State of Michigan Librarian Randy Riley delivers some remarks during the Bad Axe Area District Library open house last week. (Photo by Kelly Stapleton)
BAD AXE – After a process of extensive renovations to the Bad Axe Area District Library, officials recently held an open house to show off the results.
The event took place 5:30-7 p.m. June 12, and organizers say it went very well.
“It was really fun. We had a nice turnout,” said library director Briynne McCrea. “It was great having our various clubs have booths for people to walk around and kind of see what they’re all about, what they do. And I think they were able to get interest in more people joining these various things. It was just a lot of fun.”
Added McCrea: “It was the most people I’ve seen in this library at the same time in a very long time.”
Included in the groups represented at the open house were the Mahjong Club, Genealogy Club, Looper Club, Friends of the Library and Adult Book Club.
Additional activities included a free book giveaway to all kids who signed up for the library’s summer reading program, story time and crafts in the kids’ room, and some remarks from State of Michigan Librarian Randy Riley.
The library’s revamped computer room. (Photos by Kelly Stapleton)
“We were fortunate to have him,” McCrea said of Riley. “He just kind of gave some brief remarks about the value of rural libraries to their communities and things like that.”
She said another success was that around 70 kids signed up for the summer reading program during the event.
McCrea also spoke to visitors about the history of the library, going from very humble beginnings to where it is now. Originally, the library was housed in a private residence, then at old city hall, and then went through multiple additions at its current location throughout the years.
The current library was constructed in the late 1960s, the children’s room was added in the 1980s, and the computer room was added in 1993- 94 – the last time any substantial work was done to the library prior until now.
“We had a lot of nice comments about how the library looks and people love the windows – I think especially since they have some light in here,” she said. “I hope people feel like we’re doing a good job taking care of the building and trying to make it a useful space for the next generation.”
Children enjoy activities in the kids’ section of the library.
During the latest renovation, the library was closed for a little over a month, reopening to the public in mid-March. During the closure, patrons were able to utilize the library’s extensive digital resources.
“We missed having the public in,” McCrea said about the stretch. “And we were very happy to open the doors again.”
The renovation project was funded with $250,000 from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Community Center Grant; along with $135,000 matching from the library’s general fund.
“We did come in under budget, I’m happy to say,” McCrea said. “You don’t typically get to say those words.”
The entirety of the renovation project included a roof replacement, updated flooring, paint, and furnishings, filling in the pit area in the children’s room, additional shelving and study rooms, complete reconfiguration of the computer room with new computers, additional lounge seating, and new windows.
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