IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Dickinson County voters approved the library millage renewal, ensuring continued operations at all three branches—Iron Mountain, Solomonson Branch in Norway, and North Dickinson Branch—for the next 5 years. The renewal, which constitutes 85% of the library’s operating expenses, restores the millage rate to its pre-Headlee rollback level by levying 0.9 mill onto local property taxes, equivalent to $0.90 per $1,000 of taxable value.
Library Director Megan Buck expressed her gratitude to the community, stating, “I’m just so thankful for our community. They came out and voted. They supported the library at the polls…so we have five more years of operating expenses, which is very exciting and lots to look forward to.”
With the funding secured, the library will maintain its current services, including material checkouts, digital services, programming, and Internet access. Buck highlighted the library’s upcoming addition of ukuleles to its collection, thanks to a donation. “We’re going to have a new collection coming this fall…ukuleles for checkout—actual ukuleles… They will circulate to check them out, and we have other materials to help you with learning how to play.”
Looking ahead, the library will embark on a strategic planning process this fall, during which community feedback will be sought.
“At this time, all of our hours are going to remain the same. We will be working on a strategic plan this fall and so if there’s anyone that has feedback for the library services, you’d like to see things you really hope continue into the future, things that you hope we add, or if you have a suggestion for hours: we would love to have that information coming to us as well,” Buck noted, inviting the community to share their suggestions.
Buck also mentioned that the library will specifically assess the North Dickinson Branch for expansion of hours, as the branch currently doesn’t offer weekend hours, as part of the strategic planning process. “We’ll be having a survey specifically with our North Dickinson branch. We will be looking at hours of operation. We don’t offer any weekend hours there, but that’s something that we’ll be looking at as part of our strategic planning process. If the community of North Dickinson would be receptive and utilize that, there’ll be opportunities for people to share their feedback,” she shared.
Facility improvements are also on the horizon, with potential updates to the main branch’s front steps, which are original to the building’s construction. Buck stated, “Passing this and knowing that we have our operating expenses covered for the next 5 years allows us to look at these bigger projects.”
The strategic planning process, in collaboration with consulting firm Fast-Forward Libraries, is set to begin in September, with the community survey expected to be available between September and December. “It’ll be on the website, social media, in our newsletter, and all the channels where we promote programs,” Buck assured.
Concluding her remarks, Buck once again thanked the community, acknowledging the contentious nature of the recent weeks, and reiterated her appreciation for the support: “I just want to thank our community for supporting our library…for everyone’s freedom to read.”
For more information about the Dickinson County Library, visit:
