Director's Message

Dear Friends,

So much is happening within our walls! If you’ve walked by lately, you’ve likely heard the hum of progress. The biggest news, of course, is that the Community Center Space Building Project is nearly across the finish line.

We are tentatively planning to open our new 1,000-square-foot addition near the end of May. This bright new space will be the dedicated home for our youngest patrons, housing our entire children’s collection and resources. Once the little ones have moved into their new wing, we’ll begin reconfiguring the basement area—stay tuned for updates on that transformation!

A quick reminder: The back ramp is officially open for business and ready for use!

Mark Your Calendars

We have a busy season ahead, so be sure to save these dates:

• FOL Spring Used Book Sale: It’s the event of the season! Join us Friday, May 15th (Early Bird access for Friends of the Library members) and Saturday, May 16th (7:30 am – 2:00 pm). It is the perfect time to stock up on beach reads and hidden treasures.

• Michigan Notable Book Tour: We are thrilled to host author Todd Goddard on Thursday, August 6th. Todd will be discussing his work, Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, a Writer’s Life. Keep an eye out this spring for final details on the time and venue.

Summer is Coming!

We are already "digging in" to the 2026 Summer Reading Program for children and teens. This year’s national theme is “Unearth a Story,” and our schedule is packed with science, nature, storytimes, and art projects.

And for the grown-ups: Thanks to a recent grant, we are excited to announce a new summer of programming specifically for older adults. We’ll be sharing the full scoop on those offerings in the coming weeks.

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A New Chapter

Finally, a bit of other news. You may have seen a recent job posting, and yes—it is for my position. After being part of the Ironwood Carnegie in various capacities since 2006, I will be retiring at the end of 2026.

Retirement feels a bit bittersweet, as you might imagine. However, I must admit I am looking forward to the day I can walk through these doors and simply browse the stacks as a patron! The Board is hard at work to find a fantastic successor who will have ample time to train in and create the Next Great Chapter of the Ironwood Carnegie Library.

Since I’ll be here for a while yet, please do stop by the desk to say hello!

See you at the library!

 

Lynne Wiercinski, Director