UPDATE: Today, Thursday, March 19, is the NHA’s day to be featured on the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) social media channels and they need your help! The IMLS wants to hear from as many people as possible, so it is vital that you take a moment on this day to tell the world what you love most about the NHA and help them (and Nantucket!) receive a national award.
Visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS and www.twitter.com/us_imls today, Thursday, March 19 and share your photos and stories about the NHA! If you need more info on how to help, the NHA has a page on their website that includes a PDF of step-by-step instructions for anyone who is not that experienced with Facebook and needs a little help: http://nha.org/imls/
The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced that the Nantucket Historical Association is among the 30 finalists for the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.
The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. For 21 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service to make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
“Museums and libraries are the lifeblood of our communities, serving as trusted providers of critical resources, educational training, skills development, and civic and cultural enrichment,” said Maura Marx, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “We salute the Nantucket Historical Association … for exemplary leadership in promoting lifelong learning while engaging and inspiring the public.”
Finalists are chosen because of their significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. This honor recognizes the contributions of Nantucket Historical Association community programs such as Museum in my School, Diversity Festival, Food for Thought lectures, Nantucket Night Watch educational sleepovers, History Quiz Bowl, and many more.
“There are 35,000 museums in the country, many of them competing for the National Medal,” says Dr. William Tramposch, NHA Gosnell Executive Director. “The NHA strives to leave a lasting and meaningful impression on all visitors and guests, as well as to play an active and vital role in the greater museum field. We are amongst only 1,000 museums in the United States that are fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and now to be considered as one of the thirty finalists for this prestigious IMLS award is beyond thrilling to our staff and board alike!”
IMLS is encouraging community members who have visited the Nantucket Historical Association to share their stories on the IMLS Facebook page, www.facebook.com/USIMLS and to tweet @us_imls using #nationalmedal and tag the NHA (@ackhistory). The NHA will be highlighted on the IMLS social media channels on Thursday, March 19, so be sure to share your stories and photos about what the Nantucket Historical Association means to you before that date.
National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners will be announced this spring. Representatives from winning institutions will travel to Washington, D.C. to be honored at the National Medal award ceremony. Winning institutions also receive a visit from StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs.