WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Georgetown County Library has won the 2007 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest award for outstanding public service and contributions to its community. The library won the award for its efforts to inspire residents to embrace their heritage and to dream of a bright future armed with literacy, pride, and knowledge.

Accepting the National Medal at the Jan. 14 at a White House ceremony was Georgetown County Library's Virgil Grayson and George Geer III.

The Georgetown County Library is one of the five libraries and five museums from Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Oregon, and Vermont to receive the medal. The National Medals are awarded annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries, in coordination with the White House.

The winning institutions include:

1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Ala.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_bcri.shtm
2. Brookfield Zoo of the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Ill.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_brookfield.shtm
3. Georgetown County Library, Georgetown, S.C.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_georgetown.shtm
4. Kim Yerton Branch of the Humboldt County Library, Hoopa, Calif.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_kimyerton.shtm
5. Memphis Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, Tenn.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_memphis.shtm
6. National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_nmwa.shtm
7. The Newberry Library, Chicago: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_nwberry.shtm
8. Ocean County Library, Toms River, N.J.: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_ocean.shtm
9. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Ore.:  http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_omsi.shtm
10. Vermont Historical Society, Barre, Vt.:  http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/010908_vhs.shtm