Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Ironwood Carnegie Library director Lynne Wiercinski, right, talks about the original plans for the library's community center grant application at an informational meeting held at the library Monday afternoon. From left are library board trustee Pam Johnson, Ironwood Mayor and board member Kim Corcoran, and board vice-president Wendy Hicks.
By MEGAN HUGHES
Ironwood - The Ironwood Carnegie Library is planning for a new future after receiving a $750,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
The library had applied for a $2.5 million grant in 2023, according to library director Lynne Wiercinski, with plans to add approximately 5,000 square feet to the library.
The state received far more applications than it had planned, said Wiercinski, resulting in more grants being distributed, but with lower amounts of funds for each, and with this change, so to are the Carnegie's plans for the funds.
At an informational meeting held Monday at the library, Wiercinski said the library is looking into a variety of opportunities with assistance from the state, in how it can best use the funds, and is looking for community input about what the library should prioritize.
She said the library is considering several options, including but not limited to, adding a smaller addition compared to original plan, revamping the current library space, or the potential of moving to a larger space.
"We are looking at costs for all of those things right now," said Wiercinski. "Getting some cost estimates for an addition, for a renovation, or for buying a new space and renovating that."
Wiercinski said that a big part of it is making sure whatever they do is something they can sustain into the future.
"That's the big thing, whatever we do, not just can we afford to do it now, but can we also afford to sustain it," she said. "We have to dream big, but have a reality base, too; and that is what our board is aiming to do."
The library was built in 1901. A renovation added a main-level restroom, allowing it to be easily accessed by those with mobility issues.
Wiercinski said she has reached out to a number of area organizations to gather input about what the library should prioritize in any upgrades they do. She heard how important both improving youth and older adult programming is to the community.
Library officials are looking for further community input for these projects. For more information, contact the library at 906-932-0203.
