The Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) has selected five museums and five libraries to receive the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries that make extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.

“In the 21st century, these award winning libraries and museums are the heart and soul of their communities. Their outstanding contributions have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a real difference in their communities. They reach out to people of all ages and backgrounds and invite them to explore our wonderfully diverse history, culture, and literature. I thank them for their good work and encourage others to follow their shining example,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda M. Radice.

As the primary source of federal funding for the nation’s museums and libraries, the Institute has a unique perspective on the vital role these institutions play in American society. The National Medal for Museum and Library Service was created to underscore that role. The 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 include the Gail Borden Library in Elgin, IL.  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!”

U.S. Senator Roland Burris (IL) “I am extremely proud of the Gail Borden Public Library, one of only 10 institutions selected for this prestigious award. For more than a century, this fine public library has served the needs of local residents through innovative means, including special exhibits and programs such as the Readership van. It has become an invaluable leader in the community – a center for literacy, learning, and exploration. The Gail Borden Public Library is a credit to the entire Elgin community and the great State of Illinois. I commend this institution for the fine work that has led to this award, and look forward to hearing of their continued success in the future.”

U.S. Representative Bill Foster (IL-14) “I congratulate the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin for being awarded with the prestigious 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest national honor that can be bestowed upon a museum or library. For more than 100 years, the Gail Borden Public Library has been a beloved public resource, bringing residents together to learn and grow, and also partnering with area groups and organizations to energize our community.”

In addition to the National Medal, which will be awarded in an upcoming Washington, D.C. ceremony, each institution receives a $10,000 award.

Picture above: The library’s SPACE: Dare to Dream project featured a recreation of Galileo’s studio, complete with a working model of his telescope.

The Gridley Public Library District (a member of the Alliance Library System) is proving that you don’t have to serve a big population to provide big service.

As the library web site says “Though small, the library itself has a friendly, homey feel that makes it a favorite place for people to sit and read the paper, read aloud to children, surf the Internet, check out the latest bestsellers, or visit with the friendly staff.”

In addition, Director Linda Zimmerman and Laurie Kinsella, in charge of adult programs, have put together programs and services that are both educational, creative and innovative to meet the needs of their community. Through a newsletter, residents of this small town of 1,300 can find out about programs like these:

“A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier.” Dressed in a Confederate uniform, Ted Atkins of Chillicothe talked about all aspects of life during the Civil War from the food they ate to how they dressed to the medical treatment they received to the weapons soldiers used.

As patrons arrived for the program, they were also treated to live Civil War era music provided by Dennis Giesel, his two daughters, Emily and Hannah, and David Kuntz. 

“An Evening with Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln.” This play takes place in the White House at the end of the Civil War as the President and Mrs. Lincoln (Max and Donna Daniels) reflect on the events of the past four years and their plans for the future. Flashbacks take you to the beginning of their lives together and forward through the tumultuous years of the Civil War – the responsibilities of the Presidency and the personal traumas suffered by the family. The play ends as the President realizes that it is time for him to leave for Ford’s Theatre. 

  Upcoming programs and services include…

• Storm Chasers! Eddy Weiss of Chasing 4 Life, a storm chasing team from Hastings, Nebraska will give 4 different programs throughout the day on June 23 for all ages.
• Adult Summer Reading Program. Why should the kids have all the fun? Adult readers can join a summer reading program and even win prizes for completion.
• New Watt Reader. The library received a watt reader from a collaboration with ALS and Ameren Illinois Utilities that can be loaned out to patrons. It measures how much electricity it takes to operate an appliance or any electronic device and the projected cost of that electricity.
• Mike Lockett – Storyteller Extraordinaire. On May 14th Dr. Mike Lockett visits the Gridley Public Library for an evening of storytelling entertainment.
• New key tag library cards. Hunt no more for that elusive disappearing library card. The Gridley Public Library is issuing key tag library cards that slide right onto your key chain. They even have a picture of the library on the front!

In their own words, the Gridley Public Library District provides a bridge between the history of their community to the present, while keeping an eye towards the future. Keep up the good work GPLD! You’re an Illinois Library Standout.

Library Journal’s new national rating of public libraries, the LJ Index of Public Library Service, identifies 256 “star” libraries. Created by Ray Lyons and Keith Curry Lance, it rates 7,115 public libraries. The top libraries in each group get five, four, or three Michelin guide-like stars. All included libraries, stars or not, can use their scores to learn from their peers and improve service to their communities.

Congratulations to the 10 Illinois Libraries who were named as Star Libraries by LJ – Cordova District Library, Naperville Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Public Library, Schaumburg Township District Public Library, Hodgkins Public Library District, Skokie Public Library, Champaign Public Library, Barrington Public Library District, Fountaindale Public Library District, and the Des Plaines Public Library.

You can see their overall score based on Circulation per capita, visits per capita, program attendance per capita, and internet terminal uses per capita in the LJ article.

The Moline Public Library is the winner of the 2009 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant.

The $3,000 grant, sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing and administered by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Awareness Committee, is awarded annually for the best public awareness campaign in support of National Library Week (April 12-18, 2009).   This year, libraries were asked to develop a proposal using the 2009 National Library Week theme, “Worlds connect @ your library.”

The Moline Public Library’s campaign will be a community “kaleidoscope” of library programs to promote National Library Week, as well as the library’s entire year of programming and promotions in 2009. Librarians Lisa Powell Williams and Christina Conklin said the library is like a kaleidoscope, having many different shapes, colors and ideas that connect the community. 

Each day will focus on a different “kaleidoscope” themed program such as a visit from Skylab, a traveling planetarium provided by the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education for children and families, author appearances by Chris Crutcher and James Loewen organized through the Quad City Arts’ Super Author program for teens and educators, and a jazz appreciation program for adults.

Throughout the spring, the library will advertise on some of the city’s Metrolink buses. The library will also create a commercial that will be aired on Moline’s local ABC-TV affiliate, WQAD, during the program, “Good Morning, Quad Cities” throughout National Library Week. Outreach to area press is also planned for the weeks leading up to National Library Week. 

Read more from the ALA Press Release

Congratulations to State Library Director Anne Craig and State Data Coordinator Ron Winner as recipients of the Francis Keppel Award.

The Francis Keppel Awards were presented recently during the annual Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Statistics Cooperative State Data Coordinator Conference in Washington, D.C. The award is presented annually to both the State Library Chief Officer and the State Data Coordinator, and is given for submitting prompt, complete, and high-quality public library data.

The honor is named after Francis Keppel, a U.S. Commissioner of Education, who served from 1962 to 1965. He also served as a distinguished member of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from 1978 to 1983.

Dr. Keppel was an early and enthusiastic advocate of reliable and regularly reported national, state, and local library statistics that would provide a basis for public policy formulation and the improvement of library services to the entire spectrum of the U.S. population.

The iREAD Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2010 Scare Up a Good Book YA Poster Contest, as well as $1000, is artist Michaela from the Morrison Talbot Public Library (Lewis & Clark Library System) with Poster C. 

The committee congratulates Michaela and thanks everyone who participated in any way. 

The Illinois School Library Media Association has chosen to honor Sharon Ball of the North Suburban Library System with the 2008 Polestar Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to school library media programs in Illinois.

The awards committee writes: “Sharon Ball has made an invaluable contribution to her profession and to the students of Illinois. We believe that her work in the field of school librarianship shows her commitment to ever improving library services in her system and in the state of Illinois.”

You can celebrate with Sharon at the ISLMA Conference on Friday, November 7 at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest in Arlington Heights beginning at 6:30 p.m. (conference attendance not required). Don’t delay; banquet registration deadline is this Monday, October 27.