ACLD Awarded National Medal for Library Service

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has selected the Alachua County Library District, as one of only ten libraries and museums to receive the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

The Alachua County Library District was nominated for its successful community partnerships, customer focus, expanded services, and diverse programs and events.

“The Library District strongly supports partnerships and we are continuously looking for partnerships that will benefit our community,” said Library Director Shaney T. Livingston. Just recently, we partnered with the John A.H. Murphree Law Library Board of Trustees to transition a professional law library to our Headquarters location. This partnership provides the public expanded evening and weekend hours. We have partnerships with many agencies in the community such as: the Literacy Coalition, Early Learning Coalition, United Way, and the Alachua County School Board to name a few. I believe the library is an important pillar in the community and with the many resources we offer, it only makes sense to partner with others. Through partnerships we can offer the citizens of our community so much more.”

The Library Partnership is an excellent example of working partnerships between the Library District, the Partnership for Strong Families, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Casey Foundation to create under one umbrella a library plus more than 30 social services to serve the needs of this community.

This past year, another successful partnership was formed with the University of Florida’s College of Medicine and the Library District to expand access to primary health care through UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic. The Mobile Outreach Clinic visits three library locations - Tower Road, High Springs and Headquarters. These additional locations help to expand health care services to the underserved population of Alachua County. The Mobile Outreach Clinic has been well utilized and plans are to add another day to the current schedule.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions. Recipients must demonstrate innovative approaches to public service and community outreach.