PI District Library’s Posen branch open in renovated location
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POSEN -- Book lovers of all ages will enjoy visiting the newly renovated Posen branch of the Presque Isle District Library.
The new branch opened Nov. 17 in the old McWilliams Funeral Home location south of the village on M-65.
PIDL Director Amber Alexander said the new location better utilizes space, including high ceilings and an open floor plan, as well as a children's area and a rentable meeting room, available to patrons at no charge.
"This is Posen library," Alexander said as she gave a tour. "We purchased it, it's paid off, and we've renovated it."
She said the building cost, including renovations, came to about $180,000.
"And that's during a pandemic, where the prices increased," Alexander noted. "The cost of lumber went up. So we accommodated that, and we understood the situation. We just definitely wanted to make sure that when we moved in here, everything was said and done."
The library had been renting space in Posen.
"We had been renting that space for almost 20 years," Alexander said of the old library space in the village.
They only gained 400 square feet in total, but the layout is more user-friendly, the ceilings are much higher, and taller shelving units help with storage.
"It is on the outskirts of town," she said of the new location, at 11919 M-65, just north of Elm Highway.
The library is located on three acres, and Alexander said they are planning some outdoor programming in the spring and summer to utilize the land, and possibly a community garden.
"I'm just proud of this building," she said. "It's an additional, beautiful library that we've added for the community. I'm glad we were able to finish and follow through on the project."
Renovations started in March of 2021, the old Posen branch was closed in August, and the new branch opened in November.
"Only three-and-a-half months closed," she said. "I think that's a pretty good feat … I think it turned out great."
The Posen library is open from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
A knitting and crocheting group meets in the conference room at the Posen library from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.
The renovated building also includes two new ADA-compliant bathrooms (men's and women's).
Posen Branch Manager Lynn Altman noted that the library offers more than just books. You can even rent metal detectors there!
"It's totally awesome," she said of the new building. "It's bigger. More room."
She said the new space will be easier for patrons to navigate, and has access to books from all five branches, as well as libraries all over Michigan.
"In a small, rural area, people need to take advantage of it," Altman said.
She added that in addition to metal detectors, patrons can rent (for free) bread machines, electronics, board games, and more.
"It's not just books anymore," Altman said.
Alexander said people can host small parties for free in the conference room.
"They just need to call the manager and talk about potential dates, and schedule that," she said. "The only thing is, we can't have people in there selling their wares."
She said the library is seeking a donor to provide a big-screen TV for the conference room, which would allow them to have the room named in their honor. That cost would be about $1,000, Alexander said. Call her at 989-734-2477 for details.
The PIDL system encompasses five libraries and the Rogers Theater. Library locations include Rogers City, Posen, Onaway, Millersburg and Grand Lake.
"If you have a Presque Isle District Library card, it works at all five branches," Altman noted.
Alexander added that the library-owned Rogers Theater is the only theater in Presque Isle County and the surrounding areas at this time. The theater features both live productions and feature-length films.