May 20, 2023
Sun and News, Greg Chandler, Staff Writer
A community group looking to create a standalone public library in Middleville may revive long-dormant Friends of the Library organization to raise funds for the new facility.
In the process, the group, currently known as Middleville Needs a Library, could tap into an existing fund that has raised money for the Thornapple Kellogg School and Community Library in the past and pay for a feasibility study to determine the level of community interest in the new library project.
“I think it would be well worth the investment to start looking into re-establishing the Friends of the Library and make us official Friends of the Library members…because going forward as far as fundraising, that’s going to be one of our arms,” committee member Kate Bynski said.
The group is eyeing the “Friends of designation as the village of Middleville is establishing a committee consisting of Village Council trustees and community members to discuss the library project.
“I think we have run our course as far as being able to decide things in any sort of official capacity,” group member Josh Mosey said. “Any new decisions will be made by this official government group. That doesn’t mean we can’t still discuss and get input because that is why we have these open meetings, and we want everyone to be on board.” There was a “Friends of” group, known as the Beacon Society, created in October 2009 to support the current library, said committee member Sue Reinstein, who was part of the original society.
However, that group fizzled out about a year later, and a decision was made to create a fund for the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation, an arm of the Barry Community Foundation instead. The last known activity of the Beacon Society “Friends of” group was in 2010, Reinstein said.
Last December, the fund’s name was changed from the Beacon Society, Friends of the Thornapple Kellogg School and Community Library to the Beacon Society, Friends of the Middleville Area Community Library, Reinstein said.
Committee member Jennifer DeVault, director of library operations for the Kent District Library and a former BCF staffer, endorsed re-activating the Friends of the Library group. “You want to have an organization behind you that has credibility, and the Community Foundation certainly does,” DeVault said.
Reinstein said that the Beacon Society Fund currently has about $24,000, of which approximately $15,000 is spendable. That funding could be accessed to help pay for consultant Keith Hopkins, who was chosen last month by the group, to conduct the feasibility study.
The group could apply for grants through the Community Foundation. However, the current grant period only goes through Oct. 15, according to committee member Chris Boysen.
Another funding possibility may come through the Bradford White Corporation, which is considering applications for community projects to fund. The company would award $5,000 toward the project, Bynski said.
Any funding from the Beacon Society would have to be approved by the TAEF board of directors, Reinstein said.
The library group began meeting a year ago to discuss how to create a public library separate from Thornapple Kellogg Schools. The current library is open to the community only 12 hours a week during the school year from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday nights and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
The group will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, June 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thornapple Township Hall, 200 E. Main St.
Middleville Community Library 