Mid-Continent Public Library was honored with the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for our dedication to providing access to innovation, information, ideas, and inspiration to our communities. By focusing on literacy initiatives, making substantial collection and digital resource investments, and working with local and national partners to actively engage our community members, MCPL is able to provide award-winning service to our region.
Find out more about MCPL’s award-winning programs and services!
2014 National Medal
Honoring the recipients of the 2014 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the National Medal is the nation's highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. Produced for IMLS by HISTORY.
MCPL Community Member
In deciding where she and her family would move, Alicia Moore took community libraries into serious consideration. As a mother of two homeschooled children, she was aware that her children’s school materials would depend heavily on what was available at local institutions. MCPL’s Homeschoolers @ the Library program, was the deciding factor. The library partners with homeschooling families to provide educational materials, events, and research databases. Alicia’s third and fifth graders, Jackson and Katie, use the library for reading resources and to register for online classes. Each week, she and the kids spend three to four hours at local branches.
Veterans Salute
For the past 15 years, Mid-Continent Public Library has worked with regional veterans groups to host a day-long event honoring military veterans. The event includes reenactments, roundtable discussions, and displays of artifacts and military equipment.
Midwest Genealogy Center
Mid-Continent Public Library is home to the Midwest Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest free-standing public genealogy library. The MGC, a 52,000 square-foot building, is dedicated solely to collection, programs, and services surrounding genealogy and family history.
Summer Learning Program
To promote literacy throughout the Kansas City community, Mid-Continent Public Library offers a number of free programs for kids, including a Summer Learning Program. MCPL is also currently working with local school districts and the Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium to study the effects of summer reading on preventing summer loss of skills.
MCPL Communities
Mid-Continent Public Library serves a community of 770,000 in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area with 35 locations in 3 counties, spanning small towns with populations of fewer than 500 to denser populations in the urban core.
Providing Access
Mid-Continent Public Library provides expanding access to innovation, information, ideas, and inspiration through literacy initiatives, collection and digital resource investments, and community engagement efforts. MCPL works as a part of the community to provide welcoming spaces and the digital knowledge to grow and improve.