Three Libraries Win IMLS
National Award for Library Service

The winners of the 2002 National Award for Library Service were announced October 23 by Robert S. Martin, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. First Lady and former librarian Laura Bush has been invited to present the awards at an October 29 colloquium at the White House. David Carr of the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill’s School of Library and Information Science will present a talk on “Libraries, Museums, and Communities: A Catalyst for Civic Engagement, Sustaining Democracy.”

This year’s winners are:

• The Boundary County District Library in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for its model family-literacy program, creative community partnerships, and leadership in a campaign to provide a centralized network of social and educational resources for county residents.
• The Hartford (Conn.) Public Library for creating neighborhood technology centers for literacy and technology education with extended evening hours to meet the needs of working families.
• The Southwest Georgia Regional Public Library System in Bainbridge for its World War II Veterans History project, a program on teen reading, and state-of-the-art bookmobile service.

The award is given annually to libraries that make exceptional social, economic, or environmental contributions to their communities. A comparable award is given to museums at the same time.

Posted October 28, 2002.