The History of the Genesee District Library

The Beginnings: 1942-1949
The Growth Years: 1950-1978
District Formation: 1979-1996
Excellence: 1997 - Present

The Beginnings

1942
Three people, Daisy Howard, William Webb, and Marian Packard, met to work to organize a County Library in Genesee County.

May 14, 1942, a citizen's committee met to discuss the possibility of a County Library.

November 12, 1942, the first meeting of the Genesee County Library Board was held.

1943
March 1, 1943, the first librarian, Dorothy Olmstead, was hired.

The first library Headquarters was in room 513 of the County Court House.

June 25, 1943, the first bookmobile operation began with a gift of Miss Marion Packard of a panel truck.

A "station" was set up in Rankin. In June 100 books were delivered to the school there, and it was open Thursday afternoons with Lois Brown and Phyllis Dean, two Junior high school girls, in charge. By fall this was converted to a school deposit. That summer, a second deposit was opened to the general public in the Atherton school, but that was generally unsuccessful.

A policy was established that the buildings, furniture, and maintenance would be supplied by the local communities; the staff, books, and supplies by the library system.

July 15, 1943, the first branch of the County Library opened in an old barber shop in the main business block of Clio. The first librarian was Miss Mabel Blackney.

October 21, 1943, the second branch opened in the Town Hall of Montrose. The first librarian was Miss Addie Reid.

The third branch opened in Mr. E.O. Atherton's general store. It was very short-lived.

By October 25, 1943, Miss Olmstead gave her first annual report to the Board. She reported that the library owned 5,853 books. Expenditures at the end of the first fiscal year were $9,455.23.

1944
January 15, 1944, the Davison Branch opened in a portion of the fire hall. It was open 14 hours per week with Mrs. Melvin Hall as Librarian.

March 14, 1944, Linden became associated with the County Library on a limited basis. It remained an independent library but the Librarian's salary and some books were supplied by the Genesee County Library.

July 12, 1944, the Burton branch opened in the Township Office. It was open 18 hours per week. Dollie Thompson was the Librarian.

November 10, 1944 - the Utley branch opened in Flint Township Hall, but was sponsored by the Community center. The Club agreed to pay half of the fuel bill for the building, and they built the book shelves. Also a committee of four volunteers staffed the library. It was open three hours a week.

The book collection had grown to 9,900 and circulation was 68,156.

1945
May 6, 1945, Hazel Felton was hired as a Professional Assistant.

September 24, 1945 a uniform wage scale was adopted by the Board ranging from .25 to .75 per hour.

1946
February 4, 1946, the Clio Library moved to Town Council Room.

1947
The first study of Genesee County Library services was prepared by Howard M. Smith in 1947 and published by the University of Michigan Institute for Human Adjustment. It was called "Library Services in Genesee," and included all libraries in the County.

1949
May 25, 1949, the Burton Library moved to a new room on the second floor of the Township Office Building.

December 1949, the first large bookmobile, GMC chassis with 179 inch wheelbase was ordered.

The Growth Years

1950
January 9, 1950, the Clio Library moved into its new location in the fire hall.

March 1950, the library started its collection of phonograph records. The initial collection of 43 records and a record player were a gift of the Child Study Forum. The collection existed until 1995.

May 9, 1950, Headquarters was moved to the basement of the Road Commission Building at 211 W. Oakley, Flint.

1951
February 6, 1951, the Beecher branch was established. Davison Library moved into a room formerly occupied by City Offices.

August 1951, the Montrose library opened in the Township Hall.

1952
August 2, 1952 Goodrich Ladies Library joined the County system. It had operated for 75 years as a subscription library.

The Genesee County Library ended the year with a book collection of 46,748 volumes and its circulation was 169,918 in the branches, and 57,073 in the schools, for a total of 226,991.

1953
June 8, 1953, a tornado destroyed the Beecher Library, including 639 Genesee County Library books and 14,000 School Library books. While the Beecher area was without a library, service was provided by the bookmobile and school deposits.

1955
February 7, 1955, Superintendent of Beecher Schools, Theodore Buell, announced that the Beecher Community Library, which was built with funds collected all over the State, would be completed by May 1. He requested that the county library keep it open to the public for twelve hours per week. Previously it had been open only four hours.

February 16, 1955, the Road Commission announced that they would no longer be able to house the Headquarters library after the end of the year.

July 28, 1955, the Board agreed to lease for 99 years the property on which the new Library Headquarters was to be built.

October 4, 1955, the Mt. Morris branch of the County Library system opened.

1956
January 31, 1956, there was a fire in the building that housed the Davison Library. On February 9, 1956, the library was closed by the State Fire Marshall.

February 7, 1956, the move into the new Headquarters building at G-4195 W. Pasadena, in Flint Township, began.

February 16, 1956, the Clio Area School Board petitioned the County Library to move the Clio branch into the school library, and on May 6 the library board approved the concept.

1957
May 24, 1957 the Mt. Morris library moved to new quarters. A new wing was built onto the City Hall. It was built by the Lion's Club and furnished by the Thursday Study Club.

1958
August 4, 1958, the Forest Township/Otisville Branch opened. It was open 18 hours per week.

January 2, 1958, Davison re-opened in a new building built by volunteers.

1960
October 15, 1960, the Johnson Memorial Library opened in Genesee Township. The old township hall was renovated for use as a library.

1961
August 17, 1961, the Old Linden Mill was dedicated as a Library and Civic Center and in September 1, 1961, the Linden Library became a branch of the County Library.

1962
July 1962, the Burton Memorial Library was opened. It was located in the building previously occupied by the Township which was moved to a site on the corner of Atherton and Center Roads.

1965
The Michael H. Hamady Branch was opened in Mt. Morris Township. At that time, the Headquarters branch stopped serving the public.

1966
August 8, 1966, the Clio Library closed because the school was unable to provide space any longer.

September 14, 1966, the Flushing Library joined the County Library System. The building was shared with the City Offices.

1967
January 1, 1967, the Grand Blanc Library joined the system. It was housed in the old Township offices on Grand Blanc Road.

Summer 1967, the Clio Library reopened in an old church building at 305 New Street.

February 14, 1967, the A.J. Phillips Library in Fenton became a branch of the County Library.

1968
March 1968, the Davison library moved into the new larger building of approximately 8,100 square feet.

June 6, 1968, the Beecher school administrative offices took over the building for office space closing the Beecher Community Library.

1969
The last local governmental library joined the County system. The Swartz Creek Library became part of the County system and opened a branch in the rear of a hardware store.

October 12, 1969, the Mt. Morris Branch moved to new quarters in the Old Bank Building at Saginaw and Genesee Street. It was temporarily moved to St. Mary's School while the bank building was being renovated.

January 8, 1969, the Utley Library closed because the building was condemned. The building was later moved to Crossroads Village.

1973
August 5, 1973, the new McFarlen Library in Grand Blanc was dedicated. It contains approximately 12,500 square feet. The community room is used by community groups as well as the library.

1974
The Genesee County Library was in severe financial trouble. Merger talks between the Directors of Flint Public and the County Library System began.

1975
August 21, 1975, the Genesee County Library Board selected SUA, Incorporated to do a study of library service in the county.

1976
April 22, 1976, the Genesee County Library Board accepted the final report of SUA. This report recommended that the two library systems be merged.

1977
Internal studies were conducted to elaborate on the SUA report and discussions continue. On March 17, a steering committee was authorized by the County Library Board and Richard Sweeney, the Genesee County Library Director, and Ransom Richardson, the Flint Public Library Director, were authorized to begin formation of the committee.

The Hamady Library was closed because the school system had leased the building to another agency.

The Flint Township Library was opened in a room to the rear of the Township Offices in Flint Township.

1978
The Clio Library moved into the old Pine Run School which was totally renovated. The library occupies the first floor, and the Sr. Citizen Center, the second floor.

Genesee District Library Formed

1979
Political support for the merger of the two systems waned. On April 24, 1978, the Commissioners agreed to set a Library millage election on August 7. The Commissioners agreed on June 12 to a compromise plan by Commissioner Charles Oliver to form a District Library between Genesee County and Grand Blanc Township. A .7 mill property tax would be levied throughout the County, and forty percent of that .7 would go toward the operation of the Flint Public Library.

After a vigorous election campaign the District Library was approved by the voters on August 7, 1979 to be effective January 1, 1980.

The Baker Park Library was opened. The building is shared with the Senior citizens. The lobby and restroom area are common areas for both agencies. The Bristol Road branch above the fire hall in Burton was closed.

1980
November 4, 1980, an advisory question was put to the voters as provided for in the 1979 election. The measure was approved, but by this time both library systems had lost interest and the merger did not take place.

Flint Township built a combined Senior Citizens' Activity Center and Library the McCarty Library. It was named for Katy McCarty who had been a librarian with the system, and later became the prime advocate for a new library.

The Atlas Township Hall was renovated in Goodrich and became the Goodrich Lyceum (Library) The previous site, less than a block away, is the museum.

1981
December 12, 1980, Edward Whittaker was hired as the Library Director. December 8, 1981, a new building housing a library and a Senior Citizen Activity Center was opened, in Swartz Creek, named the Perkins Library. The library was named for Stan Perkins who donated the land and has been an avid library supporter. The building is approximately 4,500 square feet and is shared with the Senior Citizen activity center.

The Library's millage was up for renewal in 1981. On August 4, the millage was renewed for six years, by a larger margin than in 1979.

Through collaboration with Mott Community College, Mott Telecourses were provided in some branches of Genesee District Library.

The first union catalog for the cooperative was established, which included all of the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative member libraries card catalogs on microfilm so it was machine readable.

1982
January 1, 1982, M. Gamble became Executive Director.

Genesee Township had an addition built which nearly doubled its size.

During 1982 work went forward on acquiring a computer operating system for the library. A request for proposal was written, a consultant hired, and retrospective conversion began.

Headquarters was renovated to include a computer room.

1985
The Flint and Genesee County Community Coordinated Child Care Association donated a large Toy Collection to the Davison Library. The Toy collection circulates to registered library users.

1986
The Automated Acquisitions system was installed during the fall of 1985, and became operational on January 1, 1986. This system provided much better budget control.

March 1, the Best Seller Branch concept was established. All books that appeared on the New York Times bestseller list were purchased in sufficient copies to the meet the demand and assigned to the Best Seller Branch. Books remained assigned to the Best Seller Branch until they went off the New York Times bestseller list and all holds had been filled. They were then reassigned to other branches.

May, Charles Arvin developed a new classification scheme for the genealogy collection.

1987
Wyman Jennings donated the money to build the Jennings Memorial Library in Montrose. This building is approximately 4,000 square feet.

The old post office in Fenton was totally renovated allowing approximately 3,800 square feet of library space on the main floor. The basement is primarily meeting rooms and storage, but plans to renovate it as a children's area have been discussed.

A ten year millage renewal was favorably approved by the voters.

1988
A new lighted, exterior sign was added to Headquarters.

An addition of approximately 800 square feet was added as a quiet area to the Flint Township McCarty Libarary by the Township.

1989
The Davison Library underwent renovation and carpeting which meant that all the books and stacks were moved to a moving van until the renovation was finished.

Via a Michigan Equity program grant, the Linden Library was carpeted, painted, air-conditioned and rewired.

1991
The City and Township of Flushing purchased an empty manufacturing plant and renovated part of it as a library and part of it as a community center which is used almost exclusively by the Senior Citizens.

1992
FALCON was officially established resulting in Genesee District Library combined databases and service power with the Baker College campuses, GMI-Engineering and Management Institute, and Mott Community College. With the cooperation of these institutions, patrons have access to these libraries and their holding in each library and from their homes or offices through their personal computers.

1994
The Beecher School system purchased an empty doctors office building and renovated it. The basement (walk-in level) is used as a public library. The top floor is used as the school's math and technology center.

The Genesee District Library became a charter member of the newly founded Genesee Free-Net.

Through a grant from the Community Stabilization and Revitalization Project, and with the Flint Executive Service Corps hired as consultants, the Strategic Planning process was begun.

The Information Access Product Magazine ASAP Select was added to the Dynix terminals for GDL branches and for dial-up users. This system provides a complete indexing to more than 230 general interest periodicals and the full text of 100 of the most requested titles.

The completion of the Headquarter's renovation project was celebrated with a Grand Opening celebration with the receipt of an LSCA grant for $101,250.

Ten library staff members took part in a grant project for internet training.

1995
With help from a federal Library Services and Construction Act grand, the City of Burton built an addition on the Burton Memorial Library doubling its size.

1996
The Forest Township Library was moved to a renovated motorcycle repair shop building on the main street of Otisville. It is a beautiful building and is shared with the Museum as a public area for them to display materials.

The Genesee District Library Board agreed to upgrade all dumb terminals to PC's and FALCON agreed to upgrade the telecommunication system

Excellence

1997
A millage election on August 7 gave Genesee District Library a renewal of its .7 mill funding. A .1 mill increase was also adopted at this time. This election was solely for the support of Genesee District Library. The electors were residents of Genesee County outside the city of Flint.

1998
Valerie McNiff was appointed Interim Director on November 1. Marian Gamble retired as Executive Director as of October 31. Ms. McNiff was named Executive Director in December.

The Gaines Station Library opened in October. It is the 18th library in the system. Beverly Wallace is the librarian.

1999
The Fenton Children's Center opened in April. The Grand Opening was on April 24. The Gaines Station Library Grand Opening was on May 22. The Robert T. Bolo, Jr. Business Center at the Grand Blanc McFarlen Library opened November 7.

2000
The Clio Area Library received new carpeting in February and March. The library was also painted.

The Fenton A. J. Phillips Business Center was opened in February.

Montrose Jennings Memorial, Clio Area, Baker Park. Libraries were re-carpeted and painted. Clio added automatic sliding doors.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded $312,000 to GDL to add computers and an eleven-station lab at the Montrose Jennings Memorial Library.

GTE Literacy Grant awarded to GDL. Parent-Child Workshops were the first project.

2001
Headquarters was remodeled in April and May.

GDL was a "Best of Show" winner at the American Library Association Annual Conference for the Special Events/Programs category.

The GDL website was completely redesigned in 2001.

Baker Park was redecorated and renovated by the City of Burton.

The GDL mascot Book Mouse joined the system. Hundreds of preschool children have visited with him, and he appeared in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Plans were formulated for a Genesee Valley location.

Self check out units were installed at the Flushing Area and Grand Blanc McFarlen Libraries.

Summer Reading Club participants received 1200 free books.

The GDL logo was updated.

2002
The first Black History Award Brunch was held on February 16 at the Genesys Athletic Club.

The Fenton A.J. Phillips Library was renamed the Jack R. Winegarden Library.

Chairman Jack R. Winegarden passed away in March. He had been chair of the GDL Board of Trustees since its beginnings, and while it was a county system. David Harshfield was elected Chair.

Merger talks were suspended when Flint District Library won its millage election.

The Genesee Valley Location opened on June 1.

A new partnership with Crossroads Village brought GDL new contacts with patrons during the Halloween Ghosts and Goodies and Christmas at Crossroads events. A Huckleberry Express Hogwarts Day on November 16 was a fun event too.

GDL receive the State Librarian's Award for Excellence on October 31.

2003
GDL was awarded the 2003 John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award at the American Library Association Mid-Winter Conference for "opening a 3,800 square foot demonstration location inside a busy shopping center to take their services to the people."

The Beecher Community Library closed in December due to a Beecher Community Schools financial crisis.

2004
GDL withdrew from FALCON and formed its own IT department.

A new automated circulation system was installed in November. The system is from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.

Many branches received new furniture and other upgrades.

GDL became the first Michigan library to receive the Library of Michigan's Quality Service Audit Checklist--Essential Level.

Authors Ken Follett and Harlan Coban did author talks.

2005
An initiative to serve teens brought about creating a teen collection in each library and employing a Teen Librarian for the system.

The Author series continued. A Special Programs Cooridinator was employed to plan the author events and other special events. Alexander McCall Smith, Kimberla Roby, Sara Paretsky visited.

The first GDL libraries became WiFi enabled.

GDL became a member of MeLCat.

2006
Valerie McNiff retired. Carolyn Nash became the Executive Director.

An online newsletter was started.

Plans for the re-opening of the Vera B. Rison Library in the Beecher area were made.

Authors Amy Tan and David Balducci visited Genesee District Library this year.

All libraries became WiFi enabled.

2007
The Vera R. Rison Library in Beecher was reopened in March.

Susan Taylor was the keynote speaker at the Black History Month Awards Brunch.

Authors John Grogan and Sandra Brown visited the Genesee District Library this year.

The GDL millage renewal was passed in May. This millage will last for 10 years.

The TumbleTalking Books was added to our database subscriptions. It is a collection of audio books for children.

Early literacy workstations were added to several branches. They have educational software for kids of all ages loaded on it.

WinWay Resume Builder became available on all public access computers.

The Big Bag of Books program became a real tool for book discussion groups throughout the county.

2008
The GDL received a grant for the Big Read and held many programs in April around the book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.

The Genesee District Library opened the Digital Library (http://digital.thegdl.org) on June 16th, bringing 24/7 access to electronic materials to our patrons via OverDrive.

The Online Book Club and the Next Good Book were added to the databases available for patrons anywhere, anytime.

The first Book Festival was held to give our local authors a venue to publicize and sell their books.

Dr. Benjamin Carson was the keynote speaker at the Black History Month Awards Brunch.

New patron management software was added to the system.

Glenn Cotton was elected Chairman of the GDL Board of Trustees.

GDL became the sole sponsor of the Talking Book Center replacing the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative

ENCORE catalog search was installed.

A Let's Talk About It grant from ALA allowed GDL to host a Jewish Book Discussion series.

Dr. Kaled Hosseini was a speaker at a Meet the Author event with Mott Community College Political Science Lecturer Paul Rozycki as moderator.

A Fall Festival was held at Headquarters for the first time featuring the Digital Bookmobile from OverDrive.

2009

Ruby Dee was keynote speaker at the Black History Month Awards Brunch.

Juan Williams spoke at a Meet the Author night.

A computer lab was installed at Headquarters.

A Big Read grant was awarded to GDL from NEA for Tom Sawyer. Events will take place in 2010.

Foreclosure packets were put together and distributed to the branches. These included information gathered mostly locally for those facing this crisis.

The first Book Club Summit was held for book club members.