Munising School Public Library is the only legally established public library in Alger County and has amazing services available to all cardholders thanks to the creative and cooperative nature of its establishment as a school public library that works closely with the Alger County Library Board to provide library service countywide. Anyone who is a resident of Alger County or landowner of Alger County property is eligible for a card at MSPL.
As a combined school and public library, MSPL offers a cost-effective approach to providing high-quality library service while minimizing taxpayer burden. Multiple funding sources combine with the county library millage to fund the library, such as state-mandated penal fines, state aid (which the library has to qualify for every year), donations, school funds for student materials, expenses and in-kind services.
This cooperative model enables a first-class library experience at a fraction of the cost. For example, MSPL operates with a 0.3 millage rate compared to Marquette’s 1.8 mills, yet offers many of the exact same services.
With a collection of over 29,000 titles, MSPL provides fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, videos and periodicals for all ages. Patrons also benefit from an extensive interlibrary loan system, allowing access to nearly any printed or AV material across Michigan.
In house, there are public access computers with printing; Wi-Fi with wireless printing; genealogy resources; meeting space; digitized local newspapers; a local history collection including the Alger County Digital Archive; a Michigan nonfiction collection and a Michigan reference collection; copy, fax and scanning services; reference materials; the first U.P. seed library; a library of things; and a wealth of informational resources available from a talented, well-educated, friendly state-certified library staff.
The library serves as an active hub for community events and cultural programming. Visitors can enjoy author talks, poetry readings, film screenings, book clubs, concerts, art shows and special collection displays. It’s also a center for civic dialogue, hosting meetings and public forums with local and state leaders.
For children, MSPL offers weekly story time, an annual summer reading program and the milestone-rich 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative. Historical lectures and tech tutorials take place regularly, ensuring patrons know how to make the most of the library’s resources — both physical and digital.
The MSPL website at msplonline. org is loaded with information for all ages and includes wonderful links for students and adult researchers alike. You can search the entire catalog of library- owned materials, place holds, renew your items and much more right from the website or the library’s mobile app. You can also search the holdings of all the libraries across the U.P. and lower Michigan, make requests and see the status of those requests with the touch of a button. With interlibrary loan delivery to MSPL three times a week, requested items arrive quickly for cardholders to check out and enjoy at no cost.
No matter your location, MSPL has you in mind. With a generous loan period of three weeks on physical materials, and the option of up to two renewals, combined with the huge number of digital items and online options, the idea that the library is too far away from some townships is alleviated. An occasional ride to Munising will reward you with incredible options for your reading, listening and viewing pleasure.
With your MSPL library card, you can borrow and enjoy downloadable audiobooks, e-books, comics, movies, TV, magazines or music anywhere you have a smart device. That means your computer, your phone, your Kindle, iPad, your car, even your TV. All you need is a library card.
MSPL is driven by its mission to enrich lives in Alger County by fostering personal, educational and professional growth, championing lifelong learning and cultivating vibrant cultural connections.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or just discovering the library for the first time, MSPL invites you to explore its resources and find your next great read, listen or experience — without spending a dime.
