By Melissa Heintz Public Affairs Specialist, IMLS For 100 years, the Boston Children’s Museum (BCM) has been a place of innovative education. Founded in 1913, BCM is one of the oldest and largest children’s museums in the world and one of the pioneers in child- and family-focused exhibits. Carole Charnow, president and CEO of the Boston Children’s museum, explains how the museum’s purpose is to serve the community. The BNY Mellon Youth Leaders Program brings teens from the community into the museum to give them workforce experience and professional development. For Tayquan Pomare-Taylor, the positive energy that he experiences at the museum with the staff and the children makes him feel welcome. Working at the museum has helped him get better grades and lifts his spirits to make him feel he has a purpose in life. His goal is to attend Gordon College and major in astrophysics and minor in theatre. The Boston Children’s Museum was one of 10 winners of the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for libraries and museums that are serving their communities in exceptional ways. Do you know of a museum or library that has made a difference? Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 National Medal. Nomination Forms must be mailed and postmarked by October 15, 2013.