New renovations of the Spring Lake District Library have just finished. However, it didnt take long for a new project to start.
The Spring Lake District Library received a donation of $500,000 from Fred Harring, a former Spring Lake resident. The donation was made in honor of his late father, Gerard F. Harring.
The library is planning to break ground this October on the project. The money from the donation is being used to create a new indoor and outdoor programming area. Where the current drive-through book drop-off is located is where the new outdoor space will be located.
There will also be some updates to the parking lot and landscaping. The book drop-off is being moved to a new location and there will be the addition of four new parking spaces and a place to park bikes.
The donation means a lot to Harring, not only to honor his father, who was an avid user of the library’s programs for many years, but also to stress the importance of a library in a community.
“Libraries are the most democratic institutions we have. They’re a font of knowledge, ideas and community. They welcome everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs, status or achievements. That is something remarkable to celebrate and critical to preserve,” stated Harring on the SLDL’s website.
The building updates will take an estimated $500,000-$800,000. The parking and landscaping is estimated to cost $200,000-$300,000. Part of which will be covered by the donation, and the other part of the cost by applying for grants and seeking other donations.
