Happy birthday! Clinton Township Public Library celebrates 35 years in current location

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Everything you would need when hosting a birthday party — from cupcakes and hot dogs to trivia, a magician and more — were part of the celebrations last week when the Clinton Township Public Library held a special birthday party.

That special birthday party on Wednesday, Dec. 10, was to commemorate the library’s 35th year in its current building on Brown Street. It was sponsored by the Clinton Lions Club and Busch’s Fresh Food Market of Clinton.

After ground was broken on the current library location at 100 Brown St., on Nov. 26, 1989, the Clinton Township Public Library officially opened its brand-new doors to the community more than a year later on Dec. 10, 1990. The building was constructed by Krieghoff-Lenawee Co.

“CTPL was originally located on the main floor of the township hall,” said Mary Gallup, director of the Clinton Township Public Library. “They held their first board meeting July of 1937 when they hired their first librarian. In November 1968, the public voted for a perpetual millage at the rate of 1 mill. It has depreciated to currently .79 mills.”

When groundbreaking for the new library was underway in November 1989, an anonymous donor gifted $800,000 to the library. An additional $100,000 was raised through Signature Tiles, Gallup said. In total, 169 tiles were sold through the fundraising efforts.

The library is supervised by an elected six-member library board. In addition to Gallup, the library’s staff consists of five individuals, those being Mags Getz, assistant director; Tonda Lobenherz, library assistant; Rachel Madynski, library assistant; Amber Klotz, library assistant and Charles (Dick) Strauss, custodian/maintenance.

“At one point, the land was owned by Underwood Chevrolet and Woodward Plow Factory,” added Gallup. “The color of the building (red) was selected by an 8-year-old.”

Currently, CTPL has a little more than 1,000 active library card holders, Gallup said. The library’s collection of materials comprises 35,000 books and audio-visual materials. Computers with high-speed cable internet access are available for the public’s use. A Wi-Fi connection is also available within the library.

“We hold approximately 40 programs a month. We provide books, movies, free snacks, community book clubs, how-to classes and so much more,” Gallup said.

A time capsule was put together during last week’s party with library memorabilia stored inside. The intent is for the capsule to be opened in 2070, Gallup said, for future generations to enjoy.

To contact the Clinton Township Public Library, call 517-456-4141, email clintonlibrary@clinton.lib.mi.us or visit its website, clintontownshiplibrary.org. The library can be accessed during normal business hours, which are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed to patrons on Sunday.