The Institute of Museum and Library Services has announced that the Lambertville Free Public Library has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest accolade awarded to libraries and museums for service excellence to their communities.
The recognition places Lambertville Library among the top thirty institutions nationwide vying for the prestigious award.
Jennifer Sirak, director of Lambertville Library, expressed gratitude for the nomination.
“To be named as a finalist for this prestigious National Medal not only honors the Lambertville Library’s outstanding staff and trustees, but also the many hundreds of community-minded Individuals as well as civic and governmental organizations that participate in, contribute to, and support our programs, activities, and services,” said Sirak.
In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the floods from Hurricane Ida in September 2021, Lambertville Library launched innovative outreach programs.
The initiatives were also focused on establishing connections with the city’s growing Spanish-speaking community and supporting local schools, government bodies, and regional service organizations, according to the library.
“The establishment of the library-sponsored Latinas en Lambertville led to the city’s first-ever Oaxaca Festival in 2022 that showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Hispanic community, bringing together over 100 Hispanic and non-Hispanic volunteers and attracting over 500 attendees. Further synergies of communication and cooperation produced a second, even grander Oaxaca Festival in 2023,” the library said in a statement.
“We are proud of all that our Hispanic community members have done to enrich the city’s social fabric,” said Trina Bardusco, Lambertville Library’s head of Hispanic programming. “The community-wide bridges we are building have created a warm sense of belonging that has touched so many hearts and lives in our small town. This IMLS honor highlights what the flexibility and creativity of a small, independent library in concert with a caring community can accomplish.”
The National Medal winners will be unveiled in late May, with a ceremony scheduled for this summer to honor the awardees.
Sirak extended special thanks to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker for his nomination and the New Jersey State Library for their support throughout the process.
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