Benzonia Public Library - Serving all of Benzie County, Michigan.
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    • Training Project: Year 1 and 2
    • Community Story Gathering
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  • BPL 100 Year Celebration
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    • Michigan Learning Channel
    • Michigan REAL ID

Research and Archives


DIGITIZED COLLECTION of Benzie County Historic Newspapers: Click here for link>

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The library has Benzie County Plat books and cemetery indexes, along with tombstone photographs available to use.  The Michigan Room houses the Bruce Catton collection and books about Michigan's rich history or books written by Michigan authors.  

We have newspaper subscriptions for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Traverse City Record Eagle. You are also encouraged to use the Michigan eLibrary to augment the print collection of research materials found in the building. 

The Library also has bound, print issues of the Benzie Banner/Record Patriot dating back to 1888.  If you are interested in looking at the bound issues, please contact the Library in advance to schedule an appointment and let them know what time year(s) you would like to see.  The bound newspapers are currently in storage and staff will need at least a 24 hour notice to retrieve the appropriate books you wish to review.   The Benzie County Historic Newspapers are also digitized ...   Click here for link>

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Michigan Room Historical Archives Project
BPL would like to thank Cheri Dundon for her tireless efforts in organizing the priceless collection of photos, pamphlets, old letters, and historical information that we have at the library. Cheri grew up in Kalamazoo and  visited this area for many years. In 2009 she and her husband retired to Benzie County and spent a year relaxing and settling in. In 2010 Cheri began volunteering at BACN, and still works there today. Fueled by a fierce love of history and wanting to learn more about her community, Cheri began volunteering at the Benzie Area Historical Society last year. Cheri’s first big project was in the form of 600 burial permits for Benzonia ranging from 1912-1940. She recorded and transferred all the information to the database where it is available to the public today! After finishing, for some reason, Sheri asked, “what next?” For the last 6 months Cheri has been diligently working on the wealth of historical items from BPL. In the newly renovated Michigan Room, you will find photo albums full of historical photos, sorted according to location and identified when possible. We are so grateful to Cheri for all the work she has already done and for the work she continues to do! BPL is very lucky in the fact that Cheri is a firm believer in finishing a project once it is started. This has been and continues to be quite a project! Stop by to look through the history, and keep stopping by, as Cheri finishes more and more of the albums!

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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