By Jordan Kutzik April 28, 2014

A version of this post appeared in Yiddish [here.][1]

On April 24 Yiddish Book Center founder and president Aaron Lansky announced that his organization will receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The award will be presented by First Lady Michelle Obama in a ceremony at the White House on May 8.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The medal is the highest honor awarded by the U.S. government to museums and libraries that serve the public good. In a press release, The Institute of Museum and Library Services wrote: “In its 20th anniversary year, the medals program celebrates excellent institutions that have made a significant impact on individuals, families and communities across the nation.” The winners were selected from among dozens of nominated institutions that “demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach.”

After the ceremony Storycorps will visit the Book Center to conduct oral history interviews about the Center’s mission.

In an email to Yiddish Book Center members announcing the award, Aaron Lansky wrote: “The award recognizes our pioneering work in rescuing Yiddish books and making them available to readers around the world … We’ll be proud to accept it as a recognition of the Yiddish Book Center … and even more so as a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Yiddish itself.”

[1]: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/178113/yiddish-bo ok-center-receives-governmental-prize/

In a statement released through his office congratulating the Center, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) said that “the Book Center is one of our Commonwealth’s and our nation’s greatest treasures. The work they do day-in and day-out to preserve this important part of our collective culture is invaluable, and I’m proud to have them in my district.”

Among other announced winners of National Medals for Museum and Library Service are the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Chicago Public Library and the Mystic Aquarium of Mystic, Connecticut.

Founded in 1980, the Yiddish Book Center has collected more than a million volumes of Yiddish books and digitized the full texts of 12,000 titles, which can be read online for free. In addition to book preservation, the Center organizes an annual intensive Yiddish summer program for college students as well courses on Jewish history and culture throughout the year.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount