Remarks at the National Awards
for Museum and Library Services
White House Ceremony
Mrs. Laura Bush
January 8, 2007
Welcome to the White House. This is always one of my
favorite events, as you might imagine, a retired librarian.
I love to have this opportunity to recognize libraries
and museums around our country, and the great things
they do in each one of our communities. So I want to
thank you all very, very much for coming today.
I want to, of course, acknowledge Dr. Anne Radice,
who is the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library
Services, and the IMLS board that are here, as well,
the ones who work to support IMLS and also to work on
picking the award winners that we're going to see in
a minute.
We have three members of Congress joining us. I want
to thank Senator Enzi for joining us, Congressman Fortenberry,
and Congressman Regula. Thank you all very much for
joining us today.
Also Stephen Johnson, the Administrator of the EPA
is with us. Thank you very much, Steve. Dr. Bruce Cole,
the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities;
Dana Gioia, the Chairman of the National Endowment for
the Arts; Adair Margo, the Chairman of the President's
Council on Arts and Humanities; and Allen Weinstein,
the Archivist for the United States -- thank you all
very, very much for lending your expertise and prestige
to this event. Thank you for coming.
There are also a few members of the National Council
of the Arts and National Council of the Humanities joining
us, and distinguished guests, thank you for coming today
to celebrate the national award winners for museum and
library service.
Every one of us can remember our first visits to our
favorite library or museum. For me, those happy childhood
memories are of the times I spent with my mother at
the Midland Public Library in my hometown of Midland,
Texas. Recently, the Midland Public Library celebrated
its 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, Midlanders
compiled an anthology of their favorite library memories.
In her introduction, the Midland librarian explains
why we love these institutions: "In a sense,"
she writes, "being in a public library is being
home. We know that at any library, the characters in
our favorite stories are waiting for us like old friends.
Young people can open doors to wherever their imagination
takes them. Patrons immediately feel welcome among the
same rows of computers, the familiar smell of yellowing
pages, and the same kind librarian asking, "May
I help you?" (Laughter.)
At every library and museum across our country, we
feel at home, thanks to the librarians and the curators
who are eager to serve their communities. Today we recognize
six libraries and museums that exemplify this spirit
of service.
In North Carolina, the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
Public Library transforms lives. Library programs publish
local writers and help high school students apply for
college. Children become permanent book-lovers at the
library's ImaginOn center, where they use multimedia,
arts and crafts, and theater to bring their favorite
stories to life. As one young patron commented to the
librarian, ImaginOn "is better than Disney World."
(Laughter.)
Through its community outreach and free computer services,
the library helped a homeless patron reconnect with
his family in Boston. Soon, he'll move from the streets
of Charlotte into a loving home. Another patron recently
wrote to thank library staff for cheerfully answering
research questions for her son's school project over
the phone. "I'm receiving radiation treatments
for breast cancer," this mother explained. "I'd
gladly come downtown to help my child, but my energy
level weakens everyday. Thanks from the bottom of my
heart for making me still a hero to my son."
In San Antonio, Texas, the public library uses a downtown
facility, 22 branches, and nine bookmobile stops to
turn a city of 1.2 million multilingual residents into
a community of learning. Library partnerships with local
public schools offer students online homework help,
and lectures by renowned National Geographic explorers.
Partnerships with city arts institutions offer San Antonians
free entry to cultural exhibits and performances.
Library partnerships with local hospitals and pediatricians
help San Antonio's youngest residents develop early
literacy skills. Through its "Born to Read"
program, the library distributes literacy kits, including
books and a library card application, to the 25,000
babies delivered in San Antonio every year. In San Antonio,
thanks to the public library, it's never too early to
start reading.
Frankfort, Indiana, is a town of 16,000 where East
meets West -- at the Public Library. Frankfort is home
to a large Japanese community, and a fast-growing Hispanic
community. To help Frankfort come together as one community,
the library showcases Hispanic guitar music and foods,
and teaches children how to make calaveras skeletons
and Mexican tin ware. A biannual Japanese festival features
traditional art, sushi, Koto players, and tea ceremonies.
As the library introduces Frankfort to its residents'
different cultures, it encourages their appreciation
of all arts and culture, especially music. Children
receive instruction, and show off their skills, on the
library's new Yamaha grand piano. Teenagers develop
healthy interests through voice lessons, and perform
Broadway show tunes in the library's theater. Frankfort
has one of the few libraries in the country that actually
encourage noisy patrons. (Laughter.)
Everyone enjoys going to museums, but with ArtTrain
USA, the museum comes to you. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
ArtTrain USA loads world-class art exhibits onto rail
cars and chugs across the United States, stopping in
communities with little or no access to museums.
ArtTrain introduces small towns to the arts, and then
encourages local residents to make art the center of
town life. The 1,600 residents of Ada, Oklahoma -- 16,000,
that is -- were so inspired by ArtTrain's "Native
Views" exhibit that they decided to convert their
old armory into a city museum. At every whistle-stop
-- from Auburn, New York, to Palmer, Alaska -- ArtTrain
is exciting Americans about art. The few people who
aren't excited about the art tend to be train buffs,
and they're excited about the locomotive. (Laughter.)
In Chicago, the John G. Shedd Aquarium introduces millions
of visitors to the wonders of the underwater world --
from the white-sided dolphins of the Pacific, to the
zebra mussels living right off of Lakeshore Drive. The
Shedd Aquarium also urges visitors to be good stewards
of these aquatic wonders, especially the Great Lakes,
which contain 90 percent of America's fresh water supply,
and a variety of fascinating ecosystems.
Through massive public awareness campaigns, exhibits
about invasive species, and cooking demonstrations highlighting
sustainable seafood, the Shedd Aquarium shows millions
of Chicagoans how to preserve the biodiversity in their
own back yard. By introducing more than 300,000 schoolchildren
to the beauty of marine life, the Aquarium ensures that
our lakes and oceans will be protected for generations
to come.
At most schools, the class pet is a goldfish or a hamster.
But in Lincoln, Nebraska, thanks to the Children's Zoo,
class pets can be baboons, wallabies, and bearded dragons.
With a Science Focus High School located right on its
grounds, and three inner-city elementary schools within
walking distance, the Lincoln Zoo turns studying the
animal kingdom into a hands-on adventure.
Lincoln is a diverse community, and the zoo is committed
to reaching every member. Zoo programs are presented
in many of the 26 first languages spoken by Lincoln
residents. Through its Sensory Safari, the zoo allows
Lincoln's visually impaired citizens to experience the
textures, sounds, and -- for better or worse -- the
smells of the animal kingdom. (Laughter.)
And while the zoo is officially a "Children's
Zoo," some of its most devoted patrons are simply
young at heart. Through the "Our Zoo to YOU"
program, Lincoln residents in assisted-living and retirement
communities enjoy visits from teen volunteers, and quality
time with guests from Lincoln's petting zoo.
Congratulations to each of the recipients of this year's
National Awards for Museum and Library Service. Whether
it's a train conductor hauling art masterpieces across
the United States, the zookeeper introducing children
to a Redfoot Tortoise, or that friendly librarian asking,
"May I help you?", the people behind each
of today's winning institutions have made their organizations
indispensable to the communities they serve.
Many representatives from these communities are here
today. Each will tell you that their hometown libraries
and museums are inspiring examples for educational institutions
across our nation. Thank you to the staff of these exceptional
libraries and museums for your outstanding service.
Now I'm delighted to introduce someone who's devoted
her career to the educational and cultural life of our
nation: Dr. Anne Radice. (Applause.)
* * * * *
MRS. BUSH: Congratulations, again, to each one of the
libraries and the museums. Thank you very, very much
for what you do for our country by serving your own
communities and educating people in your communities,
that your reach is so much farther than you'll ever,
ever know. And we thank you very much for that.
I want to thank Anne Radice again, the Director of
the IMLS, for her good work, and also her partners that
are the National Endowment for the Arts, the National
Endowment for the Humanities, the Archives and the President's
committee. Thank you so much for joining us.
Joining us also today is the former director of the
IMLS, Robert Martin. (Applause.) Congratulations again
to each one of the library and museum winners, and thank
you very, very much for your service to your communities.
Thank you all. (Applause.)