Member News Roundup | May 24, 2023
May 23, 2023
IMLS 2023 National Medalists for Museum and Library Service
LA County Library, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
ULC members LA County Library and Toledo Lucas County Public Library have been selected as IMLS 2023 National Medalists for Museum and Library Service! The libraries were among eight winners, selected from a group of 30 national finalists.
The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. Since 1996, the award has honored 182 institutions that exemplified extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service.
“IMLS is delighted to announce the eight worthy recipients of the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “The staff at these inspiring institutions dedicate themselves each day to supporting the health and growth of their communities, serving in their unique individual ways as centers of excellence and passion. We look forward to honoring their accomplishments in Washington, D.C. this summer!”
Browse, Borrow, Board in Boston
Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library's "Browse, Borrow, Board" pilot program offers digital content from the library to transit riders at various bus stops around the city. Decals containing QR codes can be found on sidewalks at 20 bus stops as well as on bus paths owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority throughout the city.
The QR codes direct scanners to the digital pop-up library website, and the city has also released a map of where they’re located. The decals are accessible through the end of August, the news release noted.
“We share in the value that knowledge and transportation could both be ‘Free to All.’ This opportunity connects public library and public transit offerings around learning and movement in our city,” said David Leonard, Boston Public Library president.
Introducing Calgary's "Influencer in Residence"
Calgary Public Library
Calgary Public Library has just announced the next in its series of creative and professional residences— Chanry Thach, Influencer in Residence. Chanry, a well-known Calgary food blogger and marketing professional, will be available for appointments, group seminars and virtual sessions. She will cover the topics of how to influence and all of the types of equipment you need to create content. There will be a seminar for teens on how to influence to get jobs and also find a side hustle and one for seniors on how to use social media networks to stay connected with friends and family.
“If I can help a small business who might not have a budget to hire a social media manager, to hire a marketing team to strategize with the big wigs on how to market their business: That’s me," said Thach. "The library has now given my skills up for free to anybody who’s willing to come and tap my brain on ‘how do I get my business to the next level.'”
Thach's residency runs from May 15 to July 31.
Defending the Freedom to Read in El Paso
El Paso Public Library
El Paso Public Library was recently featured in an article from El Paso Matters about the library's wildly successful partnership with the local YWCA to install banned books sections at city library branches. The article tells the story of teen Alex Reyes, who has become a leader in their county to advocate for intellectual freedom.
“Seeing ‘Aristotle and Dante,’ something that takes place in my own hometown, written by someone from my hometown, someone who was a teacher at UTEP at one point, it made me realize that there are other people out there like me,” Reyes said. “I’m not alone and no one is alone.”
“The state of Texas can’t come into our facilities and tell us what we can and cannot have,” said El Paso city Rep. Alexsandra Annello. “They’re saying they’re going to cut funding if we have these books. We’ve stood strong, and if it’s about finding other funding to keep our libraries going instead of silencing our community and silencing the stories, that’s something that we will do.”