The Peter White Public Library has been serving Marquette residents since 1871. Outside of borrowing books and movies, the library offers additional services to patrons including examination proctoring, a recording booth and the Library of Things. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part five of a six-part series on local libraries in Marquette County for Library Appreciation Week.

MARQUETTE — The Peter White Public Library has been serving Marquette residents for over a century.

According to PWPL’s history page, the library was first located within city hall and founded by Peter White in 1871. White donated $4,000 to establish the library and $1,000 for cases and the completion of a room in the new city hall.

Over the years, the library had different locations. Before its current location on the corner of Front and Ridge streets, PWPL was housed in the First National Bank Building and Thurber Block on Washington Street, according to PWPL’s history page.

On March 27, 1891, the school district library and Peter White’s private library were combined by a special act of the Michigan Legislature to become the Peter White Public Library.

In 2017, residents of Marquette voted in support of a capital improvement bond to allow PWPL to restore the historic building, improve efficiency and access as well as update furnishings and spaces to meet community needs.

The library’s mission is to enrich the community through access to library services and cultural opportunities.

PWPL Director Andrea Ingmire said libraries are the great equalizer in communities.

“They (libraries) are open to all, regardless of social or economic status,” Ingmire said in an email. “While libraries are certainly not ‘free,’ they are an excellent example of tax dollars doing direct good for those who are paying into their support.”

She said PWPL is unique because not only does it provide traditional library services, it provides a wealth of community-building opportunities.

“For a community of our size, Peter White Public Library is only par with some of the largest libraries in the state with regard to services offered,” Ingmire said.

Outside of borrowing books and movies, PWPL can help people obtain a United States passport, examination proctoring and printing, copying and faxing services.

PWPL also has the Victoria E. Wolf Recording Booth. While the goal of the recording booth is to record books written by local authors about the Upper Peninsula, members of the community are able to use it as well to meet recording needs, according to PWPL’s website.

Outside of the countless number of books and movies, PWPL is also home to the Queen City Seed Library and Library of Things. According to PWPL’s website, the Library of Things is a collection of non-traditional materials including games, gadgets, tools, baking equipment and electronics. The collection gives patrons a chance to try something out before making the purchase.

One of the many events that is held at the library is the Great Lakes Poetry Festival. The inaugural event is put on through the support of Friends of PWPL and the Carroll Paul Memorial Trust Fund, according to PWPL’s website.

“It’s my dream that the library will become a hub for poetry and art in the Great Lakes region,” Marty Achatz said on PWPL’s website.

This year’s festival concludes on Saturday with the Teen Poetry Contest. The contest will be held at 11 a.m. in the Shiras Room.

For more information on PWPL, visit the library’s website at pwpl.info.