NH Library Up for National Award

The Wiggin Memorial Library, in Stratham, is among 14 library finalists for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Presented by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington D.C., the award is the highest honor given to museums and libraries for service in the community.

“We were honored to be nominated for this prestigious award, and thrilled to be selected as a finalist,” says library director Lesley Kimball.

Nomination documents and support letters noted the Wiggin Memorial Library’s dedication to building community through programs, involvement in town government and local organizations, and outreach to schools, special needs residents, veterans, and people of all ages.

Pat Abrami, a NH State Representative, wrote in his letter of support that the staff and board members all exude the highest level of enthusiasm for what the library has become and the services it offers. Even though supporting a town of only 7,200, this library rivals any big city library when it comes to what it offers its citizens.

Other letters noted the library’s vibrant Girls Who Code program, the dedication of a flag flown over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom to the library for its support and services to military families and veterans, and especially the caring, innovative, knowledgeable, and service-oriented staff who create the atmosphere and services that Stratham residents value. 

“We are proud to be listed among the best of the best,” says library Board of Trustees Chairperson Lee Beauregard. “For Stratham’s public library to be honored alongside the County of Los Angeles Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, the Pueblo City-County Library District, and the remaining finalists is a testament to the value our small library adds to the community and the real, lasting impact we have on the quality of life in our town.”

Wiggin was the only organization in the northeast to be chosen as a finalist.