Elgin's Gail Borden wins library 'Oscar'

The Gail Borden Public Library staff got a little louder than they'd normally like patrons to be.

But who could blame them?

Gasps and hoots and hollers and cheers erupted as Executive Director Carole Medal told employees about the library's latest honor.

The 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service is not your everyday accolade.

"It's the highest honor a library can receive. We're just thrilled. Over the moon," Medal said Monday. "I told them the award belongs to all of us. We also feel it's important to thank the community for their tremendous support. We want them to know it's their medal, too."

The award went to just 10 libraries and museums across the country.

The Pritzker Military Library in Chicago was the other library in the state to earn the same honor.

Jeannine Mjoseth, spokeswoman for Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C., said the Gail Borden application stood out among 76 entries.

She cited the library's efforts to engage immigrants, its strong corps of 280 volunteers, partnership with Elgin Area School District U-46, and various exhibits for living history, such as the dinosaur exhibit in 2005 and NASA exhibit and live chat with astronauts on the International Space Station.

"The library engages its community in so many ways," Mjoseth said. "We regard this as the Oscar for the library and museum world."

The institute is responsible for doling out federal funding based on population to states that eventually filter the money to local libraries.

In past years, winning libraries received their awards from former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush and a host of Congressional leaders.

The ceremony for Medal, library board President Rick McCarthy and longtime volunteer and Elginite Ernie Broadnax to accept the award in Washington has not yet been set and it is unknown if first lady Michelle Obama will be a presenter.

Medal said the Gail Borden was in the running last year but the Skokie Public Library was named one of the 10 winners and institute officials said there could not be two public library winners from the same state.

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock said the library and community have plenty of reasons to be proud.

"It all starts at the library. Every great university has a great library. A great community has a great library," Schock said. "It is a focal point for community activities, no question about it. It's so customer friendly. It's a credit to their staff."

Medal said library leaders have not decided yet what to do with the $10,000 prize the accompanies the award. The Gail Borden will be precluded from winning the award again for 10 years.

Medal said she and her staff at the library, which regularly draws more than 3,000 people a day, won't rest on their laurels.

"We are at the top of the mountain," she said. "I think the challenge is not to stay status quo. We always have to be on our toes and see what the needs of the community are and respond to them."

The winners

In addition to the Gail Borden Public Library District, the other recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:

• Braille Institute of America Library, Los Angeles

• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

• Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

• Indianapolis Museum of Art

• Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.

• Museum of Science & Industry, Tampa, Fla.

• Pritzker Military Library, Chicago

• Stark County District Library, Canton, Ohio

• Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga

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