The Alpena County George N Fletcher Public Library is thrilled to (finally) announce it will be fully open and ready to serve patrons Monday, November 15 at 9:00 am. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the community back to their library”, said Library Director Eric Magness-Eubank. “We have all waited a long time for this to be happening and I think people will be really happy with the changes we have made.” Among the changes are better climate control, lighting, seating areas, children’s and teen spaces, study rooms, and historical archives. According to Magness-Eubank, “we put a 21st-century library into the shell of a 20th-century building. Once you come in, it will seem like a brand-new library but at a fraction of the cost.” The renovation began in September 2020, and while there are still some items that are being finished, was largely complete in September 2021. The library operated out of a temporary facility at the Bear Pointe Plaza until moving back into the renovated space in September. “Moving the Library and getting it fully ready for service has taken longer than expected. We are eager to stop moving things around and start to help patrons instead.”

The Library will be offering curbside and locker pickup services on November 8 and will be fully open on the 15th. Magness-Eubank added, “We appreciate how patient the community has been with us. We are grateful for everyone’s support. The library staff has been working extremely hard to open as soon as possible. Moving and sorting books and getting them ready for patrons to use is a hard, heavy, time-consuming chore. They are really looking forward to the finish line.”