ICL Proposed Renovation Project

Restoring the Past to Build the Future

The mission of the Ironwood Carnegie Library is to strive to provide equitable access to materials and services that support the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the entire community.

    Built in 1901 with the support of Andrew Carnegie, we are proud to be the oldest continually operating Carnegie Library in the state of Michigan, and we were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. Located in the town of Ironwood in Gogebic County, our library is a beautiful historic building that has served the fine residents of our community for over 100 years. Our library's original collection consisted of 7,800 books. Today our collection includes over 28,000 items. The library houses a unique collection of books and newspapers documenting the area's history and works closely with the local genealogical and historical societies to preserve our past by archiving information of historical value.

      What makes our library unique is that it combines a rich past with the technology of the future. While steeped in history and the richness of traditional learning, we are an access point to the global community through technology.

     The Ironwood Carnegie Library is a vital community resource that connects residents to each other and to the world in a way that is meaningful, creative, and enriching. The public library is a cornerstone of democracy-providing patrons from every walk of life with equal access to information.

     We connect people to information resources. We believe that reading is fundamental to learning. We embrace progress and innovative technology while offering activities and materials that cement creativity, imagination, compassion, and hope.

     The Ironwood Carnegie Library doesn't just provide information access. We also provide programs and services to help people make use of information. Sorting through all the information available requires that we develop critical thinking skills-a foundation that starts with reading and is developed throughout our lives. The Ironwood Carnegie Library offers programs and services that develop and encourage a love for reading and learning among people of all ages.

     Finally, our library connects people to each other. Especially in under-resourced communities, the library often becomes the community's living room-a place to do work, use a computer, read a book in a comfortable chair, join a poetry group, meet up with friends, and much, much more. The Ironwood Carnegie Library serves this function in our beautiful Northwood's community, providing a common space for neighbors to connect with each other and the world.