The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is an award given annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to American libraries and museums with outstanding service to their communities. The IMLS refers to the medal as "the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community." The award is typically presented by the First Lady of the United States.
From 1994 to 1999, the award was known as the National Award for Museum Service and given to museums only. From 2000 to 2006, it was awarded to three museums and three libraries annually, and was known as the "National Award for Museum and Library Service". From 2007 to the present, it has borne its present name, and been awarded to five museums and five libraries.
The lists of awardees for 1994–2009 are drawn from the 2009 medals booklet, published by the IMLS.
1994
Brukner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, Florida
Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri
1995
Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, New York
The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago, Illinois
Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, Vermont
The Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, Washington
1996
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois
The Natural Science Center of Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
1997
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
1998
Belknap Mill Society, Laconia, New Hampshire
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan
New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey
1999
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada
St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum, St. Simons Island, Georgia
2000
In 2000, the first year that the award was given to libraries, the following seven institutions received it:
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York
Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, Alaska
B.B. Comer Memorial Library, Sylacauga, Alabama
Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, New York
Simon Wiesenthal Center Library and Archives, Los Angeles, California
Urie Elementary School Library, Lyman, Wyoming
Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, Beckley, West Virginia
2001
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services, Anchorage, Alaska
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, San Jose, California
Hancock County Library System, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Miami Museum of Science, Miami, Florida
New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts
Providence Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island
2002
Boundary County District Library, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Hartford Public Library, Hartford, Connecticut
Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, Pennsylvania
Southwest Georgia Regional Public Library System, Bainbridge, Georgia
Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York
2003
Bozeman Public Library, Bozeman, Montana
Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pocahontas County Free Libraries, Marlinton, West Virginia
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
USS Constitution Museum, Boston, Massachusetts
2004
Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, Illinois
Flint Public Library, Flint, Michigan
Mayagüez Children's Library, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
The Regional Academic Health Center Medical Library of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas Western Folklife Center, Elko, Nevada Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, California