An Emporia State alum accepted the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Greg Michells, director of the Madison (Wisconsin) Public Library, is a 1991 alum of ESU’s School of Library and Information Management.
“Greg’s roots are in Nebraska. He was an ESU Master of Library Science (MLS) student in Iowa, the School of Library and Information Management’s first location for out-of-state delivery of the MLS program,” said Dr. Mirah Dow, professor in the School of Library and Informatin Management. “SLIM faculty traveled to hold face-to-face weekend intensive classes with students who could not have otherwise earned the master’s degree by attending weekday classes. Greg’s enthusiasm for libraries was evident back then and continues today.”
The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is the highest award a library may achieve and highlights the library’s emphasis on community development. Madison Public Library is one of ten libraries receiving the 2016 award that comes with $5,000 presented by First Lady Michelle Obama.
“This wonderful national award is only one of many of Greg’s accomplishments having been employed in libraries including at Omaha Public Libraries and the Metropolitan Community College library in Omaha, Nebraska, and at Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock, Colorado,” Dow said.
The complete award announcement is available at https://badgerherald.com/news/2016/04/19/madison-public-library-receives-national-award-for-community-contributions/
See an interview with Greg Michells at http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=7080
Learn more about the Madison Public Library at http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/about
See June 2, 2016 (IMLS Press Release) First Lady Michelle Obama Honors Extraordinary Museums, Libraries with National Award at
For more information about ESU’s Master of Library Science degree program, please contact Dean Wooseob Jeong at wjeong1@emporia.edu or Dr. Mirah Dow, professor and director, Ph.D. Program at mdow@emporia.edu