Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library: Most Literate Cities 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

Most Literate Cities 2007

The America's Most Literate Cities study for 2007 has just been posted online and it is interesting to note that library resources are one of the six key indicators. The study has been conducted every year since 2003 by Dr. John W. Miller, President of Central Connecticut State University. It ranks the 69 largest cities (population of 250,000 and above) and focuses on six key indicators: bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources.

The top ten most literate cities are:

Minneapolis, MN
Seattle, WA
St. Paul, MN
Denver, CO
Washington, DC
St. Louis, MO
San Francisco, CA
Atlanta, GA
Pittsburgh, PA
Boston, MA

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Library History

As early as 1874, a group of interested persons formed the Presque Isle Library Association. The members referred to themselves as the Half and Half Club, a group dedicated to social exchanges, mutual improvement, and the establishment of a public library. The club’s name reflected the fact that its officers would consist “half of ladies and half of gentleman, when it can be arranged.”

The early collection of books, formed from donations rotated among many Presque Isle businesses, with the librarian usually drawn from the business that housed the books.

The books were first placed in George Rowell’s drugstore and then moved to the Post Office where Mrs. Luce, the postmaster’s wife, served as librarian. Later Laila Smith’s millinery store held the collection. In 1905 the collection was moved to Holmes Jewelry Store and Mr. Holmes was the librarian.

Presque Isle citizens voted to build a library in 1907, using a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Fund. Thomas H. Phair purchased a lot from the Dudley heirs for $1,000 on the southeast corner of Second and State Streets, and citizens raised an additional $937.50 for a small adjoining lot. The Presque Isle Library opened on July 1, 1908 with a collection of 2,000 books.

As the city’s population grew, the community needed a larger building and used state funding and a matching donation of $60,000 from Mark Turner, a local businessman. In April of 1967, the newly expanded Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library opened its doors.

Today the library offers a diverse collection of books, magazines, videos/DVDs and programs and events. The library also provides computer and Internet access. To learn more about the library and the services offered just stop in, call, or visit the Website to see a list of events.