Public Service Earns Ocean County Library A National Honor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Ocean County Library System has been named a finalist for a national award honoring libraries for their service to their communities.

The library system is one of 30 finalists for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.

"So many museums and libraries across the country are committed to providing programs that are vital to the health and growth of engaged communities," said Crosby Kemper, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C. "These institutions represent the best of what museums and libraries do for their communities."

Ocean County Library is one of two institutions in New Jersey to be selected as a finalist for the award, said Sherri Taliercio, a librarian and spokeswoman for the county library system, on behalf of Library Director Susan Quinn and Assistant Library Director Sara Siegler.

"This nomination is the culmination of Ocean County Library staff’s passion and drive to make our communities better every day," Taliercio said. "We strive to create a welcoming space for all, using the knowledge and insight we gain from our longstanding community partnerships. To be recognized with these other prestigious organizations as a finalist, among hundreds of applicants, is an absolute honor."

The Ocean County Library opened in 1925 and has grown over the years to include 19 branches and two reading centers, serving the county's 33 municipalities. It offers a variety of activities and services, including children's programs, adult information sessions and programs for teens.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services will be showcasing the work of all the finalists through a "Share Your Story" social media campaign. Anyone whose life has been touched by these museums or libraries is encouraged to share their memories and pictures and tag IMLS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using the hashtag #IMLSmedals.

The institute has honored more than 180 institutions since its inception in 1996 "that demonstrated extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service," the organization said.

The national medal winners for libraries and museums will be announced in late May, the institute said.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. "We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development," the organization said.

"IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage," the organization said.