good morning everyone and welcome to the 2015 National medal for Museum and
Library service award ceremony we are so thrilled to be here with you here today
we're recognizing the extraordinary work of 10 outstanding museums and
libraries and celebrating the valuable role that these institutions and all
museums and libraries playing Community Life across the
country these Great American Community anchors now join the ranks of 142
previous National medal award winners who have over the past 2 21 years been
recognized with our nation's highest honor for libraries and
museums the 10 institutions we recognize Today show us what is possible they are
using their physical and digital spaces their Collections and their dedicated
staffs to make a real difference in community life we are so proud of of
them and we're proud to be here with them we're also very proud to be here
with our board the uh several members of the National Museum and Library Services
Board are here with us and I'm going to ask them now to
[Applause] stand
[Music]
you got to thanking them even before I got there which is
wonderful our board members bring passion and Leadership to the
institutive museum and Library Services Mission and they help strengthen the
educational and cultural life of our country they also lend their expertise
to the National medal selection process by their careful review of nominations
and their insightful recommendations so board members we do thank you and we
appreciate your dedication wise advisors are so
important to the success of any organization which is why our medalists
have also asked their board members to join them here today and I'd like to ask
those board members to now [Applause]
rise thank you for your
service of course our communities are made Stronger by the public officials
who work every day on behalf of their constituents to make their communities
stronger with uh I think we have representative an Kirk Patrick with us
here today there she
is and now I'd like to mention our partner story Corp which is a national
nonprofit that is dedicated to recording preserving and sharing Great American
stories they will now visit each winning institution to document different
stories from the community they've done this since
2010 and they've conducted more than 1,000 National medal interviews uh in
communities across the country all of which are preserved at the Library of
Congress Center for American folk life finally we're most grateful for the
support of history and are happy that Chief historian and Senior vice
president Libby oconnell
Libby is not joining us
today in any case history has been extremely supportive of the national
medal since 2007 they've produced terrific videos like the one that you
saw earlier uh today this year's winners represent the
best of our nation's libraries and museums every single day there are
countless stories across the country of people young and old learning enjoying
and opening new doors to meaningful deep experiences in our libraries and museums
so let's just give them all another round of
applause and now it is my deep pleasure and distinct honor to introduce Mrs
Michelle Obama the first lady of the United
States good morning everyone please rest yourselves
welcome welcome to the White House
yay we're real to have you here today as we honor the winners of the 2015
National medal for Museum and Library Sciences I want to start by thanking
Mora for uh that wonderful introduction uh but for her leadership at The
Institute all the work you've done uh it's been terrific I know that last
month uh you helped the president launch exciting new initiatives uh to ensure
that every student in this country has a library
card go figure
to good stuff but also to provide uh every
student uh with free ebooks or or free ebooks to millions of lowincome students
um so terrific work thank you we're so grateful for the work that you've done
so keep it up keep it up uh I also want to recognize representative Kirk Patrick
who I heard was here where oh oh there you are how are you it's wonderful to
have you here thanks so much
and of course most of all I want to congratulate congratulate all of our
awardees with your Innovative programming technological Savvy uh
enthusiastic engagement with your communities you all are truly setting
the standard for libraries and museums all across this country and I know that
uh you don't always get the recognition that you deserve for the important work
that you do which is why uh this event is so important why I make it a point to
be here every single year um I know that some folks May view our libraries and
museums as extras um luxuries not Necessities as
places we should invest in after we've achieved all of our other goals things
like creating jobs or educating our kids or making sure our families live healthy
lives um but we all know better than that right um we know that so often our
libraries and music museums are doing the critical work to help us achieve
those goals in the first place we can't get to our goals without the work that
you all do on the ground the institutions that we're honoring here
today are at the heart of so many of our communities engaging in some of the most
urgent issues uh of our time and in just a moment you're going to learn more
about the amazing work that today's honores do um and I want to congratulate
the board on another wonderful year of selections the diversity the depth the
breath you guys did it again um our honores are doing everything from
preparing young people for college helping entrepreneurs build their
businesses um supporting Veterans as they transition from military to
civilian life uh to providing financial literacy and nutrition workshops for uh
parents and whether you're bringing virtual classes and stem education to
remote areas in and inner cities communities or teaching our children
about their Nate Native American and African-American Heritage so many of you
are working to close the heartbreaking opportunity gaps that limit the horizons
of too many people in this country uh and I trust me I know that this work
isn't easy I know that you're always strapped for time and money uh always
scrambling to meet those fundraising goals and those Grant
applications yeah you can we can get an amen on that
but the services that you all provide are not luxuries uh just the opposite
every day your institutions are keeping so many folks in this country from
falling through the cracks in many communities our libraries and museums
are the places that help young people dream bigger and reach higher uh for
their Futures the places that help new immigrants learn English and apply for
citizenship the places where folks can access a computer and send a job app
application so that they can get back to work and get back to the important
process of supporting their families so every day you all bring so much hope and
uh so many life-changing opportunities to folks across this country and to day
I want you to know uh how proud I am and how grateful I am for all the work that
you do it's really good stuff um so I want to once again congratulate you um
yeah I hope this day is special you know one of the reasons we do it is to make
you feel as special as the work that you do around the communities this isn't
enough but it's just a small way uh to remind the country that we have great
resources here uh they are unique to this country and it's up to all of us to
support them encourage them to finance them uh and to keep them alive and
growing uh so I hope you enjoy your time here we're just proud um and we hope you
keep going year after year after year so with that I'm going to uh thank you guys
and we're going to get to the process of getting our awardees
awarded so let's go accepting the award for amazement Square Lynchberg Virginia
are president and CEO morr sajadian and Committee Member Shirley
Hunter in
two in 2009 Shirley Hunter who is assistant pastor at Dominion now Word
Ministries started a lowcost daycare in Lynchberg through a partnership with
amazement Square the daycare provides atris children instruction and reading
American Sign Language Spanish language and the Arts pastor Shirley credits
amazement square with helping the center equip the city's neediest children with
the social and academic skills they need for a great start in kindergarten she
hopes to earn a Child Development Associate credential and provide similar
Early Learning daycare services to all parts of the city she says amazement
Square helps us make positive impact in children's lives by providing an outlet
that makes learning fun and gives children a different mindset about
[Music] life accepting the award for the Cecil
County Public Library Cecil County Maryland are director Denise Davis and
Community member Thomas Kosar
Thomas kusar is a US Army Vietnam veteran who has overcome homelessness
unemployment and health challenges he did this with the help of the VA
Maryland healthc Care Systems Perry Point facility through the facility's
partnership with Cecil County Public Library Thomas learned computer and
Technology skills that enabled him to create an email account apply for a job
online and secure a job from VA as a peer support specialist he regularly
transports groups of veterans to the same weekly address classes at Cecil
County Public Library that changed his life Thomas says the library and the VA
have a partnership that helps vets grow without them I might still be in that
tent in the woods with a flag on
top accepting the award for the Craig Public Library Craig Alaska are director
Amy K Marshall and commune member Colin [Applause]
rice 11-year Colin rice is a homeschooled student on the remote
Prince of Wales Island in Alaska he spends much of his time at the Craig
Public Library at sending video conferences reading books and
participating in gaming and coding events although the library is small
Colin enjoys a wealth of resources there and attends virtual classes with
professors historians and experts in a variety of fields when the library
purchased a 3D printer last year Colin helped build the machine and demonstrate
how it works to the community Colin plans to continue exploring ways 3D
printers can improve lives Colin says I know this Library helped instill in my
mind and heart what can be done to broaden not just just my horizons but
those of others when I travel I will first look for the local library
always accepting the award for the uto valley library and Community Center
Dixon New Mexico are executive director Felicity fona and Community member
Joseph Lee
Estrada
10th grade student Joseph Le Estrada became a regular visitor to the uto
valley library at H4 when he attended children's story time and developed a
love for books he later learned how to read through the library summer program
and became the library's only youth volunteer helping Librarians Shel books
and assist patrons now Joseph volunteers as a DJ for the library's radio station
he describes the library as a second home that has helped sh shape his
character and ignite his success in school the library helped him rise above
many of the academic challenges facing children in this largely Hispanic
Village and inspired him to take college courses alongside his high school
curricula Joseph says academics are the most important thing to me thanks to the
library showing me the world in books history lives and new
ideas accepting the award for the Los Angeles Public Library Los Angeles Ang
California are City librarian John Zeo and Committee Member Sergio
[Music]
Sanchez Sergio Sanchez and his wife francisa came to the US from verac Cruz
Mexico 25 years ago they first brought their son to Los Angeles Public Library
for a story time as a toddler and then continued to bring him for many years
Sergio studied English and history and read the news at the library during his
free time last year a staff member helped him enroll in a citizenship class
at the library and with the help of Library staff and resources Sergio
passed the test and became a US
citizen he encouraged francisa to enroll and she passed the citizenship test five
months
later Sergio is now following in Francisco's footsteps and pursuing his
Gad with help from the library their son is studying to become a chemical
engineer at the University and volunteers at a library when he returns
home Sergio says when a new family moves into the neighborhood I tell them the
most important place is the library a place where everyone belongs and is
welcome and where you're dream can come
true accepting the award for the Louisiana Children's Museum New Orleans
Louisiana are chief executive officer Julia W Bland and Community member kitra
Charles KRA Charles a single mother of four won a year-long membership to
Louisiana children Museum and discovered that the exhibits challenged her
children through play and New World experiences she enrolled in the Museum's
eat sleep play and word Play Family Programs as well as a 20we parenting
course the programs introduced kitra and her children to learning literacy and
healthy eating Concepts that changed their home life she now prepares
healthier snacks for her children instead of junk food and reads with them
using books from the class she feels that her experiences
with Louisiana children Museum have helped her children acquire a love of
learning and equipped her to support their development kenitra says my family
has shared countless joyous occasions either at the Museum or participating in
a program of the museum all eye opening fun learning
experiences accepting the award for the Museum of Northern Arizona Flagstaff
Arizona are President Robert brunig and Community member Janita benell
Janita benley is a Navajo educator and a basist and co-vocalist along her
brothers in a Navajo rock band she and her family have performed traditional da
dances at the Museum of northern Arizona's annual Navajo Festival since
she was a teenager as a young person Janita pH empowered by the dialogue
education and celebration of both traditional and contemporary Navajo
Culture fostered by the museum the museum contributed to janina's music and
dance success and helped her become an advocate for her culture and a mentored
to Navajo youth she says the Museum of Northern Arizona plays an important role
in Building Bridges of respect for cultural diversity I wish that all youth
could have the opportunity to feel a same sense of value like I have from
their local Museum
accepting the award for the New York Hall of Science Queens New York are
president and CEO Margaret honey and Committee Member Maria Cortez
Ruiz in 2012 Maria Cortez reiz moved to the United States from bogat Columbia
and began working at the New York Hall of Science as a part of the science
career ladder program there she engaged with Museum visitors conducted science
demonstrations for large audiences and led special maker activities for
visitors after a few weeks her interactions with the museum guests
tremendously improved her English language skills she is now a Design Lab
resident where she leads workshops researches background material for
educational products and pro and prototypes Hands-On activities for
Museum visitors Maria currently attends City College of New York studying
chemical engineering she says the supporting the opportunities I've
received working at nysi have made my migration to America smoother and more
comfortable it helped me expand my network and reinforce my decisions to
become a chemical
engineer accepting the award for the shamberg center for research in Black
Culture New York New York are Dr Khalil jibran Muhammad director and Committee
Member Tariq
[Music] Bell
at 10 years old Tariq Bell joined the shamberg center's Junior Scholars
Program where he developed a deep love of community of Haron and a passion for
social justice and education for the next seven years the program offered
Tariq a creative space to express his activism and it helped him gain
admission to Syracuse University he earned a four-year scholarship to study
history with a focus in African-American studies and education and he continued
to dedicate his time raising awareness of the black art forms on campus through
concerts events and forums now a Dean at democracy prep Harlem high school as
well as an instructor in the junior Scholars Program Tariq reflects my
experience at the shamberg inspired me to give back and also shape my career
where I continue to raise the social emotional and academic awareness of our
Urban
Youth accepting the award for the tech Museum of Innovation San Jose California
are President Tim Richie and Community member Maria Aras
[Music]
Evans as a principal of Washington Elementary School Maria Aras Evans
considers the nearby Tech Museum of innovation a critical partner in serving
a student body that is 95% socioeconomically disadvantaged
students regularly take a short walk to the museum to learn about everything
from electricity to physics to space exploration through Hands-On activities
and Labs the tech also offers de staff development for the School's teachers
stem curriculum and special events such as family math and Engineering a free
weekend bilingual program that invites parents to come learn with their
children as Maria Fields the museum serves a catalyst for her students
academic success creating a spark in a child children's desire to learn she
said says happy children are eager Learners and every interaction our
children have with the Tech Museum of innovation is joyous students come back
from the field trips talking about their careers as scientists and
[Music]
Engineers well let's give one more round of Applause to today's
[Applause]
all now you can just see from hearing the citations just the tremendous work
that you all do and to all the community Representatives who are here um on
behalf of the programs so proud of you all really you are true spokes people
uh for your communities for uh the institutions and for this country uh so
I just urge you to keep doing the work um you know don't get tired that's what
I whispered in many people's ears just don't get
tired and uh I can't say it enough but we're so proud um we're honored to have
you here we're grateful for all that you do um and you know I just can't wait to
see all that you continue to do in the years ahead it's up to to us to support
you so hopefully as we shine a light on your work there'll be somebody out there
that'll think huh maybe I'll check out my library maybe I'll write a check
maybe I'll do a little bit more in my museums because in the end that's what
it's going to take to keep these programs and these institutions thriving
and this is just an example of a 10 of the organizations that are are in
communities all across this country uh we could be here for day days
celebrating uh the institutions we just can't do uh do it all so you guys are
representing what's going out on out there all across the country so that
concludes our program today