Sangamon Sun

State Representative Wayne Rosenthal of Morrisonville paid tribute to Meghan Lynn Harmon, a native of Litchfield and library program specialist at the Illinois State Library, with House Resolution 97. The ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Illinois Capitol.

Representative Rosenthal remarked on Harmon's contributions: “How do you properly recognize and honor all of the positive things Megan has done over 41 years of life helping people access a wealth of information from their local and state libraries.” He added that her work as a reference librarian earned her the nickname "Megstar."

Harmon was born in Springfield in 1983 to Robert Joseph and Beth (Hermsmeyer) Harmon. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 2002 and pursued higher education, earning several degrees including an Associate Degree in Secondary Education from Lincoln Land Community College, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of Illinois Springfield, and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Her career included roles as an adjunct professor at Lincoln Land Community College where she taught English and humanities. She also served as a local history and genealogy reference librarian at Chatham Area Public Library District before becoming a reference librarian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Meghan Harmon was known for her passion for books. She gave professional presentations about rare manuscripts, volunteered with Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library, participated in murder mystery fundraisers, and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Her personal interests included traveling with her husband Greg Bishop to various destinations such as national parks, Alaska wilderness, Iceland, and exploring caves.

Rosenthal extended his condolences saying: “On behalf of the Illinois House of Representatives, I send my sincere condolences to Meghan’s husband Greg and all your family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and loved her.”

For further details or inquiries, individuals can contact Representative Rosenthal's office or visit his website.

Wayne Rosenthal represents Illinois' 108th District which covers Menard County along with parts of Christian, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Sangamon Counties.