Thirty Museums and Libraries Tapped as Finalists for National Medal

WASHINGTON - Feb. 24, 2015 - PRLog -- The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced 30 finalists for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. For 21 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service to make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

“The 2015 National Medal finalists have made real and lasting contributions to their local communities through programs that engage and inspire the public,” said Maura Marx, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “These institutions serve as trusted providers of educational resources, skills development, and civic engagement. We salute these museums and libraries, which play a key role in shaping our future by providing boundless opportunities for lifelong learning.”

IMLS is encouraging those who have visited finalist libraries and museums to share their story on the IMLS Facebook page. To Share Your Story, please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS.

The 2015 finalists of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:

Libraries

Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, New York)
Cecil County Public Library (Elkton, Maryland)
Craig Public Library (Craig, Alaska)
Embudo Valley Library and Community Center  (Dixon,  New Mexico)
Illinois Fire Service Institute Library (Champaign, Illinois)
Los Angeles Public Library (Los Angeles, California)
Madison Public Library (Madison, Wisconsin)
Mid-Columbia Libraries (Kennewick, Washington)
Middle Country Public Library (Centereach, New York)
Phoenix Public Library (Phoenix, Arizona)
Terrebonne Parish Library System (Houma, Louisiana)
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York, New York)
The Westport Library (Westport, Connecticut)
Tulsa City-County Library (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
University of North Texas Libraries' Portal to Texas History (Denton, Texas)

Museums

Amazement Square (Lynchburg, Virginia)
Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum (Tuckerton, New Jersey)
Chabot Space & Science Center (Oakland, California)
Children’s Museum of Brownsville (Brownsville, Texas)
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (Amherst, Massachusetts)
Louisiana Children’s Museum (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Museum of Northern Arizona (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science (Miami, Florida)
Nantucket Historical Association (Nantucket, Massachusetts)
New York Hall of Science (Queens, New York)
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
The Tech Museum of Innovation (San Jose, California)
The Strong (Rochester, New York)
Gladys Porter Zoo (Brownsville, Texas)
The Wild Center (Tupper Lake, New York)

The National Medal winners will be named later this spring, and representatives from winning institutions will travel to Washington, D.C. to be honored at the National Medal award ceremony.

To learn more about the 2015 National Medal finalists, visit www.imls.gov/medals.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries (http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet01) and 35,000 museums (http://www.imls.gov/research/museum_universe_data_file.aspx). Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/USIMLS) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/us_imls).