Portage Lake District Library
Encyclopedia
Portage Lake District Library is a public library
located in Houghton, Michigan
, which serves the city of Houghton and Chassell
and Portage Township
s. Portage Lake District Library participates in the Michigan eLibrary
(MeL) and is a member of the Superiorland Library Cooperative.
Adams
and Elm River Township
s had been part of the library district until 1997 when they voted to sever their relationship with it.
In 2003 a driver improperly changed lanes, hitting another car from behind and forcing it off the road; the second car killed a baby whose mother was walking him in a stroller and hit the (original) library, causing minor damage to the sandstone of which the library is largely constructed.
The original location was built in 1909, at the site originally occupied by the Armory Building for Company G of the Houghton Light Infantry, using a $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie
. In 2006 the Portage Lake District Library moved to a new building on the Houghton Waterfront. The former library building became the Carnegie Museum
.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
located in Houghton, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
, which serves the city of Houghton and Chassell
Chassell Township, Michigan
Chassell Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,822 at the 2000 census.The township was organized on April 14, 1888, and named John Chassell, a prominent businessman and farmer whose farmland became the site of the community of...
and Portage Township
Portage Township, Houghton County, Michigan
Portage Township is a charter township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,156. The city of Houghton is adjacent to the north side of the township...
s. Portage Lake District Library participates in the Michigan eLibrary
Michigan eLibrary
The Michigan eLibrary, or MeL, is a project of the Library of Michigan. It is partially funded by the Library of Michigan as well as by the Institute of Museum and Library Services....
(MeL) and is a member of the Superiorland Library Cooperative.
Adams
Adams Township, Houghton County, Michigan
Adams Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,747.-Communities:...
and Elm River Township
Elm River Township, Michigan
Elm River Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
s had been part of the library district until 1997 when they voted to sever their relationship with it.
In 2003 a driver improperly changed lanes, hitting another car from behind and forcing it off the road; the second car killed a baby whose mother was walking him in a stroller and hit the (original) library, causing minor damage to the sandstone of which the library is largely constructed.
The original location was built in 1909, at the site originally occupied by the Armory Building for Company G of the Houghton Light Infantry, using a $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. In 2006 the Portage Lake District Library moved to a new building on the Houghton Waterfront. The former library building became the Carnegie Museum
Carnegie Museum of Houghton
The Carnegie Museum in Houghton, Michigan is a museum that houses rotating exhibits on science and local history and culture. The building is so named as it was a Carnegie library, and is the former building of the Portage Lake District Library...
.
Mission statement
The Portage Lake District Library's Board of Trustees adopted the following mission statement in 1993:
The Portage Lake District Library provides materials and services to help district residents obtain information meeting their personal, educational, and professional needs. Special emphasis is placed on providing popular material in a variety of formats for all ages, and on stimulating children's interests and appreciation for reading and learning. The library serves as a reference and community information center.