Most here in the local community are well aware of what a great public library the City of Folsom has. Now, the longtime city amenity and resource is getting a nice dose of national attention as it has been selected as a regional nominee for the annual Institute of Museum and Library Service’s (IMLS) National Medal for Museum and Library Service.
On Tuesday, Congressman Kevin Kiley made a stop at the Folsom Public Library to spend a few moments with the Folsom Public Library and Staff as well as City of Folsom officials to recognize the facility on the prestigious honor. Kiley represents California’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Folsom and shared his congratulations and enthusiasm as the library in his district is among an elite group of nominees for the awards. The Folsom Library was overwhelmingly nominated in a district wide poll out of all other facilities in the large district.
“This is quite a distinction an a well-deserved one. There’s some pretty fierce competition as we have 10 counties and some really fantastic libraries,” said Kiley. “I’m actually a big library person, I spent a lot of time visiting our local library growing up and today I still get excited when I walk into a library just like I always did.”
Kiley spent some time Tuesday morning visiting with Folsom Public Library Director Thomas Gruneisen. Gruneisen has been in the library’s director role since September of 2022. Not only did he gracious accept the Certificate of Congressional Recognition that Kiley presented to him and members of city staff, he and city officials gave the Congressman and his staff a tour of the facility, that was bustling with activity as usual.
“Libraries are a place of curiosity, learning and discovery but also a place of community and I think the that this institution here is really a tremendous reflection of what the community is all about,” Kiley added. “You have an extraordinary team here that makes that all happen.”
The National Medal recognizes outstanding libraries and museums of any type and size. To be honored, the institution must deeply impact its community in a number of ways. Those qualifications include: fostering a lifelong passion for learning for all people, nourishing curiosity and imagination from early childhood through adulthood, for people of all abilities and needs; providing access to information through advancing digital capacity, focusing on digital inclusion and access to digital and informational resources, including e-books and materials to help address workforce development and public health.
Another requirement is that the facilities are actively enriching the lives of community members by being trusted community spaces for convening, connection, and conversation; enlightenment and shared thoughts and opinions; and preserving natural and cultural heritage and community memory; and catalyzing community connections, collaborations and/or coalitions to advance community goals.
“The IMLS National Medal is our nation’s highest honor for libraries and museums. The medal recognizes institutions that are cultivating meaningful relationships with their communities that help meet critical needs, achieve shared aspirations, and amplifying local history and community memory” IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum explained in an email sent to Folsom Times. “We urge the public to nominate the libraries and museums that have made a difference in their family or community for the 2025 National Medal and help us shine a light on these incredible institutions.”
Over the last year, the Folsom Public Library checked out more items than other facilities in the region, which is a tremendous feat considering the facility itself is smaller than many others, but they have made excellent use of the space and the design of the Folsom facility. As Folsom Mayor Mike Kozlowski pointed out in his most recent State of the City presentation, over 175,000 visitors found their way to the Folsom Library last year and checked out more that 500,000 items.
“I’m actually a big library person, I spent a lot of time visiting our local library growing up and today I still get excited when I walk into a library just like I always did,” said Kevin Kiley (right), during his visit to the Folsom Library Tuesday. Chris Shepard
The facility offers a number of activities and events throughout the year as well. In the past year, over 20,000 young leaders participated in story time activities. Additionally, local teen volunteers logged over 1000 hours participating in various youth events put on during the year, according to City of Folsom Communications Director Christine Brainerd who was on hand for Kiley’s visit.
“Given the excellence of libraries in the Sacramento region, this is a quite an honor for the Folsom Public Library,” Brainerd told Folsom Times. “Our library staff takes pride in working hard to serve our community. And for the library to be recognized by the congressman and our residents is a huge honor.”
Later in 2025, ten regional award winners will be selected from the nominees and will be announced as well as welcomed to Washington D.C. to be honored in an annual awards ceremony. Since 1994, the award has been given to 222 institutions that exemplified extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service.
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.
<p>The post Folsom Public Library is nominated for national honor first appeared on Folsom Times.</p>