Goodrich Library

Library Address - Get Driving Directions
10237 Hegel Road
Goodrich, MI 48438
Phone: 810-636-2489

Branch Hours
Mon-Wed: 12pm-8pm
Thurs: 10am-6pm
Fri, Sat: 9am-5pm
Sun: Closed

Events @ the Goodrich Library

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Branch History - by Kara Kvasnicka

As GDL's Goodrich Branch Librarian, I have the privilege of working in one of the system's libraries located in an historic building that once played a much different but equally vital role in its community.

Indeed, since I began managing the branch in 2002, the question patrons most often ask me is "What was this building before it became a library?" Intrigued by its faded red-brick exterior along with its interior's high ceiling and tall windows with wide, decorative moldings, they know it must have existed long before the library moved into it in 1980.

The answer to this frequent query is etched into a cement plaque above the front entrance to the library and confirmed by the Goodrich/Atlas Historical Society's chronicle of Goodrich Village and encompassing Atlas Township entitled The Passage of Time: 1836-2002 History of Atlas Township. Built in 1893, the graceful Victorian structure was originally the Atlas Town Hall.

Former Goodrich resident Carrie Horton, who played the piano during silent movie showings at the Hall, describes its importance to the village in the historical society's book.

It was used, Horton says, "for town meetings, conventions, as a voting place, plays, home talent shows, school programs and political debates." It would be "packed" for the Village's annual spring meetings, she adds, with residents whose "patriotism and community spirit ran high" and who "considered it a privilege to vote."

Residents can still attend story hours and various other GDL-sponsored programs throughout the year in the community room on the building's second floor. But, the first floor is now a full-service library with a multimedia collection of about 19,000 books, 1,500 DVDs, 200 musical compact discs, 400 audio books and several magazines. Smaller than that of most GDL branches, this collection would nevertheless be considered a feat of wonder by the 21 pioneer women who opened the first library in Goodrich in 1877. According to the historical society, they started with just six books.

The library also provides access to GDL's wireless computer network and has three public access computers equipped with GDL's high-speed Internet connection and popular computer programs like Microsoft Office Suite. In addition, it has one public access computer for library catalog browsing only, a copy machine and a fax machine.

The library also has a proactive Friends group, initially formed in 1977 to spearhead the effort to renovate the Hall so that the library could relocate into it from the much smaller building down the street which is now the historical society's museum.

The Friends hold book sales to raise money for new library furnishings and other improvements. In recent years, they have donated from the proceeds of their sales several new custom-built shelving units to enable the library to add more books and to begin stocking DVDs.

At the time of the historical society's publication, the Friends were "especially proud of the library's solid oak furnishings crafted locally," and all of the book shelves they have since donated have been specifically designed to match them.

The Goodrich Branch is open from 12 pm to 8 pm Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 6 pm on Thursday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday. The current staff does not offer any of the entertainments you might have found in the building during its Town Hall days, but we are always happy to recommend a good book to read. We are also glad to help you use our print and online resources to find any information you require.