Spring Lake District Library Announces
Renovation Project Funded by Generous Donor
April 22, 2025
Spring Lake, MI – The Spring Lake District Library today launched a transformative renovation project, funded by a $500,000 donation from Fred Harring, a former Spring Lake resident and committed supporter of the town and its library in honor of his late father, Gerard F. Harring.
The gift will facilitate the construction of a new indoor/outdoor programming space as well as a thoughtful redesign of the library’s parking area and landscaping. The addition will provide a dynamic space for a variety of community activities, while the external work will reimagine the library’s landscape to address overgrown areas and enhance the grounds’ overall aesthetic.
Construction of the new programming space, designed to support both educational and senior-focused activities, will ensure that the library remains a hub for lifelong engagement and learning. The facility will be located to the west of the front lobby, enclosing the existing drive-up book drop to create a new 1,200-square-foot programming space opening up into a new 700-square-foot patio accessible from the parking lot.
The indoor/outdoor nature of the space will provide the flexibility necessary to enable year-round programming in a welcoming environment for patrons of all ages to enjoy. The exterior of the building will now be accessible and possess a more inviting appearance, with a new drive-up book drop, improved bike parking and greenspace for patrons to enjoy, offering a peaceful environment for reading, relaxation and community gathering.
Fred grew up in Spring Lake and frequented the library in his early years. Although he is now based in the Pacific Northwest as the General Counsel for a major global financial services firm, Fred says that the Spring Lake Library played a vital role in his development. “I would idle away so many afternoons in the library, devouring books, newspapers and magazines and, most of all, learning and dreaming about the almost limitless exciting things the world had to offer,” he said. “But this place wasn’t just important to me and my 6 siblings,” he said. “It was a lifeline for my father. Until he died a few years ago at the age of 93, my dad would come here nearly every single day. It centered him – and served as an anchor for his unending belief that we can all continue to learn and grow throughout our lives.”
Staff members recalled that Gerard would attend nearly every adult program and share his opinions – always with enthusiasm. The donation is made in Gerard’s honor on what would have been his 100th birthday this month.
Fred, however, is clear that the purpose of the gift is not solely to celebrate his family’s connection to Spring Lake but, rather, to stress the important role of libraries in our society. “That’s why I’m so pleased to be able to support not only a place that meant so much to my family but also to help ensure that it can continue to touch so many others the way it did for us.
“Libraries are the most democratic institutions we have. They’re a font of knowledge, ideas and community. They welcome everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs, status or achievements. That is something remarkable to celebrate and critical to preserve.”
“Maggie McKeithan is an outstanding Library Director and it is an honor to be able to assist her and her team with their important work. I’m also grateful to Chris Riker of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation for all his efforts to make this happen.”
McKeithan said Harring’s gift would make a lasting impact on the library and the Spring Lake community. “We are incredibly grateful for Fred, whose passion for libraries is helping us make a transformative change,” she said. “This new addition will not only expand our ability to host more community programming but will also rejuvenate our outdoor spaces, ensuring our library remains a beautiful and functional destination for years to come.”
“Last year, we renovated the interior of the library to address important community needs,” said Mary Eagin, Library Board President and long-time Board Member. “We have seen the public embrace the changes with open arms – and we are excited to see their response to the improvements that this gift will enable us to make.”
Construction is expected to begin in October 2025. Since the renovation project will be largely on the exterior of the building, disruption to daily library operations is expected to be limited, and the library expects to maintain regular services, including normal opening hours and programming for all ages, throughout the process.
The Spring Lake District Library is committed to serving the community and providing resources that inspire lifelong learning, connection, and creativity. If you’d like to play a part in the future of the library, consider donating to the ongoing renovation fund or the endowment fund at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
Top Things to Know
What will the new space be used for?
This new 1200-square-foot room will be used for programming and community use. Right now, we have small rooms that fit anywhere from 4 people to 15 people and we have our big programming room that fits 75-100 people. This new space will fit 25 to 40 people comfortably, so it will be a good middle-sized space. We will host library programs in the space, like classes, lectures, crafts, and activities. It will also be available for community group bookings. The new room will open up to a 600-square-foot patio that will have tables and chairs for studying or can be cleared for activities.
How much will this cost?
We are still in the planning stages, so we don’t have an exact number yet. We estimate the project will be under $800,000 – about $500,000 for the building project and $200,000-$300,000 for landscaping and parking lot changes.
How will this be paid for?
In 2024, we were approached by a donor who asked us to dream big. Fred Harring, who grew up in Spring Lake, has donated $500,000 for the building project piece. The landscaping and parking lot changes will be another $200,000-$300,000. We intend to apply for grants and seek donations to assist.
Ways to Give:
1. Give online at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation to the Spring Lake District Library Renovation Fund.
2. Write a check made out to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and write “SLDL Renovation Fund” in the memo.
Mail to:
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
6 Sherman Ave
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Or, donate in person at the library.
Why didn’t you do this project last year with the Refresh project?
The Refresh Project was entirely focused on the inside of the building. Our scope was limited (as was our budget) to changing the inside to fit the current needs of our patrons. Our original intention was always to make landscaping changes to the outside in a separate project at a later date, because we knew our hands were already full with the inside. The Refresh was completed in April 2024 and we expected to re-group and think about what was next. We did not expect our generous donor, Fred Harring, to call us out of the blue in Summer 2024 and ask what we could do if we were given more funds to dream big. From his phone call, we evaluated our needs and determined that the most transformative impact his donation could make would be to build on a mid-sized programming space that will be used for years to come.
Are you taking down any trees?
Yes, all of the large pine trees by the entrances in the parking lot will be coming down. They have outgrown the space they are in and limit the view when turning out of our parking lot. However, we will be replacing them with trees that are more suited for the space that can grow up instead of out. This will make room to add needed parking, as well. We also have several trees with berries that drop right on the sidewalk and create a tripping hazard. We will be replacing those trees with similar trees that do not have berries.
Will we lose parking spaces?
No, but the parking lot will look different. We will lose the 4 spots in front of the current drive through, and those will turn into our new drive through. However, we will add 8 spots in the SE corner where the big pine trees currently are, so we will actually have 4 more spots than we did before.
Where will the book drop go?
The book drop will be relocated to the outside of the new room. The turn radius will be easier to get in and out of than our current book drop. You can see a great visuals in the renderings.
Will there be room for bikes?
Yes. We will add some bike parking next to the front door, so if you’re just running in and out, it’s convenient. We will also keep the bike parking at the East parking lot entrance. It is also in our tentative plans to add a bike repair station, with tools for easy fixes.
When will this happen?
We are still in the planning stages, but our goal is to start construction in October 2025. We do not have a timeline for finishing yet. We will update this section when we have more information.
Will you need to close the library during construction?
Since most of the work is happening outside the current building, we expect that the library will be open for the majority of construction. It is likely that we will have less parking for the duration of the project, since they will section off part of the parking lot for construction equipment and building. At some point, we may also have to enter the library through a different entrance as they add a door from the new space into the lobby of the library. There may be days when the library will have to be closed, but we don’t know how many days yet. For example, when they have to connect the electrical, it’s likely that we will need to be closed while they do that.
Will I have a chance to see the plans and ask questions?
Yes, we will have several community feedback sessions where you can see our plans and offer feedback. The dates have not been selected yet, but we will publicize them in the library, on our website calendar, and in our monthly newsletter when we have them.
Can anyone make a large donation and have something more done for the library?
Yes! We always welcome donations of any size and we’re always thinking about what could come next for the library. The challenge is to find a project that both meets the donor’s expectations and fits with our community needs. At the end of the day, we want donors to feel good about the project they’re funding and we want to feel good that the donation will be well-received and well-used by our community.
Donations over $500 will get special recognition in the form of an engraved leaf on the donor tree in the library lobby in the donor’s name or in memory of a loved one.
- $500 to $1,999 – Green Leaf
- $2,000 to $4,999 – Bronze Leaf
- $5,000 and above – Platinum Leaf