FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2008

Press Contact
202-653-4632 or 202-330-7736 (cell)
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov

To access high resolution photos of each winner with the First Lady and IMLS Director Anne Radice, click on the numbered links below. High-resolution images are available for press and public use by clicking on the thumbnail image.

Mrs. Laura Bush Recognizes Top Ten Museums and Libraries at White House Ceremony; Receives First National Medal

Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington DC,
Oregon, and Vermont Institutions Honored

Mrs. Laura Bush delivers her opening remarks. Click image for a larger version. All photos by Bob Burgess.

WASHINGTON, DC--Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, bestowed on First Lady Laura Bush the first National Medal for Museum and Library Service at the White House January 14. Mrs. Bush deserves the newly-minted medal for her tireless championing of the nation’s museums and libraries, Radice said at a ceremony celebrating the 10 winners of the 2007 National Medals for Museum and Library Service.

The National Medals are the nation’s highest awards for museums and libraries that make exceptional contributions to their communities. The awards are made annually by IMLS, the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries, in coordination with the White House. This is the first year that IMLS has awarded medals to the 10 institutions along with a $10,000 prize; in previous years, the National Medal was known as the National Award for Museum and Library Service and was awarded to three museums and three libraries.

Five libraries and five museums from Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington DC, Oregon, and Vermont received the National Medals. The winners are:

1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama
2. Brookfield Zoo of the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois
3. Georgetown County Library, Georgetown, South Carolina
4. Kim Yerton Branch of the Humboldt County Library, Hoopa, California
5. Memphis Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, Tennessee
6. National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC
7. The Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois
8. Ocean County Library, Toms River, New Jersey
9. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon
10. Vermont Historical Society, Barre, Vermont

Important Links:

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

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

IMLS is grateful to AT&T for its generous support of the White House National Medals Award Ceremony and Symposium. The History Channel made possible the video celebrating the Award winners. Additional support was provided by 3M Library Systems and Metal Edge, Inc. Archival Storage Materials.