Skokie Library Among Five Museums and Five Libraries to Receive Nation's Highest Honor at White House Ceremony

Washington, DC-First Lady Laura Bush will award five museums and five libraries the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, thenation's highest honor, at a White House ceremony on October 7. Each year, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, presents the National Medal to 10museums and libraries in recognition of their extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.

"These 10 museums and libraries have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a real difference in their communities. They reach out topeople of all ages and backgrounds and invite them to explore our wonderfully diverse history, culture, and literature. I thank them fortheir good work and encourage others to follow their shining example," said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda M. Radice.

With 42 percent of its residents foreign-born and 97 languages other than English spoken at home—including Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Chinese, Urdu, Gujarati, and Greek—Skokie, Illinois, is recognized as one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The Skokie Public Library (SPL) embraces the diversity of its constituency and takes great pride in targeting and tailoring its programming to the many and varied populations it serves.

When visitors arrive at the library, they are greeted by large banners that say “library” in 14 different languages; inside, the multilingual signage continues, with “welcome” written on a number of walls. On the library’s Web home page and above the foreign-language book section (which contains almost 20,000 titles in 18 different languages), flags of many nations are on display. Additionally, there is a “recent immigrants” page on the library’s SkokieNet Web site—which has the distinction of being one of the first library-sponsored community Web sites in the country—with information on topics from becoming a citizen to getting a Social Security card. All of these steps have been taken to ensure that every person in Skokie feels comfortable spending time in his or her community library.

The emphasis on programs that speak to the diverse population continues with the library’s cosponsorship of the annual Skokie Festival of Cultures. Started in 1991, the festival provides two days of ethnic foods, music, dance, crafts, fun cultural activities for the kids, and a chance for integral community development. Last year, 31 different cultures were represented, and the festivities drew 25,000 visitors.

People who are visually or hearing impaired or have limited mobility are another part of the population well served by the Skokie Public Library. Skokie Accessible Library Services was created as a way for the library to provide these members of the community with services including telecommunication devices for the deaf, JAWS for Windows speech synthesis, and Duxbury Braille Translation Software, free of charge. The library also is fully accessible for patrons in wheelchairs or scooters.

Aspiring musicians have an important role in the library’s programming as well, and are encouraged to apply for SPL’s Young Steinway Concert Series. Occurring monthly, the series showcases exceptionally talented youth and offers the musicians valuable performing experience in front of a large audience, as well as free concerts for the community. The series has had more than 400 participants, 99 of whom have moved on to professional music careers. Successful alumni are asked back to play in special solo concerts.

Begun in 1930 and operated out of a rented room above a drugstore, the Skokie Public Library has come to be an essential part of the Skokie community, offering all of its visitors—regardless of race, ethnicity, or ability—numerous opportunities to interact and learn.

“I’m proud, but not surprised, that the Skokie Public Library was one of only ten institutions in the nation to receive the 2008 National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). “The Skokie Library is constantly redefining and expanding its role and has become an indispensible part of our community—providing access to information, resources and services that have helped change the lives of local residents. I congratulate the visionary leadership of Carolyn Anthony and her staff. They have created a local treasure and a model for the country. I can't imagine a more deserving library than the Skokie Library.”

In addition to the National Medal, each institution receives a $10,000award. This is the second year that IMLS has presented the NationalMedals to 10 institutions. In previous years, the National Medal wasknown as the National Award for Museum and Library Service and was awarded to three museums and three libraries.

Media availability: Members of the press interested in attending the White House ceremony, please contact IMLS Public Affairs OfficerJeannine Mjoseth (jmjoseth@imls.gov; 202-653-4632.)

The White House ceremony will be followed on October 8 by a symposium featuring presentations by community members whose lives have been positively affected by the institutions, and the directors of the institutions. The press and public are invited to attend the symposium.
(Please see link to the symposium invitation below.)

Important Links:

2008 National Medal Brochure: http://www.imls.gov/pdf/2008Medals.pdf

Symposium Invitation:
http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/images/medals/Medals_Symp_Invite_08.pdf (October 8, 2008)

Fact Sheet on the National Medal: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/092908_facts.shtm

Past Winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service:
http://www.imls.gov/results.asp?program=1006,1005&description=on&sort=ye...