WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) has awarded the Waterville Public Library with the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The award, which is given to only ten institutions nationwide each year, is the highest honor the nation bestows upon museums and libraries for exceptional service to America’s communities. Senators Collins and King wrote a letter in support of Waterville Public Library’s nomination last fall.

“We wish to congratulate Waterville Public Library on receiving this highly prestigious and well-deserved recognition,” said Senators Collins and King. “For more than 120 years, the Waterville Public Library has been a cornerstone of the community, providing important information and services to Waterville residents. Most notably, the library opened its Business, Career, & Creativity Center in March of 2011, which offers assistance to local job seekers, entrepreneurs, and businesses. We applaud the library’s array of efforts to strengthen the Waterville area economy and community.”

IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The National Medal for Museum and Library is awarded by the IMLS to institutions that make exceptional contributions to their community’s educational development, enhancement of civic life, enrichment of cultural learning, and advancement of workforce development.

In addition to receiving the National Medal, the ten winners will each be awarded $5,000. StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the experiences of Americans, will also visit the winning institutions to provide an opportunity for community members to record their stories, which will be saved in the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center.

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