IVCC Scholarship established in memory of L-P High School librarian

PHOTO: The family of Melva Richards includes daughters Kris Widmann, left, and Andi Heidenreich and Melva’s husband John Richards. They are joined by IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

OGLESBY – The family of retired Illinois Valley Community College librarian Melva Richards of Peru has created an award in her memory. The $1,000 scholarship will go annually to a graduate of LaSalle-Peru Township High School. Melva Richards attended LP, LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin, where she received a master’s in Library Science. She worked 30 years as a librarian at IVCC. Melva taught English at Richwoods High School in Peoria and in Madison, Wis. She was a librarian in Madison and at L-P. Richards died Oct. 6 at age 83.