PI library receives $4,000 grant to expand children’s and teen collections

6 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle recently received a $4,000 grant from the Dorothy Louise Kyler Foundation to help fund the expansion of both the children’s and teen collections.   

Children’s Librarian Melissa St. Pierre said that the library already has begun to purchase books, DVDs and audiobooks to add new children’s and teen titles and replace those that are too torn to keep on the shelves or have outdated information. She expects that the library will spend the next three to four months buying materials that will benefit the facility’s younger patrons.

“We’re always looking to apply for grants that allow us to expand our collections and keep them updated,” St. Pierre said. “Right now we’ve begun purchasing books and DVDs and have focused a lot on audiobooks because those have been popular with teens and families who come in.”

The Dorothy Louise Kyler Foundation is based in Toledo, Ohio, and provides grant funding for libraries across the country that want to expand their children’s collections. The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library is the second library in Aroostook County to receive a grant from the foundation in late December 2017. The Caribou Public Library also will use a $4,000 grant to purchase more materials for its children’s collection.

In addition to the usual children’s favorites, the library in Presque Isle hopes to purchase more nonfiction books for children who need materials for school projects or those who simply want to broaden their knowledge.

“Purchasing books with updated information means that students will have better information to complete homework assignments and that our homework helpers and tutors will also have more materials to offer,” Library Director Sonja Eyler said.

For more information about books and study materials, contact the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library at (207) 764-2571. The library is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.