Bay County Library System
Encyclopedia
The Bay County Library System, in Bay County
, Michigan
, was established on January 1, 1974 after the county electorate approved a 0.7 million dollar tax levy for five years. The Library System brought together three libraries (The Bay City Public Library and its Broadway Branch, The Sage Library, and The Pinconning Library) which previously were funded separately and independently by the cities of Bay City and Pinconning
. These branches, together with the Auburn Area Branch Library (established in September, 1973), the South Side Branch Library (formerly the Broadway Branch), and the Bookmobile
(which began operation in March, 1975) would comprise the six "service outlets" of the Library System.
In 2000, Bay County voters approved a millage increase and bond issue to support capital improvements to the system, including new buildings for the Bay City and Pinconning branches and additions and renovations to the Auburn, Sage, and Southside branches Renovations to the Auburn and Sage branches were completed in the winter and spring of 2004, respectively ,http://mybaycity.mmcctech.net/scripts/Article_ViewB.cfm?ArticleID=127&NewspaperID=0. The new Pinconning Branch Library opened in October 2004. In December 2005 the Bay City Branch was replaced by the new Alice and Jack Wirt Public Libraryhttp://www.baycountylibrary.org/wirt_branch.html.
In 2006, voters twice failed to pass the operating millage required the provided 60 percent of the system's operating funds . As a result, the Bay County Library Board voted to close the South Side and Sage branch libraries, suspend Bookmobile service, and open the Auburn, Pinconning, and Wirt branches for restricted hours.http://baycountylibrary.org/branches.html. The closure of Sage Library suspended its run as the oldest continuously operating library in the state of Michigan http://mybaycity.mmcctech.net/scripts/Article_ViewB.cfm?ArticleID=127&NewspaperID=0. Renovations to the South Side Branch are currently on hold pending resolution of the library's current operating funding situation
In 2007, voters passed a reduced millage that allowed the Library System to once again open Sage and allow for more hours and services at all branches.
Bay County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 110,157 people, 43,930 households, and 30,048 families residing in the county. The population density was 248 people per square mile . There were 46,423 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, was established on January 1, 1974 after the county electorate approved a 0.7 million dollar tax levy for five years. The Library System brought together three libraries (The Bay City Public Library and its Broadway Branch, The Sage Library, and The Pinconning Library) which previously were funded separately and independently by the cities of Bay City and Pinconning
Pinconning, Michigan
Pinconning is a city in Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Bay City, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. These branches, together with the Auburn Area Branch Library (established in September, 1973), the South Side Branch Library (formerly the Broadway Branch), and the Bookmobile
Bookmobile
A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
(which began operation in March, 1975) would comprise the six "service outlets" of the Library System.
In 2000, Bay County voters approved a millage increase and bond issue to support capital improvements to the system, including new buildings for the Bay City and Pinconning branches and additions and renovations to the Auburn, Sage, and Southside branches Renovations to the Auburn and Sage branches were completed in the winter and spring of 2004, respectively ,http://mybaycity.mmcctech.net/scripts/Article_ViewB.cfm?ArticleID=127&NewspaperID=0. The new Pinconning Branch Library opened in October 2004. In December 2005 the Bay City Branch was replaced by the new Alice and Jack Wirt Public Libraryhttp://www.baycountylibrary.org/wirt_branch.html.
In 2006, voters twice failed to pass the operating millage required the provided 60 percent of the system's operating funds . As a result, the Bay County Library Board voted to close the South Side and Sage branch libraries, suspend Bookmobile service, and open the Auburn, Pinconning, and Wirt branches for restricted hours.http://baycountylibrary.org/branches.html. The closure of Sage Library suspended its run as the oldest continuously operating library in the state of Michigan http://mybaycity.mmcctech.net/scripts/Article_ViewB.cfm?ArticleID=127&NewspaperID=0. Renovations to the South Side Branch are currently on hold pending resolution of the library's current operating funding situation
In 2007, voters passed a reduced millage that allowed the Library System to once again open Sage and allow for more hours and services at all branches.