D.H. Hill Library and Hunt Library are finalists for the National Medal for Library Service award, an award honoring libraries that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service and make a difference for individuals, families and communities.

“The award is the highest honor a library can receive,” said Christopher Tonelli, the NCSU Libraries director of communication strategy.

NC State’s libraries are some of the only libraries in the finalist group that are academic research libraries. 

“It’s typically not an award for academic research libraries, because it is a service award, and typically public libraries do more community outreach,” Tonelli said. 

Each finalist will be featured on the Institute of Museum and Library Services Facebook page. NC State will be featured on March 11.  

On that day, library staff will try to get people to post on the institute’s Facebook page to share pictures and information about the different services they offer to students and the surrounding community. 

“Our vision is not only to continue to help campus users, but let that spill over into the surrounding community to benefit everybody in the Triangle area,” Tonelli said. 

Students on campus enjoy using the libraries for a variety of reasons. During the week, the libraries are always full of students studying, spending some down time in-between classes or meeting to work on a group project.  

Julie Kemp, a junior studying communication, said NCSU Libraries introduced her to new and innovative technology she wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. 

“As a student that is very important to my education,” Kemp said. “It is awesome to know the library I spend the majority of my week in is a finalist for such a well-known award.” 

Leslie Pell, a junior studying business administration, said the library will always be where she gets her work done.

“Something about being surrounded by other students in the silent reading rooms in both DH Hill and Hunt helps me focus and get my work done,” Pell said.

If NCSU Libraries does not receive the award this year, there is always an opportunity for next year. Tonelli said many of the current finalists have been contenders multiple years in a row. 

“Winning this award would mean we are not only impacting campus users, but the Triangle area and North Carolina,” Tonelli said.