Library Closed For Construction

July 20th – Completion

The library will be closed starting July 20th. The Houghton Lake Community Schools will be renovating the parking lot. The building will be inaccessible during this time. Please do not attempt to access the building or return materials, as the area will be a hazardous construction site.

No materials will be due during this time.

All library programing from July 20 – August 1 is cancelled.

Summer Reading Bingo sheets may be returned until August 8.

The library will reopen when access to the building has been restored and it is safe to do so. This depends on the pace of progress of the construction crews. We anticipate this will take up to two weeks.

Please check our website, Facebook page, or call (989.366.9230) for any updates. We apologize for the inconvenience!

FAQ

Q: Why did the library have to be closed? Couldn’t you still be open?

A: There were a few factors that ultimately led to the decision to be closed during this time. Most important was safety. During this construction, the building is not accessible by vehicle. Construction crews instructed us that no vehicles or people should be present. Crews would be concentrated on their tasks, and it would be dangerous for patrons to be walking around the parking lot while they were working. At times, the building itself would be challenging or dangerous to enter, as there was a very large gap at the entryway after the old lot material had been removed. In addition, during some stages, the area itself would be highly unpleasant to be around. The milling and compacting process is extremely loud, dusty, and produces very intense vibrations (enough to potentially knock items off walls and shelves) . Given all of these issues, we felt it best for the safety of the community to be closed.

Q: When will you reopen?

A: We will reopen as soon as we’re given the green light it is safe to do so. We’re hoping to be on track to open sometime in the first week of August. We could be opened sooner, or later, depending on the pace of progress.

Q: Can we still contact you?

A: Yes! Staff continues to respond to emails (staff@hlpl.org), social media, and voicemails (989.366.9230). Please let us know if you have any questions!

Q: I got an overdue message, what should I do?

A: Before closure, we attempted to ensure as few items as possible would be due during the closure. In some rare cases, items may still be showing as due. If you received an overdue message from us, please ignore it for now and return the item after we reopen. No fines will be charged.