The Institute of Museum and Library Services, on February 24, announced 30 finalists for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s most prestigious honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. For 21 years, the award has celebrated institutions that exemplify extraordinary and inventive approaches to public service to make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. The organizations have become important in civic engagement within their specific communities.
Out of the 30 finalists, ten are located within the Mid-Atlantic region. The library finalists include Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, New York), Cecil County Public Library (Elkton, Maryland) Middle County Public Library (Centereach, New York), and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York, New York).
The museum finalists are Amazement Square (Lynchburg, Virginia), Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen’s Museum (Tuckerton, New Jersey), New York Hall of Science (Queens, New York), Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), The Strong National Museum of Play (Rochester, New York), and The Wild Center (Tupper Lake, New York).
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is requesting that any patron who has visited any of these (or the other 20) establishments to share their experience on their Facebook page. Please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS.
The National Medal winners will be announced later in the spring and spokespeople from each institution will travel to Washington D.C. to be recognized at the National Medal award ceremony.
From: Institute of Museum and Library Services