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From
an Idea to an Institution: Before World War II: No Center of Knowledge As many people in today’s society look upon the public library as an irreplaceable institution, it’s almost unbelievable to think that no public library existed in New Baltimore prior to World War II. From today’s viewpoint, it’s an idea that’s almost impossible to believe -- but it’s true! A Seed is Planted In late 1940, a group of concerned citizens of the Catholic Study Club met to consider the establishment of a library, concluding the undertaking was too large. Word of the meeting spread to long-time community leader E. Leigh Skinner, however, who spearheaded the challenge. By March, 1941, Skinner had rounded up support from local organizations, churches and city officials to go forward. Skinner tapped the area’s resources and gave this "think tank" a mission: collect enough books and money from the community to establish a fledgling collection . It was thought that with a head start on books and funds, it would be easier to ask the city to donate a place for the library. In today’s dollars, the amount they collected in pre-war money ($300.00) sounds absurdly small, but then it totaled enough to approach the city to make the idea of a public library a reality. (A decade later, Skinner's wife, Grace, would write the first volume of Skinner's History Stories of New Baltimore. A second volume was added a few years later. To celebrate the millenium, the book will be revised and expanded. It is scheduled to be printed in late 1999. Securing the Building As it became apparent there was a groundswell of support for the project in the community, Mayor Harold Engelman and the city council offered the committee part of the city’s motor garage at 51150 Washington St . for the temporary library building. The small space (only 15’x 30’) was remodeled with the help of Andrew Meldrum, the city superintendent. By the end of May, the library began to take shape. The First Months Donations and books poured in, and the library board planned for the opening. On June 14, the New Baltimore Public Library opened its doors with 400 books lining its handmade shelves. The mayor checked out the first book, and the open house was a success. The City Council agreed, and the library became a city department. By August, the library doubled its collection, and was open 16 hours per week. The First Years: Growing Pains By the end of 1941, the library had quadrupled its collection and had received more room in the city garage. But though the library was a reality, it still relied mostly on donations. Permanent funding was needed, and a one mill tax was voted on in 1942, which newspaper reports of the day say passed "almost unanimously." The library was finally on firm footing and, by 1949, had taken over the whole building. Remodeled extensively, the Washington St. site would be the library’s location for 47 years. Reconstruction Although a functional building, the library resembled the garage it once was during its formative years. That image, however, changed in 1955 with a major facelift and remodeling inside and out. The project was supervised by board member Dr. Aloysius Weimer, a University of Detroit art professor, and Roy Bauer, a local builder. The reconstruction was funded by penal tax money and donations only. The results were stunning. As Mrs. Marie Marsh, long-serving librarian, later said, "only [Dr. Weimer] could see an old garage and envision it as a library." The building was rededicated on June 14, 1958, its 17th anniversary. By its 20th year, the library owned more than 6,000 books and was open 31 hours per week. Through the 60’s and 70’s remodeling occurred, but the structure’s exterior remained the same. Making a Move ... As urban sprawl slowly made its way to the Anchor Bay area, the library facility on Washington St. slowly became inadequate for the growing population. By the 80’s, it was apparent to many that a new facility was warranted if the library was to meet current expectations. Money for a new building, however, was a problem, as there was no surplus in the budget to buy land for a new location. In stepped perhaps two of the city’s more generous citizens, Stuart and Velma MacDonald. Stuart MacDonald, a local businessman in the plastics industry, donated a storage facility that he owned on Main St. Soon after, the building was remodeled, and the renamed MacDonald Public Library of New Baltimore opened to the public. Another major contributor to the library was the Bay-Rama Committee, which donated $25,000 to purchase the furniture and install the carpeting. ... to Main Street By September, 1987, the new library was completed and the move to Main St. was underway. It took several carloads of volunteers to move all 28,000 volumes to the new facility. But by the end of the year the task was finished, and the building was dedicated on a gorgeous, sun-drenched afternoon on May 22, 1988. Most residents approved of the building’s stucco facade and pillars in the Greek revival tradition. Now housing 32,000 volumes, the Internet and online databases, first-time visitors still often compliment the staff on the the library's pleasant appearance. The Modern Library As the Anchor Bay area grows again, the philosophy of the library is changing. Other types of media, such as videos and books on tape, supplement our book collection. The electronic age has brought us revolutionary tools like CD-ROMS, online databases, and the Internet. It’s also enabled us to computerize the library catalog and circulation, allowing librarians to concentrate more on the needs of clients. We hope you enjoy your public library
as it enters the 21st century. Although the changes are sometimes mind-boggling,
it is in the spirit of expanding information that we enter the next
millennium. *The MacDonald Public Library Archives,
The Voice Newspapers and government documents were used in compiling
this history. |
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