Heads should turn and take notice when 10 institutions are awarded the nation’s highest honor for outstanding museum and library service. Thanks to the bloggers 
at BlogJunction Illinois for the great write up featuring Illinois’ own Gail Borden Public Library. I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with Denise Raleigh, the library’s director of marketing, development and communications and the force behind the StoryTubes project, a collaborative effort with partner libraries and publishers across the country.
The Gail Borden Public Library is the heart and hub of exciting activities in Elgin, Illinois. Its motto, “Learning is a Journey…Start It Here,” has been the inspiration behind many activities, including the Dr. Torres Library Card Challenge, a month-long program that resulted in 8,000 new library cards for local kids; the A Tapestry of Freedom project, which encouraged residents – especially foreign-born patrons – to share their stories of struggle and triumph with fellow Elgin citizens; and the GIANTS: African Dinosaurs and SPACE: Dare to Dream programs that brought to the library prehistoric visitors and objects from far flung galaxies. With all of the fantastic programs and events at the Gail Borden Public Library, community members ask just one question: “What next!”
The full cast of winners are as diverse as the nation’s cultural landscape: small and large, urban and rural. They have one thing in common: they have developed innovative ways to serve their communities.
Winners of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:
- Braille Institute Library Services, Los Angeles, CA
- Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
- Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
- Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
- Museum of Science & Industry, Tampa, FL
- Pritzker Military Library, Chicago, IL
- Stark County District Library, Canton, OH
- Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TN
Nominations for the 2010 award are due on February 16. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your library’s award winning community service!