01/15/2008

Associated Press

First lady Laura Bush paid tribute Monday to 10 cultural institutions, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, for their creativity and public service and was then surprised to receive an honor of her own — an award for her commitment to promoting the nation's libraries.

Mrs. Bush and Anne-Imelda Radice, director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, recognized the five libraries and five museums in a White House ceremony. Radice presented Mrs. Bush, a former librarian, with a medal for her contributions.

"One former president famously quipped that true friendships in Washington can be a rare thing, but in you, Mrs. Bush, libraries and museums have perhaps their truest friend and most tireless champion," Radice said, citing Mrs. Bush's work in hosting the first White House conference on school libraries and organizing the National Book Festival in 2001.

"You've been there with us every step of the way," Radice said.

Mrs. Bush praised the other honorees for working to foster appreciation for the nation's civil rights movement, promote environmental conservation and contributions of women in the arts, and inspire inner-city children.

"As a former librarian and someone who lives in a museum, this is one of my favorite events at the White House," said Mrs. Bush, who smiled with delight when she received her award. "Excellent libraries and museums do fuel the imagination of our people."

As for OMSI, Mrs. Bush said the Portland museum "promises to put the 'wow' in science for young people — and for people who are just young at heart."

Mrs. Bush said visitors to OMSI can touch a tornado, uncover a fossil, experience an earthquake, visit the Northwest's largest planetarium and explore a Navy submarine. She noted that OMSI recently hosted a "Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social."

"I'm sure that tastes better than it sounds," she said to laughter.

The recipients of the 2007 Institute of Museum and Library Services medals, first announced late last year, are:

_Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Ala.;

_Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Ill.;

_Georgetown County Library, Georgetown, S.C.;

_Kim Yerton Branch, Humboldt County Library, Hoopa, Calif.;

_Memphis Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, Tenn.;

_National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.;

_The Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.;

_Ocean County Library, Toms River, N.J.;

_Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Ore.;

_Vermont Historical Society, Barre, Vt.

Among those attending Monday's ceremony were Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez as well as groups of high-school students from Brazil and Nashville, Tenn.

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On the Net:

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Institute of Museum and Library Services: http://www.imls.gov