Getting to Know Your City Librarian

About City Librarian Marcellus Turner

 

Marcellus Turner oversees The Seattle Public Library, which includes the world-renowned Central Library and 26 new or renovated branches. The Library operates on a $63 million budget and has 684 staff members. In August, Seattle voters approved a seven-year, $123 million levy to support Library operations and building maintenance. The busy system served nearly 13.6 million visitors last year and circulated 11.4 million books and materials.

 

Turner serves on the University of Washington Information School's MLIS Advisory Board, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Communication and Information's Board of Visitors and the Town Hall Board of Directors.

 

Turner is the former executive director of Jefferson County Public Library in Lakewood, Colo.

 

Prior to joining Jefferson County Public Library in 2002, Turner was assistant executive director of the Rockford Public Library in Rockford, Ill. He has also worked at Tacoma Public Library in Tacoma, Wash., and Atlantic City Free Public Library in Atlantic City, N.J. In addition, he held several positions with academic libraries in Tennessee and Louisiana.

 

Turner holds a master's degree in library science from the University of Tennessee.

 

More About Marcellus Turner

• Colorado man wins Seattle's top library job
  The Seattle Times, May 10, 2011.
  
  
• The Seattle Public Library Appoints Marcellus Turner as the New City Librarian
  The Skanner, June 1, 2011.
  
  
• A Talk with Marcellus Turner, City Librarian, the Seattle Public Library
  Seattle Met, August 2011.
  
  
• The new face of the library
  Journal Media, Aug. 1, 2011.
  
  
• Goal is 'best library experience'
  The Seattle Times, Aug. 25, 2011.
  
  
• Seattle's New Librarian Marcellus Turner on the
  Future of the Library
  KUOW 94.9 FM, Sept. 16, 2011.
  
  
• Among the stacks: New City Librarian Marcellus Turner works to renew faith in the written -- and digital -- word
  Real Change, Dec. 14, 2011.
  
  
• The plan to preserve Seattle's beloved book sanctuaries
  Crosscut.com, Jan. 27, 2012