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National Medal for Museum and Library Service facts for kids

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The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is a special award given every year by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This award celebrates libraries and museums in America that do an amazing job helping their communities. The IMLS calls it "the nation’s highest honor" for museums and libraries that serve people well. Often, the First Lady of the United States helps present this important medal.

How the Award Changed Over Time

The National Medal for Museum and Library Service has changed a bit since it started.

Early Years: Museums Only (1994-1999)

When the award first began, from 1994 to 1999, it was called the "National Award for Museum Service." Back then, it was only given to museums.

Adding Libraries (2000-2006)

From 2000 to 2006, libraries were included! The award's name changed to the "National Award for Museum and Library Service." Each year, three museums and three libraries received this honor.

The Award Today (2007-Present)

Since 2007, the award has been known by its current name: the "National Medal for Museum and Library Service." Now, up to five museums and five libraries can receive this special medal each year.

The lists of award winners from 1994 to 2009 come from a special booklet published by the IMLS in 2009.

Award Winners by Year

1994 Winners

  • Brukner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio
  • The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri

1995 Winners

  • Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, New York
  • The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago, Illinois
  • Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, Vermont
  • The Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, Washington

1996 Winners

  • The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
  • The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois
  • The Natural Science Center of Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina

1997 Winners

1998 Winners

  • Belknap Mill Society, Laconia, New Hampshire
  • Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan
  • New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey

1999 Winners

2000 Winners

In 2000, libraries were included for the first time! Seven amazing places received the award this year:

2001 Winners

  • Alaska Resources Library and Information Services, Anchorage, Alaska
  • Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, San Jose, California
  • Hancock County Library System, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
  • Miami Museum of Science, Miami, Florida
  • New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Providence Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island

2002 Winners

  • Boundary County District Library, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
  • Hartford Public Library, Hartford, Connecticut
  • Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, Pennsylvania
  • Southwest Georgia Regional Public Library System, Bainbridge, Georgia
  • Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York

2003 Winners

2004 Winners

  • Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, Illinois
  • Flint Public Library, Flint, Michigan
  • Mayagüez Children's Library, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
  • The Regional Academic Health Center Medical Library of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
  • Western Folklife Center, Elko, Nevada
  • Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, California

2005 Winners

  • 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, MN

2006 Winners

  • Artrain USA, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Frankfort Community Public Library, Frankfort, Indiana
  • John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois
  • Lincoln Children's Zoo, Lincoln, NE
  • Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina
  • San Antonio Public Library, San Antonio, Texas

2007 Winners

In 2007, the award changed to its current name and recognized ten institutions:

2008 Winners

2009 Winners

2010 Winners

In 2010, ten libraries and museums received the award:

  • Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Fishers, Indiana
  • Explora, Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California
  • Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS
  • Nashville Public Library, Nashville, Tennessee
  • The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York
  • Patchogue-Medford Library, Patchogue, New York
  • Peter White Public Library, Marquette, Michigan
  • Rangeview Library District and Anythink Libraries, Adams County, Colorado
  • West Bloomfield Township Public Library, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan

2011 Winners

In 2011, ten libraries and museums were honored:

  • Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, Florida
  • Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, Ohio
  • EdVenture Children's Museum, Columbia, South Carolina
  • Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, Collegeville, Minnesota
  • Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia
  • Madison Children's Museum, Madison, Wisconsin
  • San Jose Public Library, San Jose, California
  • Weippe Public Library & Discovery Center, Weippe, Idaho

2012 Winners

In 2012, ten libraries and museums received the award:

2013 Winners

In 2013, ten libraries and museums were honored. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, presented the awards:

2014 Winners

In 2014, ten libraries and museums received the award:

2015 Winners

In 2015, ten libraries and museums were honored:

2016 Winners

In 2016, ten libraries and museums received the award:

2017 Winners

In 2017, ten libraries and museums were honored:

  • Alaska State Museums, Juneau, Alaska
  • Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colorado
  • Cedar Rapids Public Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie, Illinois
  • Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin
  • Long Beach Public Library, Long Beach, California
  • Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Oakland, California
  • Richland Library, Columbia, South Carolina
  • University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Waterville Public Library, Waterville, Maine

2018 Winners

In 2018, ten libraries and museums received the award:

  • Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, Denver, Colorado
  • Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit, Michigan
  • El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas
  • Georgetown Public Library, Georgetown, Texas
  • History Museum at the Castle, Appleton, Wisconsin
  • Orange County Library System, Orlando, Florida
  • Pueblo City–County Library District, Pueblo, Colorado
  • Reading Public Library, Reading, Pennsylvania
  • Rochester Public Library, Rochester, Minnesota
  • University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, Oregon

2019 Winners

In 2019, ten libraries and museums were honored:

  • Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Library, Sequim, Washington
  • Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • New Haven Free Public Library, New Haven, Connecticut
  • Gulfport Public Library, Gulfport, Florida
  • Meridian District Library, Meridian, Idaho
  • Barona Cultural Center and Museum, Lakeside, California
  • Children's Museum, San Diego, California
  • Historical Society of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
  • Lorraine Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee
  • South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, South Carolina

2020 Winners

No awards were given out in 2020.

2021 Winners

In 2021, six libraries and museums received the award:

  • Cabell County Public Library, Huntington, West Virginia
  • Highwood Public Library, Highwood, Illinois
  • Memphis Public Libraries, Memphis, Tennessee
  • High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon
  • Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson, Mississippi
  • Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico

2022 Winners

In 2022, six libraries and museums were honored:

2023 Winners

In 2023, eight libraries and museums received the award:

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