Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement of congratulations to the Brooklyn Public Library, which was named a finalist for the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Each year, the Institute of Museum and Library Services honors five museums and five libraries for their service to the community.

“On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, I congratulate the Brooklyn Public Library on becoming a finalist for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Our cultural institutions have a legacy of success in this category – the Brooklyn Children’s Museum won in 1995, the Brooklyn Museum won in 2011, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden won in 2014. With branches in every neighborhood in Brooklyn and a majestic central library building on Grand Army Plaza, the Brooklyn Public Library has an extensive record of service to the adults and children of our community. In addition to providing access to books and other forms of media from a collection of more than three million titles, the library hosts cultural events, provides classes in many different languages, assists students with their homework, offers classes in technology, and connects people who want to work with businesses that are hiring at their Workforce1 Career Centers. I am hopeful that the Institute of Museum and Library Services will recognize the invaluable contributions of the Brooklyn Public Library to our community.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.