Terrebonne Parish Library System Announced as Finalist for 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service
Local community encouraged to “Share Your Story” – April 13 on IMLS social media
HOUMA, LA. (March 5, 2018) – The Institute of Museum and Library Services has recognized Terrebonne Parish Library System as one of 29 finalists for the 2018 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 24 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary public service and are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
“The 29 National Medal finalists showcase the tremendous ability of libraries and museums to serve as vital community resources,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is honored to recognize these leading institutions. We congratulate them on the work they are doing across the United States.”
Programs such as the Jambalaya Writers’ Conference, Terrebonne Comic Con, and Terrebonne Games Expo have become staple events in the parish. Terrebonne Parish Library System provides significant contributions to communities across all nine library branches and continues to serve the public with innovative programs that bridge generational and socio-economic gaps. Each branch offers programs that target specific demographics in their area, such as East Houma Library’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, Dularge’s crafts and quilters club, and Dulac’s ongoing community history preservation project.
“To be nominated as one of the top 15 libraries in the country for the National Medal, the highest honor a library can receive, is a tribute to the library staff, board members, and community. As a public library it is important that we listen to the community needs, and being nominated for the National Medal shows that we hear our citizens,” said library director Mary Cosper-LeBoeuf. “Having approximately 3,300 programs and activities for 2017 keeps this parish informed, entertained, and constantly learning new things.”
Several new programs were added to the Terrebonne Parish Library System calendar in 2017, many of which were targeted towards underserved communities. In partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Terrebonne Parish Library provided a summer feeding program that fed children in the rural areas of Dulac, Gibson, and East Houma. Main Library reached out to children in a different way with Sensory Story Time, available specifically for those with autism spectrum disorder and other sensory-integration challenges. In 2017 the library was also awarded the American Dream Literacy Grant through the American Library Association that helped make the ‘Conectando’ program possible, an outreach project that provided more library resources for Hispanics and native Spanish-speakers in the community.
“Terrebonne Parish Library is the community center, and being recognized for the fifth time for this honor is a testament that a library is important to its community,” said Cosper-LeBoeuf. “A big thank you to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for nominating the Terrebonne Parish Library for the National Medal.”
Finalists are chosen for the significant contributions they have made in their communities. IMLS encourages community members who have visited Terrebonne Parish Library System to share their story April 13 on the IMLS Facebook page. To Share Your Story, please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS or www.twitter.com/us_imls and use hashtags #IMLSmedals and/or #ShareYourStory.
National Medal winners will be announced later this spring. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored at the National Medal Ceremony on May 24 in Washington, D.C.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums and related organizations. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Terrebonne Parish Library System
The Terrebonne Parish Library System is comprised of nine separate library branches, each of which serve a distinct community in the parish: Main, North, East Houma, Bourg, Montegut, Chauvin, Dulac, and Dularge. Part of the library system’s mission is “to provide to all segments of Terrebonne Parish’s diverse population a comprehensive collection of library resources and services necessary to satisfy the evolving information needs and recreational pursuits of the community.” To learn more, visit mytpl.org.