For the second time in just two years, Cecil County Public Library is a finalist for the nation’s highest honor presented to libraries that are making a profound positive difference in their communities. CCPL is the only library or museum in Maryland among the finalists, according to a recent blog post by the library. Full post below:

"The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the federal agency that provides leadership for libraries and museums at the national level. Their mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement.  Each year, IMLS selects a group of 15 libraries and 15 museums as finalists for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service and highlights their work for two months before selecting 10 recipients of the IMLS annual medal.

"CCPL is honored to have been selected as a finalist for the IMLS medal for 2015.  We are celebrating and hope all of Cecil County will celebrate with us!  We are your community library!

"Although CCPL is not a very big library like some of the other finalists (which include Los Angeles and Brooklyn Public Libraries!), our services are having a major impact in Cecil County.  We strive to live our mission every day by providing lifelong educational and cultural opportunities and resources for all and actively promoting individual and community success.  We have developed library educational and economic development services and outreach programs that address critical community needs and promote opportunity for all Cecil’s citizens. Over the past few years, we have also developed specialized services for veterans who are staying at the Perry Point VA Medical Center so that they can become more successful in their careers and lives after they have left the military.

"We are involved in the community; we listen and learn from you, and step up whenever we can use our resources, skills, and talents to make progress in our county.  We touch the lives of tens of thousands of our citizens.  A video can be worth a thousand words about the impact of CCPL’s work.  Check out these short CCPL videos about our work with innovative solutions for school success and small business.

"The world is a crazy place and as a nation, state, and community, it seems there is always a lot to worry about.  But, once again, let’s put that aside over the next couple months to celebrate this Cecil County success story—the national recognition of your public library!  Visit CCPL branches, shake a librarian’s hand, scroll through the programs and services listed on our website, join the Friends of the Library, thank elected officials for supporting the library, tell friends, neighbors, parents and children, teens and entrepreneurs about your library!  And on Wednesday, March 18, when Cecil County Public Library will be featured on the IMLS Facebook page, we hope you will post your CCPL experiences to share with the nation.  Cecil County—America is watching, and they are impressed!"

The winners will be announced on April 21.