The Williamsburg Regional Library has made it to a list of 33 finalists for the National Medal for Museum and Library Services after being nominated by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner.
The medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community, according to a news release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award goes to libraries and museums that “make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.”
Of the 33 nominees, 10 of them will receive the $5,000 award and participate in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. They will also receive a visit from StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to record, preserve and share the stories of Americans.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” said John Moorman, the director of Williamsburg Regional Library. “It’s recognition for the programs and services we offer to the community, the community support of the library and the excellent staff.”
Moorman said the combination of an intelligent, talented and caring staff and the “tremendous support” from local government make for a library that can offer many services to the community.
This nomination is the Williamsburg Regional Library’s first.
If you want to share your story about your trip to Williamsburg Regional Library, visit the IMLS Facebook page by clicking here. You can also learn more about how libraries and museums impact communities at that page.
The Williamsburg Regional Library is not the only Virginia institution on the list. The Chesterfield County Public Library, Amazement Square in Lynchburg and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center are also finalists.
In the past, the Williamsburg Regional Library has won the Louis Shores Award, an honor from the American Library Association that recognizes excellence in book reviewing and other media. It has also been the site of a May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture and has received the SLJ/Thomson Gale Giant Step Award.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federally-run organization that helps the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums with grant making, policy development and research.
Previous Coverage:
Williamsburg Library Gets Four-Star Rating
