Wow this is really on how are you all tonight it's great to have you here I'm
Kip Matthew the director of IMLS so welcome on behalf of the Iowa staff and
board I'm delighted to welcome you to the celebration of the 2019 National
Medal for Museum and Library Services and what a lovely day I hope you enjoyed
the walk over here if you walked the City is in full bloom it reminds me I
actually started my career in a Natural History Museum and did quite a bit of
field work in very tropical environments both in the US and Central America and I
remember a time which is not unlike summer in Washington where it was
incredibly humid and I was doing field work in a forest and I could barely
breathe you know that oppressive humidity and I was fighting it and I was
going why are there all these plants and so I can't even walk you know and I
suddenly remembered my first biology teacher who by the way you know also
worked in a museum said you know plants actually we have a wonderful
relationship with plants they take in the carbon dioxide that we exhale and we
take in the oxygen that they produce and it's a wonderful symbiotic relationship
in a sense that we have with plants and in a way I think the community work that
we come here to celebrate today is also a type of inner dependency and symbiosis
that enables us to thrive as individuals as well as ecosystems or systems if you
will and really you know as I reflect as we gather here every year museums and
libraries and their communities really are stewards of our common narratives
and diverse collections across America whether we're in California Connecticut
Florida Idaho Rhode Island wherever we are and as we gather here tonight in
Washington we also want to acknowledge the people who
are of stewardess stewardess land throughout generations today we
celebrate the accomplishments of 10 outstanding institutions from across
America these 10 metal institutions join more than 200 museums and libraries that
have received this honor over the years the 2019 medalists include public and
tribal libraries an inner University Research Consortium and Native American
Museum a Children's Museum an aquarium and museums of regional history and
civil rights as different as they may seem
at first glance the recipients of the nation's highest honor for museums and
libraries have one thing in common they are vital community hubs they offer
excellent programs and activities and they have truly transformed the lives of
the people that they serve at this time I'd like to take just a few moments to
thank a few people we're honored to have members of the National Museum and
Library Services Board with us in the audience I continue to be incredibly
grateful for their guidance our board was key in the selection of the
medalists as they are every year helping us to identify the exemplary
institutions we recognize today I'd like to ask our board members to stand and be
recognized
[Applause] [Music]
I'd also like to welcome our guests from Capitol Hill we will be hearing from
Senator Jack Reed shortly but I'd also like to recognize staff from various
offices that are very supportive of our museum and library's work we have Elyse
here from Senator Reid's office and more as well
staff from senator Lamar Alexander's office somewhere
Tina Hyde Smith Lindsey Graham's office David representative David prices office
Steve Cohen's office representative charlie Crist's office representative
Scott Peters Senator Pat Murray's office and Senator Pat Leahy office so again
thanks to all of you for working [Applause]
and I know it's an incredibly busy time as it always does this time of year so
thanks for taking time out to join us to celebrate the outstanding work of
American libraries and museums the National Medal reflects the work not
only of those individuals receiving that's honored today but rather the
achievement of entire communities and some of those community members are
actually here with us and others we'll be celebrating back home all across the
country so I'd like to ask the museum and library staff the winners board
members community members and public officials thank you for your leadership
and if you could stand and be recognized [Applause]
and finally I'd like to recognize the IMO a staff team imls every year we look
forward to this opportunity to celebrate the excellence of libraries and museums
of all sizes and types it's really a joy to review the applications and see the
diversity of work happening across the country a lot of hard work goes into
making this awards program a success so I'd like to give a round of applause for
the staff at IMLS [Applause]
[Music] so now I have the great honor to
introduce senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island senator Reed is known for years
of work on a bipartisan basis to help make the federal government more
efficient effective and responsive to the people it serves in Rhode Island and
nationwide a former Army Ranger Senator Reid serves as ranking member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee and is an influential and senior member of the
Senate Appropriations and banking committees with much of his career
focused on education Senator Reid has worked for years in support of libraries
museums and children's literacy initiatives on the Senate Appropriations
Committee he has successfully led efforts to provide resourced resources
to support public libraries school libraries and other children's literacy
initiatives as well as museums in the annual appropriations laws Senator Reid
has also authored the last three I want to say three reauthorizations of the
Museum and Library Services Act most recently the Services Act of 2018 which
provided reauthorization for the agency and was signed into law on the very last
day of the year
[Applause] so I'd like to welcome you and ask you
to make a few remarks thank you
[Music] [Applause]
well thank you very much kit not only for those kind words but for your work
and for your great team at the Institute of Museum and Library Services your
extraordinary multiplier in terms of efforts to educate and to provide
opportunity to all Americans everywhere so thank you
IMLS is not among the federal government's largest agencies in terms
of staff for funding but it does reach nearly every community in America it
helps build the capacity of local libraries
it helps museums and aquariums and nature centers all of these to engage
and educate and inspire their citizens I am LS helps ensure that all
communities have accessed the vital tools for lifelong learning and tonight
I'm so pleased to join you in celebration of some of our country's
most exceptional museums and libraries I extend my congratulations to all ten
medalists and I want to recognize my colleagues from the house who will come
later their staffs and the staffs my colleagues in the Senate these staff
people in particular they're the ones that do the work in fact we have a rule
in my office they do the work I get the credit it's a great rule try it try it
someday but the individual institutions were honoring this evening our testament
to the shared belief of all of us here in the power of museums and libraries to
bring people and communities together and change lives you have different
missions and different addresses diverse population and needs but what you all
have in common is the way you strive to touch the lives
of individuals empowering them with skills and knowledge while strengthening
and enhancing entire communities again the noblest aspiration I think of this
country it is a place for opportunity for all and that sense of opportunity is
captured by libraries museums throughout this nation and thank you for that as
Khitan indicated I have been working very hard to provide the funding and the
authors to support museum libraries because I
sincerely believe they are critical to our success as a nation into the success
of our fellow Americans in Rhode Island it's a remarkable collection of men and
women who lead our libraries do extraordinary work and make
extraordinary contributions and they are duplicated fortunately throughout this
entire country we are celebrating the recent enactment as Kidd indicated of
the Museum and Library Services Act I was proud to author it I worked closely
alongside my colleagues on both sides the aisle to make sure it became law
this law continues our tradition of supporting our communities through the
museums and libraries while trying to look ahead and provide flexibility to
respond to evolving demands and missions for these vital institutions and to the
IMLS and administrating the museum and library programs I remember as a little
kid climbing up the steps the Auburn Public Library and crayons are allowed
to get a book well guess what my 12 year old daughter is not climbing up the
steps to get a book she's going in there to get a DVD or get on the computer or
to do something I have no idea it's a changing world and you're helping us
stay ahead of those changes in helping promote those changes we're also we want
to increase funding for IMLS because the mission you do can be done more it's a
great investment this is one of those programs which I believe is an
investment not just spending this is an investment and we were able last year to
push through an increase of 11 million dollars for the agency in fact that's
over two years and kids spent as well
we want to build on that momentum because as I said again I think every
dollar we commit to museums to do libraries is a dollar well-spent
it is indeed an investment but let me again congratulate all the winners and
to thank you for all you do to educate all of our citizens and to make
opportunity not just a word but a reality an American reality for all of
our citizens thank you very very much
[Music]
thank you so much Center to read and I know you have to run back to work thank
you for being here today and helping us reflect on the important role that
libraries and museums play and communities across the country
and now to better acquaint you with our medalists we've prepared a short video
highlighting the fantastic work of our winners this year so I'd like to ask you
to enjoy them 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
[Music] as San Diego County's first museum on an
Indian Reservation dedicated to the perpetuation and presentation of the
local Kumi Ida cameo native culture the Barona museum offers a unique
educational journey for visitors of all ages the museum's collection represents
thousands of years of history some objects dating as far back as 10,000
years and it demonstrates the artistry and skill of the hemispheres first
inhabitants located in Gulfport Florida the Gulfport Public Library serves a
diverse community providing materials information and services in order to
support lifelong learning and the sharing of resources the library is made
serving that community a top priority through its LGBTQ Resource Center the
only of its kind in the state last year alone the library hosted 17 LGBTQ
related programs with 1,400 attendees the library's excellent event and
program attendants are a testament to the strategic thought that goes into its
program
founded in 1962 the inter University Consortium for political and social
research icpsr in Ann Arbor Michigan is one of the world's oldest and largest
social science data archives icpsr is housed within the University of
Michigan's Institute for Social Research and has almost 800 member institutions
worldwide icpsr s mission is to advance and expand social and behavioral
research acting is a global leader in data
stewardship and providing rich data resources and responsive educational
opportunities for present and future generations with an archive of more than
a quarter million files and 10,000 studies in the Social and Behavioral
Sciences icpsr holds the largest collection of its kind everything from
surveys and census data to social media datasets geospatial data and crime
statistics
the rise of the Jamestown S'Klallam library as a linchpin of the S'Klallam
tribe social and cultural milieu began hungry unlike many libraries whose role
is to acquire materials for its collection staff tribal families and
other dedicated patrons helped create large parts of the collection the
Jamestown S'Klallam tribe library specializes in materials by and about
American Indians with a special focus on the people of the northwest coast the
library also offers programs to the tribal community to grow
self-sufficiency and digital literacy and to enhance the general public's
understanding of Native American issues from robotics classes to ethnobotany
the libraries program offerings aim to bring the tribes history into the
present and the future [Music]
serving the fastest-growing city in southern Idaho Meridian Library District
focuses its efforts on enriching lives igniting curiosity and cultivating
connections from a shipping container turned tiny library to a bicycle lending
program a bookmobile and a full-featured makerspace the library's branches are
dynamic community centers that allow Meridian residents to come together
around shared goals and interests the operating budget for the district isn't
large but the collaborative energy of its staff far exceeds its limited
resources many know Memphis Tennessee is Lorraine Motel as the location of one of
the most tragic events in US history the assassination of dr. Martin Luther King
jr. from the ashes of this tragedy rose the National Civil Rights Museum at the
Lorraine Motel which chronicles key episodes of the American Civil Rights
Movement and examines today's global civil and human rights issues provokes
thoughtful debate and serves as a catalyst for positive social change
since opening in 1991 millions from around the world have come including
90,000 students annually [Music]
the new Children's Museum is a new model of Children's Museum whose mission is to
stimulate imagination creativity and critical thinking in children and
families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art
located downtown the museum collaborates with contemporary artists to design and
create art installations and educational programs for children the museum brings
families together in a rich educational environment that fosters creativity
blending the best elements of Children's Museum's Contemporary Art Museum's
and community resources
steeped in local history the New Haven free public library in New Haven
Connecticut became an anchor along with the train station in the 1910 plan for
New Haven as envisioned by renowned architects Cass Gilbert and Frederick
Law Olmsted jr. the Ives memorial library strategically situated on the
historic New Haven Green was dedicated in 1911 and recognized as one of the
city's most practical assets the people's University from within those
venerable walls and a tall branch locations patrons encounter library
staff and services that are relentlessly forward-thinking
opened in 2000 the Orange County Regional History Center occupies the
formal Orange County Courthouse in the heart of downtown Orlando operating in
that historic space provides the foundation for the History Center's
dedication to telling the history of a region that can seem dominated by the
itinerant nature of the tourism industry community members and visitors who make
their way into downtown Orlando encounter an institution devoted to
engaging its diverse community in local culture past and present the History
Center's important role in memorializing the 2016 pulse nightclub shooting has
also helped to instill trust from the community
the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston South Carolina seeks to
inspire conservation of the natural world
by exhibiting and caring for animals and through education and research among its
thousands of species almost all are native to South Carolina giving the
aquarium a chance to educate the public about the biodiversity of the region and
replicate native aquatic ecosystems in addition the aquarium extends its
educational outreach with a series of partnerships with conservation
organizations devoted to taking on tough environmental issues such as coastal
erosion due to sea level rise the Institute of Museum and Library Services
congratulate these organizations on their successes and transforming their
communities and serving as catalysts for positive change
[Music]
that's amazing isn't it I mean Jane Jub
and institutions and communities and how they respond and flex to what's
happening is is really impressive so at this time we will begin the presentation
of the 2019 IMLS national medals for Museum and Library Service I'd like to
welcome to the stage Saeed showed Murray and Tama Diana Nunn who are members of
our board who will introduce the recipients
[Music]
thank you I'm sorry chattering and I'm Tama Dianna nun on behalf of the
National Board of Museum and Library Services we are honored to present these
medals to the 10 museums and libraries represented here today the National
Medal of Museum and Library Service honors the strong community connections
of museums and libraries it showcases how these outstanding institutions are
able to make a profound difference in the lives of the people they serve we
have invited members of each medalists community to be part of the ceremony to
showcase the value and impact of these museums and libraries our first medal
recipient this evening is the Barona cultural center and Museum located on
the Barona banded Mission Indians reservation in San Diego County the
museum is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the native Khmer i
de gallo language and culture by sharing artifacts photographs and stories the
borona museum educate visitors about the history and the living cultures of the
indigenous populations of southern california community member patrick oro
is a tribal elder and one of less than a handful of remaining fluent speakers of
the native language he pea which means the people's language he teaches
language classes at the museum and shares the language preservation
committee Patrick has been crucial in the development of the museum's 700 page
dictionary working with a linguist to document this endangered language for
future generations accepting the award for the Burano culture center and museum
our director and curator Laurie Egan Headley and community member
dr. Cora [Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
our next Mount national medal recipient is the Gulfport Public Library in
Florida one of the little art library's highest priorities has been serving Gulf
ports large LGBTQ community unique in the state the library's popular LGBTQ
Resource Center provides a large and diverse offering of programs drawing in
hundreds of attendees and a cohort of highly engaged community members the
LGBTQ Resource Center has become an integral part of the Gulfport community
libraries have always been a central part of Susan Gore's life now a retiree
susan serves as a chair of the library circle of friends group and on the LGBTQ
Resource Center committee susan says I've been odd to observe firsthand the
dedicated commitment of staff to the library's programs and patrons the
Gulfport Public Library gave me a familiar place to connect with others
who care deeply about books literacy and their community accepting the award for
the Gulfport Public Library our librarian director Dave Mather
community member Susan gore [Applause]
[Music] [Applause]
our next medal winner is the inter University Consortium for political and
social research at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor icpsr it's a
national leader in the collection preservation and curation of large data
sets and empowers people to explore its data in responsible and novel ways it's
summer program in quantitative methods brings in a thousand scholars each year
for rigorous hands-on training in statistical techniques research
methodologies and data analysis John Lovato has served as an icpsr
intern and a dated curator for the center's National Archive of criminal
justice data and Resource Center from minority data he credits icpsr and its
many programs for helping him pursue his passion in sociology John is currently a
PhD candidate at the University of Washington where he specializes in crime
law deviance and gender John's research looks at street gang culture through a
sociological and a criminal logical lens accepting the award for icpsr our
director Margaret levenshtein and community member John Lovisa
[Music]
[Laughter]
we are now pleased to recognize the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe a library in
Sequim Washington the library is a key element of the slalom tribe social and
cultural environment thus qalam our S'Klallam language was almost entirely
lost so the library engaged with partners to recover this important
aspect of the tribes culture in weekly classes participants play cards cart
play card games and take plant walks bringing the language into everyday life
celeste de Becque is a Jamestown S'Klallam tribe elite tribal elder
raised in Sequim the traditional territory of her tribe celeste has been
involved with the slalom tribe since 1985 serving on the Higher Education
Committee and Economic Development Authority board celeste has extensively
used and promoted the resources at the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe Elle tribal
library in her work with tribal staff and the local community her current
project the Cheech Mahon interpretive trail is a walking cycling and driving
trail through Port Townsend that will tell the story of the relationship
between early settlers and the slalom people in the mid 19th century accepting
the award for Jamestown S'Klallam tribe rail library our tribal vice-chair Liz
Muller and community members les tae Baek
[Applause]
[Music]
our next winner is the Meridian Library District in southern Idaho the library
develops its programming based on community feedback ordering services for
youth seniors small businesses and those who want to learn unique skills such as
the art of beekeeping the library embraces a practical service-oriented
philosophy through embedded librarianship the staff provides
services to the community within the community partnering with schools
visiting farmers markets and community events and providing materials and
programs to low-income neighborhoods in the last three years Meridian resident
Greg Coons has used the resources at its unbound branch to learn how to 3d print
use a large format color printer and dabbled with augmented and virtual
reality Greg's experience using the technology
has even changed his retirement planning helping him to create new small business
ventures Greg says MLD has created an entirely new entity for the community I
have been so inspired that I not only bring my grandchildren often to let them
play in the library but I have volunteered to share what I have learned
the MLD has altered the arc of my life and I believe it will change the lives
of others and will may help make my community a better place to live
accepting the award for the Meridian library district our library director
Gretchen Cassidy and on behalf of Greg Coons community member beckie Carmack
[Music] [Applause]
we now recognize the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis Tennessee located at the site of the assassination of civil rights leader
Dr Martin Luther King jr. the museum documents the history of the American
civil rights movement the National Civil Rights Museum brings visitors to the
present day by highlighting pressing civil and human
rights issues with youth engagement as a key priority the museum partners with
Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges to lead an annual Reading Festival where
children and educators can receive free books and enjoy a day of storytelling
and entertainment Memphis native and passionate public servant trivia Chapman
is a founding member in the chair of the National Civil Rights Museum keepers of
306 which engages civic minded young leaders who are passionate about
preserving the legacy of dr. King she works with the museum on programming and
events that engage the next generation in the history and future of social
activism accepting the award for the National Civil Rights Museum at the
Lorraine Motel our museum president Terry Lee Freeman and community member
traveese Chapman [Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
now we turn to the new Children's Museum in San Diego California
the museum partners with contemporary artists to develop art installations
that children can touch and play on and offers workshops in hands-on art making
activities for families informed by the science of early childhood development
and education resort research the museum empowers children to think play and
create Rahzel xavier is a san diego artist that has been inspired by an
inspirational to the new Children's Museum last year she led art making
workshops at the Museum as well in in community centers her project people in
places set the team the theme for mass creativity and comedic workshops as well
as for a temporary installation in the museum communities gallery
Rahzel speaks of the museum as not just for children but is in her words a place
that is mindful all of children she says adults are having fun too so it's a
space of shared happiness the museum has helped her to see her
skills and talents outside of her professional identity as a college
professor and to reflect on our goals as a member of the san diego community
accepting the award for the new Children's Museum our Judy Forrester
executive director and CEO and community member gsella Javier
[Music]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
our next national medal winner is a New Haven free public library in Connecticut
steeped in local history the library has been a community mainstay since its
dedication over a hundred years ago today visitors to the history historic
main branch experience a bustling hub of for creativity and learning
featuring services and Technology for entrepreneurs creatives makers and
nonprofit leaders born and raised in Puerto Rico
Nilda a Pont de moved to New Haven with her family in 2003 after visiting her
brother there the library became a space where Nilda and her children could come
and participate in community events and interact with local residents know the
credits the library for making her and her family feel at home in New Haven
Nilda now serves as a community ambassador in the Fair Haven
neighborhood for the libraries Partnership Program with the Long Wharf
Theatre accepting the award for the New Haven free public library our Martha
Brogan City librarian and director and community member Nilda upon tank
[Music]
our next medal recipient is the Orange
County Regional History Center in Florida housed in a restored 1927
courthouse in downtown Orlando the museum is devoted to engaging its
diverse community in local culture past and present while telling the unique
history of the region an annual exhibit memorializing the victims of the tragic
pulse nightclub shooting has gained the center wide recognition for its rapid
response collecting techniques when Dana Crosby Collier first moved to Orlando
with her family in 2006 she didn't realize how much of an influence the
History Center would have on their lives today she's a regular volunteer and her
two daughters participate in the museum's summer camps and other
activities her eldest daughter loves the museum so much that she hopes she even
hopes to become a tour guide there one day accepting the award for the Orange
County Regional History Center our executive director and museum manager
Michael Perkins and community member Dana Crosby call here
[Music] [Applause]
okay last but certainly not least we recognize the South Carolina Aquarium in
Charleston the aquarium teaches the public about the region's biodiversity
through its native species collection including sharks eels and a 220 pound
loggerhead sea turtle named kureta or Coretta partnerships like the resilience
initiative for coastal education served to educate communities about key
environmental issues the aquarium has become a key part of South Carolina's
science education curriculum providing resource kits for teachers and traveling
around the state visiting schools with a conservation driven educational message
Tammy Canada am I saying that right okay Tammy Canada a third grade teacher at
Mountain View Elementary School has guided over 2,000 students and
chaperones through the aquarium she's been a dedicated education leadership
partner since the aquariums opening nearly 20 years ago Tammy says the South
Carolina aquarium inspires visitors and encourages them to become lifelong
learners to share and multiply what they have learned and to conserve the natural
world she has seen firsthand the spark and excitement that the aquarium creates
accepting the award for the South Carolina aquarium our Kevin Mills
president and CEO and community member Tammy Canada
[Music]
[Applause]
congratulations to all 10 of these institutions on receiving the 2019
National Medal for Museum and Library Service
[Applause]
thank you so much - and Syed I appreciate that and again one more round
of applause that's truly impressive
so thank you for joining us today to celebrate the amazing work of these
institutions and the communities that they partner with across the country I'd
like to join ask you all to join us for a reception just through the doors and I
will ask that the guests from our metal winners would stay seated so we can do
some group photographs and then you can go out and enjoy the refreshments so
thank you all I really again appreciate your being here
[Music]