Nashville Public Library Receives National Honor

NPL Recognized for Increasing Literacy, Embracing Diversity

The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced that the Nashville Public Library has received the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Services, the highest honor awarded to American libraries.

Medals are awarded to museums and libraries that make extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental and social contributions to the communities they serve. Recipients are selected by the IMLS director and board following an open nomination process and receive $10,000 and a visit from StoryCorps. The Nashville Public Library was chosen for serving its constituents through innovative programs and furthering literacy, learning and cultural understanding in Nashville.

“Great cities have great libraries, and Nashville has a world-class library system,” Mayor Karl Dean said. “This award is much deserved. Donna Nicely and her staff do a tremendous job in enriching the culture of our city and the lives of the people who use our public libraries.”

The IMLS specifically named several NPL programs in its recognition of the library:

• The Bringing Books to Life program, which travels to local day care centers to share a literature-based puppet performance with children and informs teachers and parents of the importance of reading.

• The Limitless Libraries collection development and resource-sharing partnership with Metro high schools. 

• The library’s work to engage and promote cultural understanding toward growing populations of Asian, Southeast Asian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, African and Eastern European immigrants through extensive system wide programs  and puppet shows based on cultural stories and tales.

“Receiving this honor from IMLS is a capstone achievement for the Nashville Public Library and its programs,” said Donna Nicely, director of the Nashville Public Library. “My heartfelt thanks go to our supporters and the 305 library staff members who work to make the Nashville Public Library great each and every day.”

The library received special recognition for its work to promote cultural understanding and its relationship with Nashville’s sister city, Magdeburg, Germany, also home of one

of Europe’s oldest and most well-respected puppet theaters, and its Civil Rights Room. Recently, the library featured an exhibit on the fall of the Berlin Wall in the Civil Rights room – courtesy of its connections in Magdeburg – drawing the connection between the United States’ and Germany’s struggles to reunite their broken countries after periods of great turmoil.

The Nashville Public Library was one of five museums and five libraries to receive the honor. The other recipients were: Conner Interactive History Park, Fishers, Ind.; Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, N.M.; Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, Miss.; The New York Botanical Garden, New York, N.Y.; Patchogue-Medford Library, Patchogue, N.Y.; Peter White Public Library, Marquette, Mich.; Rangeview Library District and Anythink Libraries, Adams County,  Colo.; and West Bloomfield Township Public Library, West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

“This year’s National Medal winners are serving their communities with innovative and creative new approaches to lifelong learning, commitment to addressing diverse community needs, plain old hard work, and a lot of heart,” IMLS Acting Director Marsha L. Semmel said. “Many of our winners have evolved and grown despite tremendous challenges – all to empower and enrich the lives of their community members by cultivating collaboration and openness. I am deeply appreciative of their efforts to make a difference. They serve as the nation’s role models.”

More Information

National Medal Winners Video

2010 National Medal Brochure (pdf)

Read the library's nomination (pdf)