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Harris County, TX, June 4, 2024,  Judge Lina Hidalgo celebrates the Harris County Public Library and Children’s Museum Houston winning the nation’s highest museum and library honor, the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This is the first time in the award’s 30-year history that a museum and library from the same community have won the prestigious award in the same year.

“Harris County made history today by becoming the first community to have both a museum and a library win this prestigious award in the same year. To anyone who has interacted with our libraries or been to the Children’s Museum, this will come as no surprise. Our libraries not only provide incredible programs for families of all backgrounds, but they recently stepped up to lend a hand by serving as cooling centers when folks lost power during the storms a few weeks ago. The Children’s Museum offers wonderful high-quality early childhood education programs for all kids in Harris County. Thank you to both institutions for everything you do,” said Judge Lina Hidalgo. 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awards the National Medal to 10 recipients each year to institutions that exemplify extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries around the country.

Harris County Public Library was nominated for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service by Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Among many achievements, the library was nominated for its:

• Program to provide free laptop computers and hotspots to 70,000 residents without internet service
• Community-based outreach to low-income areas
• Partnership with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department to bring library services to young people in the juvenile justice system
• The Mobile Outreach Librarian vehicle fleet that brings customized education programs and services into the community

Children’s Museum Houston was nominated for the National Medal by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Dr. Tricia Zucker of UTHealth Children’s Learning Institute, Paul Martin of Arizona State University, and Kristi Rangel of Gulf Coast Workforce Board. The museum was nominated for its commitment to serving families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages and/or language barriers, developing innovative strategies for early brain development, training kids for STEM careers, and celebrating diversity. Children’s Museum Houston admits 35 percent of its 700,000+ visitors free of charge and facilitates all programming in English and Spanish. 

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