each year the Institute of Museum and Library Services recognizes the
outstanding contributions of America's libraries and museums the National Medal
for Museum and Library Service the nation's highest honor of its kind is
awarded to five libraries and five museums that have demonstrated
excellence in their programs and services these institutions open doors
to enable lifelong learning they increase access to information and ideas
and they improve the well-being of the communities they serve this year's
national medal winners are using their partnerships and resources to create new
opportunities all across the country IMLS is proud to honor the contributions
of the ten organizations that embody the power of museums and libraries to
positively transform the lives of individuals families and communities
located in the Mile High City the Children's Museum of Denver at Martha
Coe campus creates extraordinary experiences for Denver's youngest
residents and their grown-ups the museum offers educational opportunities to
children of all ages as attendance and programming has increased so has the
museum's commitment to access for all through strong community partnerships
the museum has become accessible to Colorado's most at-risk populations
minimizing barriers to ensure all families can enjoy the wonders and joy
of play located in the thriving Midwest metropolis of Rochester Minnesota the
Rochester Public Library is a place where aspiration ideas and knowledge
converged to enrich lives the library's caring culture is at the center of
everything they do the library creates safe spaces for marginalized youth and
families and prepares people from underrepresented populations to serve on
community boards through its commitment to dynamic and innovative programs the
library champions all its residents and sparks positive community change known
as the pass El Paso Texas is a unique border
community that shares the u.s. border with Juarez Mexico the only accredited
art museum in a two mile radius the El Paso Museum of Art
promotes cultural cohesion by providing an engaging forum for artistic dialogue
across borders through its art school the museum helps budding artists members
of the military community children and adults learn to express the realities of
life on the border through art serving the traditionally working-class
neighborhoods of Reading Pennsylvania the reading Public Library is a
cherished and valued part of a community the library is dedicated to meeting the
informational educational and recreational needs of library users
today the library goes beyond its walls holding community events to address
issues that affect reading in this way the reading Public Library continues
serving as a library for the future for its community members to prepare for the
50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riots the Detroit Historical Society
wanted to ensure that as many Detroit stories as possible
would be included in their commemorative exhibit the resulting project Detroit 67
looking back to move forward shifted focus from a tumultuous time in
Detroit's history to a community engagement project representing the
multi-faceted Detroit community the project encouraged Detroiters to look
back on a divisive time in history while simultaneously urging the community to
move forward together in promoting a positive future the Pueblo City County
Library District in Colorado is experiencing of golden age the library's
vision books and beyond Drive staff to create innovative programming and
services that respond to community needs through its all Pueblo reads program the
whole family is invited to celebrate literacy the library also believes in a
community librarianship approach to service library professionals are
embedded into the community helping to serve pueblos populations and their
diverse needs the history museum at the castle preserves the history of Appleton
and Fox Cities in northeastern Wisconsin the museum strives to make local history
more honest in gauging by telling stories that include
historically overlooked segments of the community the museum and its staff
tackles sometimes difficult chapters of the Fox city's history
helping today's residents better understand themselves by understanding
their past situated in the heart of picturesque Georgetown Texas the
Georgetown public library aspires to engage enlighten and empower its
community through a host of services for patrons at all stages of life the
library's Community Resource Coordinator helps patrons get the social services
they need to thrive by partnering with a multitude of interracial multicultural
and multi-ethnic groups the library promotes civic dialogue that brings the
community together through meaningful conversation whether it's supporting
college students or supplementing elementary school curricula around the
state the University of Oregon's Museum of natural and cultural history has
become a one-of-a-kind experience for the Pacific Northwest in 2015
the museum established a statewide education outreach program that brings
hands-on science learning into classrooms and libraries this program
has widened access and emphasized the importance of stem to more than 19,000
students and families across Oregon for nearly 100 years
the Orange County Library System based in Orlando Florida has served as a safe
haven and partner for its diverse and dynamic population library staff prides
themselves on their ability to serve the urgent needs of their residents many of
whom have emigrated from their home countries to escape crisis in hopes of
finding a better future with a goal of lifting up the community and responding
to its needs through education and service Orange County Library doesn't
just run a library they change lives the Institute of Museum and Library Services
congratulate these organizations on their successes in transforming their
communities and serving as catalysts for positive change