White Pine Library

Library Showcase: Suttons Bay - Bingham District Library

Unknown to most of the world, famous actors, Astronauts, and authors call Suttons Bay their home. They choose to live in the area because of the privacy, beauty, and of course the library.

The Suttons Bay Area Public Library recently gained international attention due to last week’s announcement that one of the many stars that live in Suttons Bay, Lynne Rae Perkins, won this year’s Newberry Medal for her book Criss Cross. Just having a local resident win such a prodigious award is enough to make the library proud, but the real thrill is that on the inside of the book there is printed “Dedicated to Tina and Pat at the Library.” The book is dedicated to the former library director, Tina Ulrich and library assistant Pat Wolters. The library and their Friends group are planning on having a reception to honor the author in the near future in conjunction with other area libraries.

Criss Cross was published before current Director Virginia Roberts was hired in July, and she brings much enthusiasm, energy, friendliness, and ideas to the library. One of the major projects that the library is currently working on is a millage campaign. They have two townships in their service area, which adds to the challenge of the millage campaign, but with a strategic plan in effect, they have mapped out their strategy.

With a millage, the library would be able to increase their library hours, which would mean more staff hours. They currently have the library Director, who works 32 hours per week, and 2 part time assistants and a page. They have a network of 25-30 regular volunteers who take on the projects that paid staff does not have time for, and many who work on special projects. Some of their volunteers are quite young, the youngest is 11. Some of them work in exchange for volunteer service hours. Many of them are Boy and Girl Scouts (who earn some of their badges from the librarian, who is a merit badge counselor). The library and Scouts benefit from the arrangement—and an added benefit is that it brings children and young adults into the library.

Another feature for young adults is the time set aside on the computers specifically for patrons ages 11-17 to play games. “Kids Swim” requires permission from parents, but for two hours four times a month, kids can game online to their hearts content without having to worry about being interrupted by the regular ½ hour computer time limit.

A great feature of the library is that it is located right on the Bay in Suttons Bay, which brings in the summer visitors. The library’s wireless internet is accessible outside of the building and patrons can sit at the beach and enjoy the breeze that comes from the lake while they work. The library building was built in 1984 and just 10 years later another section was added to accommodate the needs of their patrons. Building upgrades are being planned right now thanks to a grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa Indians. The primary upgrade will be the installation of a handicapped accessible door. The staff is anxious to have the new door installed since there current method of handicapped accessibility is a doorbell which most of the times is used by children who like to ring the bell.

A good way for the famous and not so famous residents of Suttons Bay to display their collections and travel keepsakes is by creating a display for the library’s showcase. The showcase is changed every month and residents are encouraged to reserve a month. January’s showcase was done by three families that combined their material to do a display on Guatemala.

The library’s Friends of the Library Group is interwoven into many of the activities of the library. The Vice President of the group maintains the library’s web page, they donate money for collection development, and help with any other projects where they are of value. The group does a great job of advocating for the library and will help tremendously with their millage effort.

There are numerous stars in the Suttons Bay area, but even those residents that aren’t so famous know what it is like to receive royal treatment; they receive it at the library. We salute the Suttons Bay Area 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: July 3, 2008