Edwardsburg Branch Build

Our Next Chapter – Coming Soon

Cass District Library is partnering with local community foundation, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, on the Our Next Chapter Capital Campaign to be the fiduciary for this project. Please navigate to their website to donate today.

Donate Today

Instructions:
On the donation form, please select “Cass District Library – Edwardsburg Branch Spec. Project” as the designated fund.

Jump To Section:

Naming Opportunities

Capital Campaign

Donor Recognition

Project Info

Naming Opportunities

Facility Options

Building

$1,000,000

Community Room

$250,000

Makerspace Room

$100,000

Teen Area

$75,000

Children’s Area

Reserved

Study Rooms (2 available)

$60,000

Café

Reserved

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Reading Room Mural

Reserved

Individual Options

Technology Infrastructure

$30,000

A/V

$60,000

Pergola

Reserved

Appliances

Reserved

Flagpole

$10,000

Fireplace

Reserved

Walking Paths (5 available)

$10,000

Fencing

Reserved

Exterior Bench Seating (5)

Reserved

Shelving (15 available)

$2,500

Tree (19 available of 20)

$1,000

Naming Opportunities are subject to Library Board Approval

Donate Today

Capital Campaign

Paid Project Costs

Land Purchase

$276,695

Professional Services

$254,252

Administrative Fees

(insurance, legal fees, permits, testing, etc.)

$150,570

Paid by CDL (with funds reserved for capital improvements

$687,517

Outstanding project Costs

Construction

$4,599,500

FF&E

$710,614

Landscaping

$125,000

Remaining Professional Services

$154,650

$5,589,764

CDL Additional Cash Contribution

($350,000)

CDL Bond Proceeds

($4,739,764)

Total Financing Needed

$500,000

Donate Today

Donor recognition

Cass District Library and the Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following donors to the Edwardsburg Our Next Chapter Capital Campaign

Abtrex Industries Inc.

Anonymous

Edward & Mary Bessinger

Buzz & Darlene Calvert

Cleaver, Dobrich, Deats, Maurice, and Sheffer Families

David & Teresa Davis

Barbara & Edward Gordon

Joe & Roxanne Gross

Theda Hack

Christine Kralovansky

The Marcellus News

Patricia Mercer

Midwest Energy and Communications

Tammy Niemier

Tabitha & Phillip Schafer

Jeffrey & Tina VanBelle

Kathryn Anne Kinnucan – Welsch

Vici Will

Donate Today

Project Information

Edwardsburg Branch History
Our Humble Beginnings
1932

The library begins under the leadership of Mrs. R.V. Woods, as a class project of the 1932 senior class of the Presbyterian Church school. The library is comprised of 40 books housed in the church basement.

1934

A women’s group of the Presbyterian Church, led by Mrs. J.M. Wendt revives the project. The library is moved to a small space in the village hall and is open two days a week. A collection of books is circulated from the State of Michigan Library.

1938

Seeing the need and community support of the library, Ontwa Township voted to give $100 for the support of the library and moved it to a room next to the Post Office. With WPA funds, librarian Mrs. Glendora Beals was hired. The library was open four afternoons and one evening per week, with a storytime for children on Saturdays.

1943

The Edwardsburg Library was invited to combine with newly formed Cass County Library, as a branch. Mrs. Bertha Williams was appointed as branch librarian.

1945

The abandoned Scout building is moved from the school grounds to the village park. $2,000 was raised by Edwardsburg residents to install plumbing, heat, and electricity.

1946

The new Edwardsburg Branch library opens in the Scout building with a lease from the Village for 99 years. Support from the Village of Edwardsburg continues with library services increasing with the new space.
1949

With a building of its own, the library is able to offer more children’s programs and new books for circulation. Over a dozen organizations and groups use the library for meetings.

1953

Circulation is at 7,563 materials a year. The library begins children’s programs for preschoolers under librarian Mrs. Grace Thatcher, who had a special way with children.

1955

With the appointment of Miss. Marjorie Silver (Federowski) as head librarian of Cass County Library, the Edwardsburg Branch receives valuable guidance and assistance, increasing circulation and services dramatically.

1963

Circulation and foot traffic have grown significantly. Reports show that one book is taken out every six minutes of time open to the public. The branch serves 440 adults and 1,028 children.

1966-68

Funds are raised from the Edwardsburg community to add an addition on to the old Scout building and remodel the interior to match the new addition. This addition nearly doubles the space of the library. Circulation has nearly doubled with 24,500 books projected to circulate in 1968.

1995-96

Renovations and an addition are added totaling the square footage of the library to be 3,295 square feet. This allows more space for programs and books to be available for Edwardsburg residents.
Community Growth Stretches Services

Edwardsburg Branch Library has experienced remarkable growth in circulation, programming and foot traffic. As the vibrant Edwardsburg area continues to expand, our expectations of our library patrons are also on the rise, reflecting the growing needs of our dynamic community. The current 3,295 square foot space of the library is unable to keep pace and requires expansion.
Five Year Usage Statistics of the Edwardsburg Branch

Five Year Usage Statistics

2019-2023

147,984

Print Materials Circulated

6,781

Patrons Attended

515

Programs

87,165

Branch Visits

430

Meetings Held

11,985

Patrons Used Computers
New Branch Solutions
Ample parking for foot traffic, programs and events.

Dedicated spaces for teens, children and programming.

New technology and resources available to patrons.

The Design

Cass District Library considered library best practices, sustainability, and community requests when designing the new Edwardsburg Branch Library. Nearing approximately 9,500 square feet, the new branch library will be almost three times larger than the current branch.
Features

The new Edwardsburg Branch Library will have exciting features that have been designed with the community in mind:
ADA accessibility standards

Ample parking

Café/lounge area

Children’s area

Drive-up drop box

Family bathroom

Fireplace

Large multipurpose room

Makerspace

Private meeting rooms

Teen area

Walking paths
Pictured is the existing branch area overlaid on the proposed branch.
New Dedicated Spaces

Teen Area

A dedicated area for teens is housed near the circulation desk, complete with space for after-school study and gaming computers.

Makerspace

Experience innovative library programming within the state-of-the-art makerspace. With well-lit interiors and polished concrete floors, a variety of art and STEM- inspired classes curated for all age groups await, promising an unmissable opportunity.

Children’s Area

A whimsical children’s area promotes interactive play and will be sure to continue to nurture a love for reading in Edwardsburg’s youngest residents. Tucked in the back is a family bathroom which will easily accommodate strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs.

“We love our library and are so excited for this stage in its journey.”

– Edwardsburg Library Patron

“It’s a sign of a healthy community to have a great library. Regardless of age, there’s something here for everyone.”

– Edwardsburg Library Patron

“Your library card is your oyster to the world.”

– Edwardsburg Library Patron

“Even as a small child my daughter has found her sense of community in the Edwardsburg Library.”

– Edwardsburg Library Patron

You’re Invited to Join Us as the Edwardsburg Community Prepares for

Our Next Chapter

Our library has given stories to the close-knit community of Edwardsburg for decades. Help us write a new chapter for the story of the Edwardsburg Branch Library with your generous contribution today.

Donate Today

For information about naming opportunities, please contact Library Director Christopher Korenwosky at ckorenowsky@cassdistrictlibrary.org

Project Partners

Edwardsburg Branch Build

Our Next Chapter – Coming Soon

Jump To Section:

Naming Opportunities

Facility Options

Building

Community Room

Makerspace Room

Teen Area

Children’s Area

Study Rooms (2 available)

Café

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Reading Room Mural

Individual Options

Technology Infrastructure

A/V

Pergola

Appliances

Flagpole

Fireplace

Walking Paths (5 available)

Fencing

Exterior Bench Seating (5)

Shelving (15 available)

Tree (19 available of 20)

Capital Campaign

Paid Project Costs

Land Purchase

Professional Services

Administrative Fees

$687,517

Outstanding project Costs

Construction

FF&E

Landscaping

Remaining Professional Services

$5,589,764

CDL Additional Cash Contribution

CDL Bond Proceeds

Total Financing Needed

$500,000

Donor recognition

Cass District Library and the Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following donors to the Edwardsburg Our Next Chapter Capital Campaign

Project Information

“We love our library and are so excited for this stage in its journey.”

“It’s a sign of a healthy community to have a great library. Regardless of age, there’s something here for everyone.”

“Your library card is your oyster to the world.”

“Even as a small child my daughter has found her sense of community in the Edwardsburg Library.”

You’re Invited to Join Us as the Edwardsburg Community Prepares for

Our Next Chapter

Project Partners

Main Branch

Locations

Additional Resources

Community