For 50 years, the
Bay County Library System has brought books, hands-on learning, educational activities, and more to the community.
Through the month of September, the Bay County Library System celebrates its 50th Anniversary with special events at four of its branches.
The Bay County Library System includes the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library at 500 Center Ave. in Downtown Bay City; Auburn Area Branch Library at 235 W. Midland Road in Auburn; Pinconning Branch Library at 218 Kaiser St. in Pinconning; Historical Sage Branch Library at 100 E. Midland St. on Bay City’s West Side; and the traveling Bookmobile.
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Graphic courtesy of the Bay County Library System
Kristen Freeman, Marketing Manager for the system, says Bay County was once home to five separate libraries. In 1974, the five libraries merged into one cohesive system. Since then, the library system has grown and fostered a sense of community.
“In our library system we can be all together. We’re all equal. We’re all the same. There’s no bridges to divide us.”
Before 1974, the five libraries were not connected. Each library’s collections was small and unknown to its neighbors.
For example, in order to check out a book from the Auburn Library, then located inside Western High School, patrons had to make the trip to Auburn.
Now there’s an app for that. An app makes all the books in the library system available to everyone at any time.
“They can go on the Bay County Library System app and they can request any book from whichever branch that book is located, and we just send it to that person’s home branch or their preferred branch,” Freeman says.
“We have a pretty efficient system of internal deliveries that moves the books around where they need to go wherever people request them. We see our books go back and forth throughout the whole system all the time.”
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Photo courtesy of the Bay County Library SystemThe Bay County Library System celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Pinconning Branch on Thurs., Sept. 12.It’s not just books that travel. For example, STEM Kits for Kids and other hands-on learning items often can be delivered to a different branch.
“Say you live in Pinconning, you could get one of those STEM Kits delivered to the Pinconning Library and you can pick it up there.”
There are special collections at each library that still require a trip to those branches to find, but Freeman says the items are worth the trip. For example, to check something out from the
Library of Things, such as a Karaoke Machine or a Ghost Hunting Kit, you’ll have to visit the Wirt branch. (
Read more about the Library of Things in this May 16 article in Route Bay City.)
The Bookmobile, which is the fifth branch of the library system, carries a rotating collection, Freeman says. It’s also an option for the delivery service.
“Any of the patrons that use the bookmobile can get any book delivered to the bookmobile and they can pick it up at a scheduled stop.”
Technology has expanded what’s available through the library. Thousands of books, magazines, and videos are available through the
library’s digital collections.
“It’s a great opportunity too, to just be able to check out the book and read a little bit of it,” Freeman says. “You can have it instantly, open it right there. You don’t have to wait for it to come in.”
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Photo courtesy of the Bay County Library SystemThe Bay County Library System celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Auburn Branch on Wed., Sept. 18.What people may not know is there is a lot more to the library than books and periodicals. Freeman says people spend hours combing through genealogy information or digitized newspapers dating back decades.
The library system also offers workshops and technology help sessions, crafting workshops, and more to bring people together, Freeman says.
Join the BCLS in celebrating a half-century of service in the community with building tours, entertainment, refreshments and giveaways this month. The schedule is as follows:
● Wirt Library: Tues., Sept. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.
● Pinconning Branch: Thurs., Sept. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.
● Auburn Branch: Wed., Sept. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m.
● Sage Branch: Thurs., Sept. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The events will be open-house style to give everyone a chance to connect (or re-connect) and learn about the library’s history in Bay County. The celebrations will also showcase what the library is doing today.
“We’re a whole library system. It feels like the county is really working together to be there for its community,” says Freeman.