The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has received an Institute of Museum and Library Services 2009 National Medal, the nation's highest honor for libraries and museums, often called the Oscar for nonprofits.

Every year since 1994, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded the National Medal and a $10,000 prize to organizations that demonstrate exemplary community outreach.

"I was pretty much without words," said Children's Museum Executive Director Jane Werner. "Especially in these tough times, as far as funding is concerned, it was nice."

Anne Radice, director of the Washington-based Institute of Museum and Library Services, said the institute does in-depth investigations into how organizations impact their communities. It awarded 10 National Medals this year.

"In these cases, these programs are really the best practices that can be shared throughout the United States," Dr. Radice said. "If you need examples of how to do something, these [museums and libraries] are really national leaders."

A museum employee nominated the 26-year-old museum for the honor. Housed in the former Allegheny Post Office Building on the North Side, the museum welcomed 232,000 visitors last year.

The Children's Museum caught Dr. Radice's attention due to its partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.

"Everyone likes to talk about having partners," she said. "The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh shows how it works."

Following an extensive renovation and expansion project in 2004, the Children's Museum began renting museum space to nonprofit institutions that shared its commitment to enriching children's lives.

"We learn so much from our partners in the museum," Ms. Werner said. "If we can somehow help these organizations and they can help us, we can further our mission."

The Children's Museum is home to Child Watch of Pittsburgh, Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh, the Saturday Light Brigade, ToonSeum, UPCLOSE and Pittsburgh Public Schools' pre-kindergarten Head Start classes.

"Prior to moving here, most of what we did consisted of scout workshops. We'd spend an hour at most [with children] and give a quick overview on how a [radio board] mixer works," said Larry Berger, executive director and founder of the Saturday Light Brigade, which offers museum visitors workshops in radio production, media literacy, journalism ethics, self-expression and listening and interviewing skills. "The museum enabled us to have a space and a great family-friendly environment. It also allows us to be able to serve more kids."

A museum sharing its space with nonprofit institutions and encouraging visitors to touch and explore exhibits is "a new vision for museums," Ms. Werner said, when in many parts of the world, museums are still regarded as places for storing artifacts.

The Children's Museum also has garnered attention for its ongoing Charm Bracelet Project. In 2006, the museum launched the initiative to strengthen and beautify the North Side by working with a number of charms -- local cultural institutions -- to find funds to complete urban design and renewal projects.

Receiving the National Medal has motivated the museum staff to continue its work with projects that touch lives inside and outside the museum's walls.

"This is a recognition that says, 'OK. Keep doing this,' " Ms. Werner said. "[The award] inspires us to keep thinking creatively. ... We have to keep looking at our community."

In trying economic times, the award's monetary prize is appreciated, although the museum hasn't decided how to spend the money.

The only other local museum to win the National Medal was the Carnegie Science Center in 2003 for its community-based programs Mission Discovery and Science in Your Neighborhood.

After winning the award, the science center "received a lot of recognition at the international conference that happens each year for science centers worldwide," said co-director Ron Baillie. "There was quite a bit of interest in wanting to understand how these [community-based] programs have worked."

Ms. Werner hopes the National Medal will generate the same interest in the Children's Museum.

"I'd love Pittsburgh to become Kidsburgh. I think we could really be a model city for families and children."

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.