Discovery Museum Named Finalist for 2024 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service
Media Contacts
Discovery Museum Contact: Ann Sgarzi, asgarzi [at] discoveryacton.org (asgarzi[at]discoveryacton[dot]org); 978.264.4200
IMLS Contact: Erica Jaros; ejaros [at] imls.gov (ejaros[at]imls[dot]gov); 202.653.4701
ACTON, Mass.—The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that Discovery Museum is among 30 finalists for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Discovery Museum is one of four institutions in Massachusetts to be selected as a finalist for this award.
The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For 30 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.
“We are deeply honored to be selected as a finalist for this year’s National Medal by IMLS, alongside an impressive slate of museums and libraries doing impactful work in their communities,” said CEO Marie Beam. “Discovery Museum has long prioritized making our science, nature, and playful learning experiences accessible to all kids and families—here at the museum, in pre-K through grade 8 classrooms, or at home—despite barriers that may include cost, learning styles, language differences, developmental differences, physical abilities, cultural approaches, sensory sensitivities, or challenges such as temporary housing or parental incarceration. For our board and staff, this exceptional recognition, and the visibility it brings, will enable us to continue building on the work we’ve done in our shared community for more than 40 years, including our heightened urgency around environmental sustainability.”
“The 30 National Medal finalists from across the United States showcase the tremendous abilities of libraries and museums to serve as trusted, dynamic public spaces that meet the needs of their communities,” said IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is honored to recognize these outstanding institutions. We congratulate them on their collective effort to respond to community needs, preserve diverse history and culture, and create a sense of belonging for all Americans.”
To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging Discovery Museum’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media using the hashtags #ShareYourStory and #IMLSmedals, and engage with IMLS on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. For more information, please visit the IMLS website.
National Medal winners will be announced in late May. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored for their extraordinary contributions during an in-person National Medals Ceremony in Washington, DC this summer.
To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit the IMLS website.
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. 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. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn
About Discovery Museum
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and 550sf treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the 2017 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a 2018 LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported nonprofit organization. Discovery Museum programming is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
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