Remarks at the National Awards
for Museum and Library Services
White House Ceremony
Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director,
Institute of Museum and Library Services
January 8, 2007
Thank you, Mrs. Bush, for the introduction and for
graciously hosting today’s celebration. Most importantly,
thank you for being a real friend to the nation’s
libraries and museums. You are a true leader, and we
in the cultural fields greatly appreciate that leadership.
The strategy you have used in deciding where to apply
your resources has made your work so much more than
symbolic or merely ceremonial. The first-ever White
House conference on school libraries, the National Book
Festival, the President’s Helping America's Youth
initiative, and our own Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian
Program have all succeeded largely because of your dedication.
All have had a meaningful impact on the people we in
this room serve. Your involvement with and attendance
at the Preserve America Summit earlier this year sent
a strong message about the importance of preserving
America’s heritage; the speech you gave at the
summit sized up the challenge and the solution perfectly.
On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed attending
events like the Preserve America Summit with you. It
is a pleasure to talk to you and just plain fun to be
around you. I know I speak for everyone here when I
say how very proud we are to call you our First Lady.
I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the contribution
of 3M Library Systems, The History Channel, Metal Edge,
Inc., and Scholastic to this year’s celebration.
Mrs. Bush has told you a bit about this year’s
winners of the National Awards for Museum and Library
Services. Please enjoy this brief video presentation
that will tell you a bit more.
(Video Presentation)
The National Award for Museum and Library Service honors
the people who make libraries and museums forces for
positive change in their communities. When we present
the awards we ask each of our honorees to be represented
not only by their CEO or board chairman, but also by
a member of the community who has thrived in some way
that would not have been possible if not for the outstanding
work of these exemplary institutions.
As you saw in the video presentation, our mission at
the Institute of Museum and Library Services is to build
strong libraries and museums that connect people to
information and ideas. We do this by working with these
institutions to sustain cultural heritage, enhance learning,
and support professional development. In all of these
ways, the best museums and libraries in America --six
of whom we are honoring today-- are allowing and encouraging
our citizens to stay connected to the knowledge and
concepts they need for their own success and that of
our great nation.
