COLRAIN — The Institute of Museum and Library Services has announced that Griswold Memorial Library is among 30 finalists for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Griswold Memorial Library is one of four institutions in Massachusetts to be chosen as a finalist for this award, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Medal winners will be announced in late May.

Initiatives such as a Colrain Fix-It Day, a pop-up library at the Colrain Transfer Station, a local history podcast called the “People’s History of Colrain,” Ms. Betty’s Take & Make Crafts on YouTube, and outreach services to the nearby Franklin County Jail and House of Correction helped earn the library this recognition as a finalist.

The library was nominated for the award by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, with letters of support from the community.

“We are proud to represent Colrain and to honor our library’s legacy as a vital community center and a place to engage with local civics and democracy, but also as a leader in public library trends and services,” Griswold Memorial Library Director Chelsea Jordan-Makely said in a statement. “This recognition shows that even small, rural, historic libraries such as ours can uphold tradition while also thinking outside of the box.”

For 30 years, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service has been given to museums and libraries across the country that demonstrate significant impact and excellence in service to their communities.

“Each year the library continues to be a valuable resource and support for the community,” Colrain Selectboard member Emily Thurber said in a statement. “Encouraging a love for learning and growth for individuals, families and the town as a whole. They prove to be so much more than ‘just books.’”

To view the full list of finalists, visit bit.ly/4cRMO9Z.