2003 National Awards for Museum and Library Service
Presented to the Pocahontas County Free Libraries
First Lady Laura Bush, a former librarian, presented to Pocahontas County’s head librarian Allen Johnson at the White House on behalf of the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, one of three 2003 National Awards for Museum and Library Service. This is the nation’s highest honor for extraordinary public service. Each of these institutions received a $10,000 award.
The winners of the 2003 National Award for Library Service were:
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Bozeman Public Library Bozeman Montana
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Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania
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Pocahontas County Free Libraries Marlinton, West Virginia
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The winners of the 2003 National Award for Museum Service were:
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Carnegie Science Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts San Angelo, Texas
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USS Constitution Museum Boston, Massachusetts
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Recognizing the powerful role of museums and libraries in American society, the Institute annually awards museums and libraries that exhibit outstanding service to their communities. The recipients were honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The ceremony is made possible by 3M, EBSCO Information Services, Metal Edge, Inc., netLibrary, and Southwest Museum Services.
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The National Awards for Museum and Library Service honor institutions for their outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. “Through partnerships with schools, businesses, social service agencies, and many other groups, these museums and libraries have uplifted lives, improved neighborhoods, and made our nation better,” said Dr. Martin, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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The awards were created to underscore the powerful role of museums and libraries as leaders in our democratic society. The winners are as diverse as the cultural landscape of our county: small and large, urban and rural. They have one thing in common: they have each found innovative ways to make serving the community central to their mission. They use their collections and programs to address real community needs.
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“As the primary source of federal funding for the nation’s libraries and museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has a unique vantage point of the vital role these institutions play in American society,” Dr. Martin added. “This award celebrates communities, it celebrates achievement and civic engagement, and it celebrates learning throughout the lifetime. As a nation of learners we use libraries and museums everyday to assist us on our quest for discovery and to satisfy our need to know.”
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation’s 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please log onto: The Institute of Museum and Library Services.
None of this would have been possible without the support of you, our patrons. Thank you.