FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Three Museums and Three Libraries to Receive
Nation’s Highest Honor for Extraordinary Community Service

The National Awards for Museum and Library includes $10,000 and ceremony in nation’s capital

Washington, DC—Mary L. Chute, acting director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, today announced the 2005 recipients of the National Awards for Museum and Library Service. This is the nation’s highest honor for the extraordinary public service provided by these institutions. Each organization will receive $10,000 and will be honored at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., date to be determined.

Recognizing the vital role of museums and libraries in American society, the Institute annually awards museums and libraries that exhibit outstanding service to their communities. The National Awards for Museum and Library Service honors institutions for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions to their communities.

The winners of the 2005 National Awards for Museum and Library Service are:

COSI Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
Johnson County Library, Overland Park, Kansas
Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, North Carolina
Mathews Memorial Library, Mathews, Virginia
Pratt Museum, Homer, Alaska
Saint Paul Public Library, Saint Paul, Minnesota

“Through partnerships with schools, businesses, social service agencies, and many others, these exemplary museums and libraries develop programs and services that meet genuine family and community needs,” said Mary Chute. “They inspire a love of learning from early childhood through the senior years, sustain our cultural heritage, build 21st century skills, and provide engaging opportunities for civic participation. The Institute is gratified to honor their achievements.”

COSI Toledo http://www.cositoledo.org
Contact: Lori Hauser 419-244-2674, hauser@cositoledo.org

In the seven years since COSI Toledo opened, the hands-on science museum has become a close partner with local school systems and other community organizations in bringing the joy of scientific discovery to children of all ages.

"The new economy demands technical and scientific literacy from all of our citizens," stated Senator Mike DeWine (OH). "COSI Toledo is a shining example of how a hands-on approach can bring science to life and inspire an entire community. I applaud the entire COSI Toledo organization and thank the National Museum and Library Services Board and the Director of the Institute for recognizing COSI’s deep and long-standing commitment to community service and innovative public programming."

Through its innovative programs for teachers and schools, students and families, the museum is transforming the way science is taught and learned in northwest Ohio. "Having the Center for Science and Industry in Toledo has been a perfect fit for the people of Northwest Ohio," remarked Congressman Paul E. Gilmor (OH_05). "Partnerships with local schools and the community have made COSI an important part of everyday life for many Ohioans. COSI has also brought much-needed tourism to our area as others realize this tremendous educational tool. The center has helped to make science cool again for the future of our nation and is shaping some of our brightest minds of the next generation."

"COSI has long been an invaluable educational resource to our Northern Ohio community," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH_09). "COSI is a dynamic center of hands-on science, learning and fun where visitors enjoy extraordinary learning opportunities as they are immersed in larger-than-life experiences. By utilizing these creative and innovative programs, COSI continually strives to attract new audiences to positively overcome the intimidation of math and science education."

From college fairs to camp-ins, from one-time experiences to multiyear programs, COSI Toledo is dedicated to community service that reveals to the world, a world of science.

Johnson County Library http://www.jocolibrary.org
Contact: Marsha Bennett 913-261-2319, bennettm@jocolibrary.org

A myriad of successful programs that benefit all areas of Johnson County, Kansas, from the suburbs to small towns and rural communities, distinguish the work of the Johnson County Library. "By ensuring that our communities, especially our children and youth, are exposed to literature and other materials, the Johnson County Library is giving people the opportunity to expand their horizons and in return become engaged in their communities," Congressman Dennis Moore (KS_03) said. "I thank them for their hard work and dedication, and congratulate them on this much-deserved award."

"I am proud that the Johnson County Library is one of only three libraries in the country to receive recognition this year from the Institute of Museum and Library Science--the staff deserves credit and recognition for its work engaging the community in library services and activities," said Senator Sam Brownback (KS).” From school administrators to local government officials, from business leaders to youth correctional officers, the library actively seeks input from the community to improve traditional services and shape programming for new audiences. Senator Brownback noted, "In particular, the library merits commendation for its Changing Lives through Literature program, which has dramatically reduced the recidivism rate among probationary teens. This is great news for the Johnson County Library and for Kansas. Keep up the good work."

The Johnson County Public Library continually seeks new opportunities to serve its community, and in partnership with community organizations, the library has created innovative and exceptional programs while enhancing traditional services.

Levine Museum of the New South http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org
Contact: Ashley Thurmond 704-333-1887 ext 242, athurmond@museumofthenewsouth.org

The Levine Museum of the New South is not afraid to tackle challenging social issues in order to build a better community. In 2004 the museum embarked on an extraordinary project that enabled the citizens of Charlotte to examine issues of equity, race, and inclusion in the context of the history of school desegregation. The project left a deep impression on the residents of Charlotte and earned the museum a place among the 2005 recipients of the National Award for Museum Service.

Senator Elizabeth H. Dole (NC) gives her heartfelt congratulations to the Levine Museum of the New South for this well-deserved recognition: “Through a ground-breaking exhibit on desegregation and the community discussions that followed, the museum helped bring together the Charlotte community on the important subjects of race and diversity. I applaud the folks at the museum for their good works and their commitment and service to the Charlotte area."

The museum has become an important catalyst for change in Charlotte. Through exhibits and community conversations, the Levine Museum helped bring a community closer. "The Levine Museum is an important part of our community in Charlotte," remarked U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (NC_09). "They do a great job of having exhibitions that teach us about our past so that we can create a better future for our area. I applaud the work they do, and I know we are all proud that they have received this prestigious national award."

Mathews Memorial Library http://www.mathewslibrary.org
Contact: Bette Dillehay 804-725-5747, bettedillehay@mathewslibrary.org

The Mathews Library sees its role as central to its goal of creating a thriving community, and area residents have taken notice. No longer content to serve a narrow segment of its community, the public library now partners with the local schools and historical center on programs that make it a hub of lifelong learning and enrichment. "The Mathews Library serves as a focal point of the community and a valuable resource to all the residents of Mathews County,” remarked U.S. Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (VA_01). “I'm proud to hear that the Mathews Memorial Library has been recognized with this year's National Award for Library Service. I want to extend my congratulations to the staff and volunteers at the Mathews Library and recognize their positive contributions to the community."

The challenges facing the community of Mathews County are many, but so are the opportunities. One involved citizen called it "the best little library in Virginia.” "The Mathews Memorial Library has shattered the old mold of service for small, rural libraries," said Mary Chute. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services applauds the Mathews Memorial Library for adopting a new vision that gives the little library a big can-do attitude.”

Pratt Museum http://www.prattmuseum.org
Contact: Heather Beggs 907-235-8635 ext. 33, director@prattmuseum.org

The Pratt Museum's commitment to building strong community partnerships, especially with native villages around Kachemak Bay, helped earn it a place among the 2005 recipients. "The awarding of the National Award for Museum Service to the Pratt Museum is recognition of the depth of the museum's mission and the hard work and dedication of its employees and volunteers,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK). “It is a model for other museums to follow and I congratulate all involved on this award."

“The Pratt Museum creates innovative exhibits and programs that give voice to local homesteaders, fishermen, and Native Alaskans,” said Mary Chute. “At the same time, the museum celebrates and interprets for summer visitors the area’s rich traditions, cultures, and ecological diversity.”

Permeating its many community programs and exhibits is an invitation by the Pratt Museum to make connections between worlds--human and nonhuman, land and sea, native and non-native, scientific and spiritual. The museum asks its visitors to stop, listen, reflect, and think in new ways, and be moved to fully participate in community life.

Saint Paul Public Library http://www.sppl.org
Contact: Stu Wilson 651-222-3242, stu@thefriends.org

The Saint Paul Public Library has never been more valuable to the residents of the Twin City metro area. The library and its Friends group have garnered unprecedented public and private support for new facilities and for targeted outreach to people from all walks of life. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN_04) said, "In St. Paul, our libraries are treasures, and this award recognizes their innovation and community commitment. We're all very proud of our libraries and the men and women who keep these doors to knowledge open."

In partnership with the Friends group, the Saint Paul Library has invested in a diverse array of community partnerships. The result is a system that delivers more books and materials (a 50 percent increase in the last five years), has more on-site visitors (a 31 percent increase in visitation), receives thousands more Web site hits, and has more Saint Paulites opening a book for fun and learning.

"I congratulate the St. Paul Public Library for winning the prestigious National Award for Library Service," said Senator Mark Dayton (MN). “The library's unwavering dedication to lifelong learning and community outreach have made it a pillar of St. Paul's greatness."

As the primary source of federal funding for the nation's libraries and museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has a unique vantage point of the vital role these institutions play in American society. The National Awards for Museum and Library Service were created to underscore that role. The winners are as diverse as the cultural landscape of our country: small and large, urban and rural. They have one thing in common: they have each found innovative ways to make serving their community central to their mission.

“Our achievement as individuals and our success as a democratic society depend on learning continually, adapting to change readily, and evaluating information critically,” said Mary Chute. “This year's winning museums and libraries have all demonstrated their commitment to furthering this achievement by serving their communities in unique ways, structured to the special needs of their citizens. These museums and libraries are fulfilling their mission of becoming centers of learning for life.”

Past Recipients

Nominate a museum or library for the 2006 National Awards for Museum and Library Service. (Application Deadline is February 15, 2006)