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Well read MARCELLUS “MT” TURNER, CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG LIBRARY’S NEW CEO AND CHIEF LIBRARIAN, LOOKS TO REFRAME THE FUTURE OF THE LIBRARY BEYOND WALLS.
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ike many librarians, Marcellus “MT” Turner loves a good backstory. Since joining Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in April as chief executive officer and chief librarian, he’s been taking in his new environs with a close study of his surroundings. Sculptor Ray Kaskey’s four statues at Independence Square uptown caught Turner’s attention early on, and he made it his mission to learn the background surrounding one of Charlotte’s most prominent public artworks. “I find them so interesting,” Turner says, referring to the installation at the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets. “I want to discover what they are all about. I ask a lot of questions because I love backstories more than ‘front’ story.” Turner’s explorative nature will serve him well as he takes the reins of the 118-year-old library system. He succeeds Lee Keesler, a Charlotte native who retired after nine years as CEO. Turner oversees 430 staff members serving 20 branches. The system saw 2.5 million visitors during the fiscal year ending in June 2020. In that time, more than 5.6 million items were borrowed, and more than 400,000 people participated in the library’s 22,000 programs. Turner has more than 30 years of library experience, most recently as the executive director and chief librarian at The Seattle Public Library. The Mississippi native is an internationally rec 38
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SOUTHPARK
ognized speaker with a master’s degree in library science from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s from Mississippi University for Women. He’s poised to take on several important initiatives, including activating the Blueprint 2025 Vision Plan, a 10-year project launched in 2015; advancing the library’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion; and supporting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s fundraising efforts while working with county leaders, architects and builders to complete a new $100 million, 115,000-square-foot Main Library. In addition, the library last month launched a fine-free initiative, eliminating late and overdue fines and removing all outstanding account balances for late materials. The move restores access to library resources for more than 150,000 county residents SouthPark met with Turner to discuss the future of libraries, social consciousness and connecting with the community. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. What attracted you to the opportunity in Charlotte? One thing I heard [in the interview process] was this desire to resume Charlotte’s presence as a national leader in libraries. That’s not to say that we weren’t [a leader] — just as libraries changed and
COURTESY CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG LIBRARY
by Michael J. Solender
