Benzonia Public Library - Serving all of Benzie County, Michigan.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Annual Reports
    • BPL Awards and Proud Moments
    • Gianola art to benefit BPL
    • Noteworthy at BPL
    • Board of Trustees
    • Donations
    • History of BPL >
      • BPL 90th Celebration photos
      • Renovations 2017
    • Hours and Location
    • Newsletters and Spotlights
    • Staff and Volunteers
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Services
    • Catalog >
      • Caregiver Resource Library
    • Computers, Internet, WiFi, Copies, and Faxes >
      • Benzonia Public Library Internet Policy
    • Curbside at BPL
    • Ice Skate Lending
    • Listening Clarity Technology
    • MeLCat and Mich eLibrary
    • New Account Policy Agreement
    • OverDrive-Up North Digital Collection
    • RB Digital
    • Benzie County Logging Tapes
    • Research and Archives
    • Talking Book Library
  • Activities
    • Calendar of Events
    • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Benzie
    • Great Benzie Read
    • Mentor Program
    • Benzonia Area Happenings
  • Youth
    • Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club
    • Craft of the Month at BPL
    • Kids Fun Day Carnival
    • LEGO-Rama
    • Marvelous Art with Mrs. McLaren
    • PoWeR Book Bags
    • STEM Kits
    • Story Time with Miss Desiree
    • Summer Reading 2020 @BPL
  • Friends
    • Annual Appeal Friends of BPL
    • Book Sales
    • Face Masks
    • Donating Books, Puzzles, DVDs
    • Jigsaw Puzzle Sale
    • Mural Cards at BPL
    • Repurposeful Librarians
  • Remembering Benzie
    • Veteran's History Project
    • Legacy Project: Year 1
    • History In The Making
    • Bechler Project : Year 1
    • Intern Team: Year 2
    • Intern Team: Year 1
    • Community Story Gathering at BPL
  • Links
    • Vote Absentee
    • Are You Ready For REAL ID?
    • What is the 2020 Census?

History of Benzonia Public Library:
Celebrating over 90 years in the historic 
Mills Community House

Picture
Serving Benzie County since 1925.
Librarians of BPL
Serving our community since 1925.
Etta Whiteman
Bernice Sleezer
Ethyl Huntington
Edvena Sinclair
Fern Wheeler
Iva Sleeper
Susan Gerhart

Ruth Forrest
Pam Ellinger
Mary Jo Johnson
Roxane Miner
Marjorie Porter
Sara  Boven
Amanda McLaren
Although the Benzonia Public Library and Mills Community House are now legally separate entities, they share a long history and maintain a symbiotic relationship. Our fundraising is separate, but we work together in many ways. The library has been in the Mills Community House since 1925, after having “floated” around the community in private homes for many years. In 2015, the Library celebrated 90 years in this location!

In 1925, the Mills Cottage building belonged to the Congregational Church in Benzonia. Seeking to serve the whole community, a committee was elected by the church to run the building, with sub-committees for administration, scheduling, and the library. The grand opening of the Mills Community House and library was held on March 19, 1925. The library sub-committee was composed of Prof Sinclair (father of recently deceased Marjorie Call), Miss Olsen, and Mrs. Spelman. The latter had direct charge of the library, buying books and magazines in addition to arranging the hours at which the library was open.

In Oct. 1925, a new hostess, Mrs. J. T. Whiteman, was hired. She kept the building open from 3:00-5:30 in the afternoon and from 7:00-9:00 in the evening so that the library and reading room would be available for all who desired to use them. If you look at some of the older books in the Benzonia Public Library’s collection, you will see that they are stamped “Mills Community House Library.”

In 1966, steps were taken to comply with state requirements for a state authorized village library. A proposition on the March 1967 ballot, approved 74 to 4, established a free public library and also a tax for the first five years on property in the Village of Benzonia. Benzonia Public Library had been created! A tax millage was again voted in 1972 with a vote of 42-5.

 Benzonia Public Library and Darcy Library of Beulah started planning in 2010 for a joint library board agreement with Benzonia Township. Residents of the Township were asked to pass a 6-year millage supporting both libraries equally, and Township residents were eligible to serve on one or the other of the library boards (but not on both boards at the same time). In May 2011, the millage passed 491 to 230. In Nov 2012, Benzonia Township residents who did not live in the Village of Benzonia were elected to serve on the Benzonia Library Board for the first time.
Picture
Mills Cottage 1913
Picture
Mills Community House 2014
Picture
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST!

Activities and Events:

  • Curbside Pick-up
  • Online Pre-school Storytime with Miss Desiree
  • ​PoWeR Book Bags at BPL
  • Face Masks by Repurposeful Librarians

January 2021
Fridays: Online Pre-school Storytime with Miss Desiree


February 2021
10 Trustees Meeting- Online
Fridays: Online Pre-school Storytime with Miss Desiree

Calendar of Events

About Us:

Annual Reports
Board of Trustees
Contributions & donations
Donations- Money
​Donations-Books, puzzles, DVDs, etc.
Friends of BPL
History
Hours-Service & Holiday
Location and map
Newsletters

Services:

Picture
Benzie County Logging Tapes
Catalog -Library
Catalog -Kids'
​Computers and Internet
Copies & Faxes
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Listening Clarity Devices
​MeL Interlibrary Loan
Mentor Program
​Mich eLibrary
Newspaper Archives
OverDrive
RB Digital
Remembering Benzie: An Oral History Project
​Talking Book Library​
Transparent Language
Up North Digital Collection
WiFi 24/7

Resources:

Benzonia Area Happenings
Books and Reading
Community Information
Genealogical Research
MeL Interlibrary Loan
Mich eLibrary Databases
Logging Audio Tapes
​OverDrive-Up North Digital

Contact Us:

231-882-4111
891 Michigan Ave. (US-31)
P.O. Box 445
Benzonia, MI 49616-0445

HOURS:
Library Service Curbside Only
Monday 11-2
Tuesday, 2-5
Wednesday 4-7
Thursday, 2-5
Friday 11-2
      
Building access by appointment only until further notice. 

Please place all returns in drop box. WiFi available 24-7.



Donations: 
​​Friends of Benzonia Public Library
PO Box 445, Benzonia, MI 49616
501(c)(3) organization

Tax ID (EIN): 56-2542168
​Benzonia Public Library
PO Box 445, Benzonia, MI 49616
Section 170(c)(I) Governmental  Unit
Tax ID (EIN): 38-2493013
Visit our Donation Info. Page>

Send us a note!
This Website is maintained by volunteers to help keep you 
informed, entertained, and excited about our wonderful Library.

Copyright © 2017 
Benzonia Public Library
Drawing of Mills Community House 
by Ruth Forrest, Beulah, MI