Brooklynites Asked to Share Their Best BPL Stories on IMLS Facebook Page
Brooklyn, New York—Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has been named a finalist for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal for Museum and Library Service, BPL announced today. The award is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for serving their communities.
BPL is one of 30 National Medal finalists. The Library was nominated in part because of the work of its Outreach Services department, which was created in September 2013 to help the Library better serve Brooklyn’s most vulnerable and underserved populations.
“Brooklyn Public Library’s staff and volunteers take great pride in serving Brooklynites from every walk of life, including children and teens, older adults, new Americans, and families experiencing homelessness,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. “We are honored to have earned consideration for the National Medal in recognition of our service to the community.”
The Outreach Services department’s programs include citizenship classes for new Americans; Creative Aging workshops for older adults; the Veterans History Project, which records and preserves the personal accounts of Brooklynites who have served their country; and the TeleStory program, which facilitates virtual story times, sing-alongs and other bonding activities for incarcerated fathers and their children.
For 21 years, the National Medal has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service to make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. IMLS is encouraging supporters of Brooklyn Public Library and all nominees to share their stories on the IMLS Facebook page, facebook.com/USIMLS.
“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.”
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 Association, Inc. (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. 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 Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: bklynlibrary.org.
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 and 35,000 museums. 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 and Twitter.
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