The People Behind BiFolkal Productions, Inc.
Lynne Martin Erickson (1976-2025)
The idea for BiFolkal was born in 1975 when Lynne and Kathryn Leide were students at the UW-Madison Library School. Their assignment for LS 712, The Public Library, was to design a service that libraries could offer but weren’t. They decided to bring senior programs out of the library and into the community. Their early programs at nursing homes and senior centers encouraged participants to share memories through poetry, ghost story skits, and sensory experiences like homemade applesauce. The response was overwhelmingly positive, leading to the creation of program kits that could be shared more widely. With three years of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, they launched BiFolkal Productions as a nonprofit. Lynne retired in 2015 but continued as a volunteer until fully stepping away in 2025.
Kathryn Leide (1976-1995)
Kathryn co-founded BiFolkal Productions alongside Lynne and also helped establish Word & Picture Associates to produce slide/tape programs for libraries. As the creative force behind BiFolkal, she managed photography, artwork, and design while also leading workshops and exhibitions. After nearly 20 years, she transitioned to working as an operations manager at a design firm before moving to Chicago to direct the American Library Association’s Graphics program.
Jim Leide (1990-2015)
Jim, a soil scientist and tennis coach, joined BiFolkal as invoice and inventory manager just in time to bring much-needed structure to the organization. While the inventory may not have looked organized, Jim knew exactly where everything was and ensured orders were processed efficiently. He also contributed as an editor, provided reality checks, and even acted as a roadie at times. His warm and friendly voice became the voice of BiFolkal over the phone. Jim retired in 2015, and sadly, he passed away in February 2024.
