First Lady Michelle Obama to recognize Columbia Museum of Art, other winners of top national award

First Lady Michelle Obama will be among those on hand Wednesday at a White House ceremony honoring Columbia Museum of Art and nine other winners of the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

CMA is one of 10 recipients – five museums and five libraries – to win the award from the Institute of Museum and Library Service for service to the community.

It is the only art museum to receive it.

“It’s an extraordinary recognition,” CMA executive director Karen Brosius said when the award was announced this spring. She will attend Wednesday’s ceremony, along with Claude M. Walker Jr. and museum member Joyce Rose-Harris of Columbia, who will share how the museum has affected her life.

In addition to the Columbia Museum of Art, those being honored Wednesday include:

Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

The Chicago History Museum (Chicago, Ill.)

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center for Children (Gulfport, Miss.)

Madison Public Library (Madison, Wis.)

Mid-America Science Museum (Hot Springs, Ark.)

North Carolina State University Libraries (Raleigh, N.C.)

Otis Library (Norwich, Conn.)

Santa Ana Public Library (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Tomaquag Museum (Exeter, R.I.)

Contributing: Reporter Erin Shaw, staff reports

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "First Lady Michelle Obama to recognize Columbia Museum of Art, other winners of top national award."