2007 National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Symposium podcasts

On January 14, 2008, the Institute of Museum and Library Services held an afternoon Symposium to celebrate the institutions who had received the National Medal for Museum and Library Services at the White House that morning. In two panels, community representatives and institutional representatives (such as a director or CEO) from each winning institution were given a chance to share their story about their institution and what makes it exceptional. The Symposium was recorded, and is now available as podcasts. Click the links below to access the mp3 files. Having trouble? Contact the IMLS Webmaster.
Welcome Listen to Podcast Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director Institute of Museum and Library Services Sonya Medina, Director, AT&T Foundation
	The symposium audience listens to Sonya Medina's opening remarks.
Panel 1: Community Members Listen to Podcast Moderated by Mary L. Chute, Deputy Director for Libraries Institute of Museum and Library Services (See list of Community Members below)
	The community member panel assembles.
Panel 2: Institution Representatives Listen to Podcast Moderated by Marsha Semmel Deputy Director for Museums and Director for Strategic Partnerships, Institute of Museum and Library Services Speakers: • Lawrence Pijeaux, Jr., President and CEO, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Stuart Strahl, President and CEO, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society • Dwight McInvaill, Director, Georgetown County Library • Victor Zazueta, Director, Kim Yerton Branch, Humboldt County Library • E. Keenon McCloy, Division Director, Memphis Public Library & Information Center • Susan Fisher Sterling, Acting Director, National Museum of Women in the Arts • David Spadafora, President and Librarian, The Newberry Library • Elaine McConnell, Director, Ocean County Library • Nancy Steuber, Director, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry • J. Kevin Graffagnino, Executive Director, Vermont Historical Society
	Dr. Radice thanks the speakers at the end of the second panel.

Community Members:

Shirina Davenport (Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, or BCRI)
Shirina, a family involvement coordinator with Birmingham City Schools, helped plan, implement, and run the Birmingham Cultural Alliance Partnership (BCAP), a collaborative after-school enrichment program administered by the BCRI. Davenport’s son, Chris, was touched by his exposure to the BCAP program and its BCRI Youth Performing Ensemble.

Luis Mendez (Brookfield Zoo)
Luis, a 2006 graduate of Illinois State University, chose his career as a science educator based upon his nine-year involvement with the Brookfield Zoo. Luis joined the summer program as a high school freshman-volunteer, and over subsequent summers, moved up the Zoo’s Career Ladder for Youth Program. He is now a science educator at the Shedd Aquarium.

George Geer (Georgetown County Library)
The Library has made George into the man that he is today. From the time he was old enough to sit upright, the library became a second home, where he learned the value of a free and open information source to a democratic society. The desire to share this discovery spurred Geer to obtain a master’s degree in English literature and to teach high school English and journalism.

Connie McKinnon (Kim Yerton Branch, Humboldt County Library)
During a difficult time for the McKinnon family, the Library provided a place of stability and opportunity for the McKinnons and their five children. The younger children attended story times and the older children used the computers and participated in the after-school and summer programs. Connie began working with the tribal school programs, eventually becoming a literacy paraprofessional at Hoopa Elementary School.

Aurelia Kyles (Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
When she moved to Memphis 20 years ago, the Library helped Aurelia and her family to become part of their new community. Kyles watched her daughter’s skills strengthen through her involvement with the library and, over the years, she came to rely on the library to help fulfill her volunteer roles. As a church leader in a medium-size, African-American congregation, she shows the church leaders and congregation how to access library resources.

Amalia Amaki (National Museum of Women in the Arts, or NMWA)
In 2005, NMWA selected Amalia for a retrospective exhibition of 3-dimensional artwork that incorporated fabric, beads, pearls, buttons, paint, found objects and glitter. The Boxes, Buttons and the Blues show marked a milestone in her career, placing her art before audiences from around the country and providing opportunities to engage attendees, address media audiences, and participate in onsite programming.

Jereldine RedCorn (The Newberry Library)
Jereldine, a member of the Caddo Tribe living in Norman, OK, single-handedly revived the art of Caddo pottery using texts found in the Library’s Edward E. Ayer Collection and the D’Arcy McNickle Research Center. Originating in Arkansas, Caddo Indians were masters of working with clay, but, until recently, Jereldine was the only living Caddo traditional potter.

Elias Vazquez (Ocean County Library)
When Elias first came to this country from Mexico, he had never been to a public library, but he quickly became an avid library user and learned how to read through a library program. In his current position as a SMART kids tutor, Elias now has an opportunity to give back to the community that has served him so well by helping Spanish speaking children who are new to this country. He has almost completed his associate’s degree, and will next pursue his bachelor’s degree. His ultimate goal is to complete a Master of Library Science degree.

Priyam Shah (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, or OMSI)
Born and raised in Portland, OR, 15-year-old Priyam has immersed himself in science at numerous OMSI camps and weekend activities for more than a decade. Then, just two years ago, Shah learned about sustainable and green practices through OMSI’s Rising Star Youth Leadership Program. Priyam’s passion for energy efficiency and sustainable practices prompted him to research and develop economic models to convince his parents to embrace eco-friendly practices when they built their new home.

Marilyn Blackwell (Vermont Historical Society, or VHS)
More than 35 years ago, Marilyn began volunteering for the library while she tried to discern a new career pathway. Her volunteer activities and many hours in the stacks at the VHS library launched her on a track back to graduate school for a master’s degree and then a doctorate in U.S. history. With the guidance of a welcoming and skilled librarian and the numerous scholars, antiquarians, and genealogists who regularly congregate at the archives, she got hooked on history.

• January 14, 2008 Press Release: Mrs. Laura Bush Recognizes Top Ten Museums and Libraries at White House Ceremony; Receives First National Medal
• Watch the Medals Highlights video.
• Nominate a Museum or Library for a National Medal
• First Lady Laura Bush's Full Remarks
• Anne Radice's Full Remarks
• 2007 National Medals Brochure (PDF, 1MB)
• Past Winners of the National Awards for Museum and Library Service