PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Officials with the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library hosted an open house Saturday to celebrate completion of renovations to the library’s interior and entrance.
The event featured a special unveiling of a commemorative photo of Robert and Hope Akeley, whose daughter, Mary Barton Akeley Smith, donated more than $1 million to expand the facility and make it especially appealing to children and teens. Additional funding for the project came from the library’s Board of Trustees and the city.
During the brief ceremony attended by dozens, library supporter and patron John Cancelarich reflected on the life of Robert and Hope Akeley, using key words to describe them and what they brought to the community of Presque Isle — morality, integrity, happiness, honor, civility, dignity and friendship.
“They were moral people who desired nothing for themselves, but rather for community … Bob and Hope were, are and always will be friends,” said Cancelarich. “Mary, you’ve learned well from your parents and continue to do so.”
Librarian Sonja Morgan noted that the improvements involved more than furniture and fixtures.
“What the community and people involved have done is create a place for people to gather,” Morgan said.
Parent, educator and patron Heidi Bartley shared her family’s experience with the library and how her children look forward to using the new teen section and other renovated areas.
“As a child, I was a voracious reader. But there was a gap as I moved toward the young adult section. This library has expanded the teen section, creating a safe place to hang out, explore and commune with peers,” said Bartley.
The improvements include a teen lounge, children’s area, reading room, research space and cafe.
“We want you to come enjoy Mary’s gift. We encourage you to bring your children. This is for them. Every community should invest in their children. They should know we value and love them,” said Kevin Sipe, an educator and community advocate.
Before Smith unveiled the commemorative photos of her parents that will be on display at the library, she described her childhood and love of books.
“I grew up reading. The one constant in my life was this library. (After moving away) I always dropped in when I’d come to visit my parents and sister, Sarah,” said Smith.
She gave a brief history of her family and her grandmother’s love of reading.
“My grandmother Beulah Akeley raised 18 children while finding time to read. She found time to read by propping a book up while doing dishes. When fire destroyed everything they had, it’s been said she worked at the library to make money for the family. Gram, who’d served as librarian, retired at 65,” said Smith, whose mother also worked at the library until the family moved to D.C. around 1954.
Smith said her late husband Rodney Smith left a lasting legacy which has blessed Presque Isle. The Presque Isle library, she added, was “at the top of my list.”
“These gifts (to the library) are given in memory of my father and mother, to honor them. But it’s my husband who’s allowed me to contribute to this community and its people,” said Smith, as she tried to hold back tears.
The open house marked the completion of a project that first got underway in June 2010, when Smith donated $1 million toward the project, with an additional $25,000 given to the facility to help fund interior design planning. First opened in 1908, the library is used not only for books, computers, reference materials and Internet access, but also provides notary and passport services.