ICPSR is a 2019 Winner of National Medal for Museum and Library Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2019) – The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced ICPSR at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research as one of 10 recipients of the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation's highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Over the past 25 years, the award has celebrated institutions that are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities. The award will be presented at an event in Washington, D.C., on June 12.

“It is a pleasure to recognize the 10 distinctive recipients of the National Medal of Museum and Library Service,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “Through their programs, services, and partnerships, these institutions exemplify the many ways that libraries and museums are positively transforming communities across the nation.”

Selected from 30 national finalists, the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and helps communities thrive.

“We are pleased and honored to receive this award.  In an increasingly data-driven world, ICPSR seeks to make data more accessible, more useful, and more understandable.” said ICPSR Director Margaret Levenstein.

As part of the ceremony and celebration, ICPSR community member John Leverso, who was a 2013 ICPSR intern, will travel to Washington, D.C., with Levenstein to accept the National Medal on behalf of ICPSR. Leverso, a doctoral candidate at the University of Washington Department of Sociology, will provide a personal account of the power ICPSR has had in the community and in his life. “ICPSR really gave me the opportunity to succeed, in many cases, when others did not,” Leverso said. “They were really instrumental in my life’s journey and really springboarded my academic journey and helped me to get to where I am now.”

Following the ceremony, StoryCorps—a national nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans—will visit ICPSR and provide an opportunity for ICPSR community members to share stories of how ICPSR has affected their lives. These stories are preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

For a complete list of 2019 recipients and to learn more about the National Medal winners, see the IMLS website announcement.

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About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
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. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About ICPSR
Founded in 1962, the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is one of the world's oldest and largest social science data archives. ICPSR has almost 800 member institutions worldwide. ICPSR's mission is to advance and expand social and behavioral research, acting as a global leader in data stewardship and providing rich data resources and responsive educational opportunities for present and future generations. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

May 7, 2019

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