Welcome to the Ironwood Carnegie Library!

July 26, 2024

Dear Friends,

“We each contribute our own book to the great library of humanity.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human  Experience

So much is happening at the library!  This spring, we completed the first-floor restroom project, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the American Library Association and financial support from the Friends of the Library. Nasi Construction did a beautiful job, and we are thrilled to finally have an accessible restroom for all our patrons! 

The ALA grant also allowed us to improve our programming for older adults.  As part of this project, we conducted a series of health and wellness programs geared toward seniors.  Programs included information on medications, exercise, eye health, and relaxation activities. Our senior services have been so well received and we look forward to continuing the programming come autumn.   Senior outreach services were also created, and we continue to offer our caregiver activity kits and books to those caring for an older adult at home.  

We were honored to be chosen as an author visit site for this year's Great Michigan Read, sponsored by the Michigan Humanities.  The Ironwood Carnegie, in partnership with the Wakefield Library and Gogebic Community College, hosted Angeline Boulley, author of The Firekeeper's Daughter.  Over 300 people attended the event, held at the GCC (Gogebic Community College) Lindquist Center, including students from local high schools.  It was a fantastic day! 

In February, we were awarded a $750,000 State of Michigan Community Center grant, which will add space to this beautiful historic Carnegie building and improve our ability to offer a variety of resources and programs to our community. I think that this library has been working toward an addition for the past fifty years, and we are thrilled to finally be moving ahead with this dream!   We are working on plans with our architect and welcome your ideas and suggestions. 

The 2024 Summer Reading Program, Adventure Begins @ Your Library, has seen record numbers of children at many of our events including our Adventure Camps, Young Innovators Club, nature programs, and story times. We love summer and the sound of giggles filling the library!   

As summer winds down, we will be concentrating on the new addition and fundraising, along with school visits, poetry groups, book clubs, the autumn used book sale, and all the other activities that happen within our four walls and beyond.   

Stop by for a visit...we'd love to see you! 

Lynne Wiercinski, Director

Ironwood Carnegie Library