PICKFORD, Mich. – The Amish have a tradition where the entire community comes together for a barn raising. Pickford has done the same with a “library raising” that began in January and will wrap up with a formal dedication on Oct. 23.
That date is the 12th anniversary of when Pickford library opened in its original location.
The new location, a former NAPA store not far from the intersection of Main St. and highway M-129, has at least three times the space as that original location. There is an enclosed study area for students and meetings. Kids will have a dedicated spot for concerts, presentations, and reading projects.
Renovation project manager Jim Bolton’s favorite feature is the community room with its own entrance, bathroom, and kitchen. For him, it is just another piece that fell into place.
“We started looking for new location about four years ago,” said Bolton. “It was cost-prohibitive to renovate our original building, which we also leased. Nothing around town seemed to be ideal.
“Then NAPA listed this building online two years ago,” he continued. “They wanted to build a new store on M-129. So, the listing went up and the price was unbelievable for the space it offered. I know people who work for the Pickford NAPA. We started taking measurements and drawing concepts. It was then we knew had a jewel.”
That’s when Bolton called Superior District Library Director Lisa Waskin.
“The library district bought the building because the price and size was so right,” said Waskin. “I also knew that Pickford could raise the money needed – and volunteer the time and services – to renovate it .”
Another factor made the building affordable. The new NAPA store would not be ready until the fall of 2021. Until then, for just over a year, NAPA leased its old building back from the library district.
“We bought the building, but the community covered the cost of relocating, renovating, and equipping the new library through fundraising,” said Waskin. “They surpassed a goal of $150,000.”
“I can’t say enough for how the whole community gathered to make this happen in less than eight months,” said Bolton. “We accumulated more than 1,500 volunteer-hours. People were at the door every time lights were on to lend a hand. Many just showed up to write checks. Electricians and plumbers, whose work needed to be licensed for permits, discounted their time.”
Why the level of committed involvement? Lisa Waskin sees an essential role a public library plays in Pickford.
“Their library does a lot for young people in community. Summer reading programs are enormous,” said Waskin. “It also has key technology. Most households still don’t have computers at home because internet access is spotty. The library even has a seed repository where people can leave or take seed.”
Pickford is also a special point of pride in Waskin’s nine-library district.
“Pickford is one of Michigan’s top 10 libraries, according to a trade article that came out in August,” she said.
Waskin and Bolton credit this and the community pride to a continuing legacy of former library manager Ann Marie Smith, who recently passed away.
“Ann Marie brought in grants for local programing from the Michigan Humanities Council,” Waskin said. “She did scholastic reading challenges for kids every year. Pickford logged the most reading minutes for the whole country. She won the Michigan Humanities Council award for all her work.”
With this is mind, one feature in the renovation is being set aside for completion next summer.
“We will have a garden and reading area, with doors that will lead into the main library and community room, dedicated in Ann Marie’s memory,” said current library director Emily Hyde. “The Pickford library would be nothing without her.”
Planning for the garden continues through winter.
Follow the Pickford Public Library on Facebook for details about the Oct. 23 grand opening and other events.
