Missaukee District Library

Library Showcase:

In October the leaves are falling, days are shorter, and there is a mystic aura to the air. Fall is a season that transitions us from the warm days of summer to the cold days of winter. Halloween celebrations highlight this season and allow us to imagine being another person or character. A costume inspiration often comes from books and the best place to find books is the library. The Missaukee District Library is providing a way for the community to celebrate Halloween together with a Halloween party.

The Halloween party is just one of the Family orientated projects that are being planned at the Library for the community by newly hired Director, Debra Dudek. Debra plans on having more family orientated events at the library. She is in the process of planning a Luau in January and she is exploring the idea of having a Fairy-tale event around Easter. All these events are geared toward family use of the library.

Debra is a world traveler and graduated from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland with her Library Science degree. She is excited and motivated about being in Lake City because of the Community support and opportunities that exist. Community donations range from big to small. The biggest donation they received funded the building of a new library.

The generosity of Dr. Ardis, a local retired dentist, made a new building for the library possible. The library was built in 1999, and has many unique characteristics which reflect Dr. Ardis’ style and taste. He and his wife, Virginia, were avid ballroom dancers, and they frequented the Pantlind Ballroom, which is now part of the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids. This passion is represented in their library by their dance floor, chandelier, and real oak panels and trim. Dr. Ardis also liked old English-style libraries, and they have a grand archway to represent that. They have a quiet room which is patterned after Dr. Ardis’ study, and is used to house and display many antique books. Their children’s room is surrounded by a mural that was hand painted by a local artist.

The smallest donations they receive are loose change deposited into their patron jar. The funds collected from the patron jar go to purchase Large Print Material, primarily westerns. The library also receives numerous donations to honor significant life events such as birthdays and graduations.

Books can take readers to a new world. Reader’s experience new cultures, explore historic buildings, meet new people, and travel to uncharted worlds. The experience of reading stimulates the mind and opens it to creativity and fresh ideas. The Missaukee District Library staff recognizes the importance of a community library and plans on continuing to increase library familiarity through their fun and interactive programs.

We salute the Missaukee District Library for all they have done for their community and are proud to have them as a member of the Mid-Michigan Library League.

Mid-Michigan Library League- 210 1/2 N. Mitchell- Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 800-968-0046 Fax: 800-968-3297

Website design: Holly Mercer
Last Update: March 29, 2007