It's no secret to Marquette-area residents that the
Peter White Public Library is a rare asset to the community, and part of what makes the city a great place to live.
Now the library has been recognized on a much larger scale--It is one of five libraries nationwide chosen this year to receive the 2010 National Medal of Museum and Library Services. The award is given to a few libraries each year by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the federal institution supporting 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums across the country.
Peter White stands out as the smallest of the medal recipients, but was partially recognized because of how well it compares to other small libraries.
The institute listed among the reasons Peter White Library was chosen that it has circulation and attendance figures that are three times higher than other libraries its size in Michigan.
Contribution to the library's community--Marquette and nine surrounding townships--was another factor in the honor. Its partnership with the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center, which shares its building, was highlighted as a source of community culture-building through exhibitions and festivals, and of youth-focused events like band battles and youth theater.
"Over the years, the Peter White Public Library has offered an array of innovative programs designed to educate, inform and entertain northern Michigan families," says U.S. Representative Bart Stupak.
Another factor was how well the library upholds the central mission of libraries, to inform their communities. The institute praised Peter White Library's recent three-month mental health series partnering with local health organizations, which had been sparked by a photography and essay exhibition at the library called "Fine Line," by Michael Nye.
"This prestigious award honors the professionalism and dedication of the library's incredible staff who work so hard to see that this vital resource continues to offer quality services. I look forward to seeing Peter White Public Library continue to play an integral role in the community for years to come," says Stupak.
The medal also means the library will be awarded $10,000, and will be presented the medal early in 2011 by First Lady Michelle Obama in a Washington D.C. ceremony.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: U.S. Representative Bart Stupak
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