Benzonia Public Library - Serving all of Benzie County, Michigan.
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      • STEM Kit Spotlight
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    • Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club
  • Friends
    • Annual Appeal Friends of BPL
    • Corner Book Shoppe and Book Sales
    • Donating Books and Puzzles
    • Mural Cards at BPL
  • Remembering Benzie
    • Veteran's History Project
    • Legacy Project
    • Final Project
    • Intern Team: Year 2
    • Intern Team: Year 1
    • History In The Making Year 1
    • Training Project: Year 1 and 2
    • Community Story Gathering
    • Updates and PR
  • BPL 100 Year Celebration
  • Links
    • Michigan Learning Channel
    • Michigan REAL ID

History of Benzonia Public Library


​MILLS COMMUNITY HOUSE: This historic structure is owned by the Mills Community House Association and houses the Benzonia Public Library. It was built in 1909 as a part of the Benzonia Academy, it is the only remaining building from the Academy which closed in 1918. The library is a Village treasure, as made apparent in the comments from the public survey. It was often the answer for ‘what is the one thing you like BEST about the Village’. It first started operating in 1925 and is the County’s oldest continuously operated library.  Along with the library, there are 2 meeting spaces and a commercial kitchen available in the building. It is a historic site and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.         

Description from the  Village of Benzonia 2020 Master Plan

Celebrating over 98 years in the historic 
Mills Community House

Sketch of Mills Community House by Ruth Forrest
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 2025, the Library will be hosting a year long celebration of 100 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.
Mills Cottage 1913
Mills Cottage 1913
Mills Community House 2014
Mills Community House 2014
History timeline of Benzonia Public Library
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Activities and Events:

June 2025
2 Summer Reading Program Sign-up Begins
5 Friends of BPL Meeting
9 Scanning Day
10 Plant Diagnostic Clinic
18 Trustees Meeting
19 Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Event
20 Tween Club Hangout
22 Old Fashioned Strawberry Social
26 Summer Reading Program Event


July 2025
3 NO Summer Reading Program
4 BPL CLOSED - Independence Day
5 BPL CLOSED
8 Plant Diagnostic Clinic
10 Summer Reading Program Event
14 Scanning Day
16 NO Trustees Meeting this month
17 Summer Reading Program Event
18 Tween Club Hangout
19 Friends of BPL Summer Book & Puzzle Sale
19 PoWeR! Book Bags Event
24 Summer Reading Program Event
31 Summer Reading Program Finale Event




Link to Google map >

About Us:

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

Services:

Benzie County Logging Tapes
Catalog -Library
Catalog -Kids'
​Computers and Internet
Copies & Faxes
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Endowment Fund
Ice Skate Lending
Library of Things
​MeL Interlibrary Loan
Mentor Program
​Mich eLibrary
Newspaper Archives
Remembering Benzie: An Oral History Project
Transparent Language
Up North Digital Collection-Overdrive
WiFi 24/7
YouTube Channel for BPL

Resources:

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
[email protected]
891 Michigan Ave. (US-31)
P.O. Box 445
Benzonia, MI 49616-0445

HOURS: 
​Monday-Friday, 10 am-6 pm
Saturday, 10 am-2 pm
Sunday, Closed

WiFi available 24-7
 
Drop box is available for returns  EXCLUDING STEM Kits, Library of Things Equipment, and Ice Skates. 


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>


This Website is maintained by volunteers to help keep you 
informed, entertained, and excited about our wonderful Library.
Copyright © 2025,  Benzonia Public Library
Drawing of Mills Community House
by Ruth Forrest, Beulah, MI
  • Home
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • BPL Awards and Proud Moments
    • Gianola art to benefit BPL
    • Museum on Main Street
    • Noteworthy at BPL
    • Board of Trustees >
      • Minutes and Agenda
    • Donations >
      • Endowment Fund
    • History of BPL >
      • BPL 90th Celebration photos
      • Renovations 2017
    • Hours and Location
    • Newsletters and Spotlights
    • Staff and Volunteers
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Services
    • Book Club Kits
    • Catalog >
      • Caregiver Resource Library
      • Great Michigan Read
      • Michigan Notable Books
      • Workforce Development Books
    • Computers, Internet, WiFi, Copies, and Faxes >
      • Benzonia Public Library Internet Policy
    • Ice Skate Lending
    • Libby for OverDrive
    • Library of Things >
      • Videos and Handouts LT
    • Listening Clarity Technology
    • MeLCat and Mich eLibrary
    • MI Activity Pass MAP
    • New Accounts
    • ReadMichigan
    • Transparent Language Online
    • Benzie County Logging Tapes
    • Research and Archives
    • Talking Book Library
  • Catalog
  • Youth
    • Summer Reading Program 2025
    • STEM Kits >
      • STEM Kit Spotlight
    • Story Time at BPL
    • Tween Club
    • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Benzie
    • Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club
  • Friends
    • Annual Appeal Friends of BPL
    • Corner Book Shoppe and Book Sales
    • Donating Books and Puzzles
    • Mural Cards at BPL
  • Remembering Benzie
    • Veteran's History Project
    • Legacy Project
    • Final Project
    • Intern Team: Year 2
    • Intern Team: Year 1
    • History In The Making Year 1
    • Training Project: Year 1 and 2
    • Community Story Gathering
    • Updates and PR
  • BPL 100 Year Celebration
  • Links
    • Michigan Learning Channel
    • Michigan REAL ID