Mission

Spring Lake District Library seeks to connect and strengthen our community through a welcoming environment open to everyone, providing access to a wide variety of materials and experiences.

spring lake village signOn April 2, 1849, twelve years after Michigan became a state, the Spring Lake Township Board was organized. At that time they voted to spend $50 to create a public library to be housed in the Township Clerk’s office which was in his home. After this initial outlay, $25 per year was allotted to the library for the purchase of new books.

When the Spring Lake Village Hall was built in 1936, one room was set aside for the library, which served the community for twenty-eight years. In 1965 the library moved into the newly completed Spring Lake Township Hall building. At that time the collection had grown to 5,400 volumes.
ellipseIn 1970 the Spring Lake Township Board agreed to budget funds each year to be saved for building a new library in the future. Late in 1975 the property on the corner of Church and Exchange was purchased. A new building was constructed, and on June 18, 1977, the Warner Baird Library was dedicated. The realization of the dream of a new library building was made possible in part with the support of Warner and Julia Baird, residents of the community since 1919.

On May 2, 1994, the Village of Spring Lake and Spring Lake Township signed an agreement to create the Spring Lake District Library to serve both the Village and the Township. In 2001 residents of the district approved the building of a new library, and construction began in May 2002.  The Spring Lake District Library building was completed in April 2003 and dedicated on May 17, 2003.

Volunteer

We occasionally have opportunities for volunteering at the library.

Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older.  To apply, pick up a volunteer application at the checkout desk and fill it out or click here to fill out an online form.

If you are selected for a volunteer opportunity, we will contact you to see if you still have interest.

Prior to starting any volunteer work at the library, a background check (for those 18+) and a signed release are required.

Donations

General Donation

Your tax-deductible contributions help support library collections, programs, and services.

Endowments

Spring Lake District Library has two separate endowment funds, both of which are managed by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF).  Online contributions may be given.

  • Spring Lake District Library Endowment Fund – used for any purpose approved by the library board.
  • Spring Lake District Library Restricted Endowment Fund – used to provide additional library materials.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to either of Spring Lake District Library’s endowment funds, you may donate online or send your donation to:

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
1 South Harbor Drive
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Telephone:  616.842.6378
Website:  www.ghacf.org

Gifts/Memorial Donations

Memorial donations or gifts in honor of someone are welcomed by the library. If you’d like to honor that special person in this way, contact us at 616.846.5770.

Materials

Click here for information on what to donate to the library.

Items not added to the library’s collection may be sold, and the funds used to support youth programs and reading programs such as Summer Reading, Blizzard of Books, and other library activities.

Donor Tree

Individuals, businesses, and organizations that donate $500 or more to the library may request a permanent engraved leaf on the donor tree in our lobby in recognition of their gift.