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From Michele Farrell, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services: "You’ve got great libraries and museums in your state, right? Well it’s time to let the rest of the world know that. Each year there’s a different crop of candidates and prospects for winning change. The deadline for applications is February 17, 2009. SPREAD THE WORD!!!"

National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Program Contact for Libraries:
Michele Farrell, Senior Program Officer
Phone: 202-653-4656
E-mail: [email protected]

Program Contact for Museums:
Christopher Reich, Senior Program Officer
Phone: 202-653-4685
E-mail: [email protected]

Nomination Form
Download now (Fill-in PDF, 143KB)

Program Overview
The National Medal for Museum and Library Service (formerly the National Award) honors outstanding institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected institutions demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach and core programs generally associated with its services. The medal includes prizes of $10,000 to each recipient and an awards ceremony to be held in Washington, DC.

Qualifications and Criteria for Selection
The main qualification for selection is community service, as demonstrated by the institution's ongoing commitment, at every level, to its community.

Nominations should describe:
• The institution's goals in serving its community.
• The population served.
• How the institution works together with the community to achieve the goals.
• The outcome of this effort during the past two to three years.
• How the institution will sustain these efforts in the future.

The National Museum and Library Services Board reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the IMLS Director, who makes the final selection.

Eligibility
Public or private nonprofit institutions are eligible to receive this award. Nominated institutions must be open to the general public for at least 120 days per year and be located in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, or the Freely Associated States in the Pacific. Federally operated institutions are not eligible for the medal. A friends group associated with a single museum or library is not an eligible entity.

When an institution receives a National Medal for Museum and Library Service, it becomes eligible for renomination only after 10 years have elapsed.

Nomination Information
An institution may be nominated by one of its own employees or by a member of the community with a special interest in the institution. If you are an employee of the museum or library you are nominating, please state your title. If you are a member of the community, please indicate your particular interest in the institution.

For more information: http://www.imls.gov/about/medals.shtm