor.

     Later, through encouragement from educators and recruitment efforts connected to Native education organizations, she moved to Madison to continue her studies.

     According to a university profile on Rice, she later earned her master’s degree in Library & Information Studies and a specialist degree in American Indian librarianship at UW–Madison.

     Over the years, Rice worked in multiple areas of librarianship, including public libraries, reference services, and academic collections. After returning to Madison while her husband attended law school, she joined College Library at UW–Madison, where she spent decades helping build Indigenous and multicultural collections for students.

     Since the late 1970s, Rice has helped acquire Native-authored books, tribal newspapers, and Indigenous publications for university collections. She said the rise of Native authors and Indigenous-led publications during that era was especially meaningful.

     “The newspapers, Indigenous newspapers, were covering the stories about our people, not in a way that a non-Native teaches it, but the way that we perceive ourselves and what we want to promote,” Rice said.

     Rice’s work also helped support tribal librarianship throughout Wisconsin. Earlier in her career, she worked as a library consultant serving multiple counties across northern Wisconsin, where she connected with tribal libraries and Native communities including the Mole Lake and Potawatomi tribes.

     The university also recognized Rice for helping lay the foundation for the Tribal Libraries, Archives & Museums (TLAM) program at UW–Madison through collaborations with former iSchool Director Louise Robbins and outreach efforts supporting tribal libraries and Indigenous communities.

     In addition to her work in libraries, Rice has remained active in national Indigenous libraries and cultural organizations. She previously served as president of the American Indian Library Association and later co-chaired the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color. In 2009, she received the UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award.

     Even after retiring in 2015, Rice continued working with museums, archives, and cultural preservation efforts. She said language revitalization and Indigenous literature remain important focuses moving forward.

     “We can translate some of the things that maybe are classics and wish they would have been in Ho-Chunk,” Rice said while discussing future collaborations surrounding language and books.

     Rice also emphasized the importance of encouraging younger Native students to pursue opportunities in librarianship and related fields. She noted the profession now includes pathways connected to technology, science, agriculture, medicine, law, environmental work, and digital resources.

     “There’s a space for everything in librarianship,” Rice said.

     Reflecting on her career and the recognition, Rice said she hopes younger generations continue pursuing their goals while staying connected to their communities and culture.

     “Read aloud to someone,” Rice said. “Whether it’s a poem or a chapter from a book. Or a quote from someone or even homework. Just ways of connecting with each other and stimulating the mind.”