Public Library Nominated as ‘2013 Finalist National Medal’ for Museum and Library Service

Share Your Library Story & The Reason You Think We Should WIN!

Each day the Institute of Museum and Library Services will be highlighting one of the finalists on Facebook. Our day to be featured is Thursday, March 21. Share your Library story on their walland the reason you think our Library should win. Tell them how the Library has made a difference in your life at .

Cincinnati, OH: February 19, 2013 - In mid-February, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County was notified that it was a finalist for The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

Medal finalists are selected from nationwide nominations of institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach. Finalists are chosen because of their significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.

“While it is always wonderful to receive recognition for the work we do, especially on a national level, our true motivation comes from knowing that we are making a difference in our community,” said Kim Fender, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The specific services mentioned in the Library’s nomination deal with three community issues: childhood poverty, grade level reading, and adult education. “When we learn of an issue like the high rate of childhood poverty in Cincinnati, the 3rd highest in the country, we don’t just accept it. We set about changing it,” said Ms. Fender.

Community Impact a Top Priority

“It may not be immediately obvious how our Library can have an impact on something like childhood poverty. But I believe we can have an impact. To do so we looked at services that would address the two sides of this coin: meeting the immediate needs of children living in poverty and providing educational opportunities that would lift children out of poverty.”

Consequently, in 2012 the Library worked with Cincinnati Public Schools and the Freestore/Foodbank to offer summer lunches at 14 Library locations. Together 6,700 lunches were served to children at these locations. “This is a program we plan to continue because it is hard for a hungry child to pay attention and learn. A food program can make all the difference in a child's success.”

A good education is crucial to getting out of poverty. Data confirms that students who are prepared for kindergarten and reading at grade level by grade three are more likely to succeed academically and in life. To address this challenge, the Library has developed a wide range of programs to get children off to a good start in kindergarten and keeping them reading at grade level.

“From Summer Reading programs to Brain Camps, to extra teacher collections for schools with more students reading below grade level to visits to in home childcare providers, our Library is putting its resources to work for the good of our community,” said Ms. Fender. “And, that’s what really matters.”

Winners to Be Announced This Spring

The IMLS Award winners will be announced later this spring. IMLS is encouraging community members who have visited the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to share their story on the IMLS Facebook page. Visit the IMLS Facebook page to learn more about how these institutions make an impact.

Photo Captions:

(top - page 1):A storytime at the Madeira Branch Library. (bottom - page 1): One of the Library’s PNC Bank sponsored “Spending, Saving, Sharing for Kids” programs. (top - page 2): A young Library customer accesses one of the Library’s Early Literacy Stations (bottom - page 2) Children participating in one of the Library’s summer Brain Camps.

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