The current library millage for Alger County will expire at the end of 2024. The County Library Board has placed a millage renewal on the ballot for the Feb. 27, 2024 election. In 2008 Public Library supporters asked the Alger County Commission to form the Alger County Library Board. The board consists of 5 people, appointed by the Board of Commissioners for terms of 3 years each. The Alger County Library Board administers the county library fund and they are responsible for contracting with the Munising Public Schools on behalf of the Munising School Public Library (MSPL) to administer public library service on a county-wide basis.

MSPL is the only legally established public library in Alger County and has a long successful history of serving all of the residents and landowners that are eligible for a card. The 2008 library millage passed with an overwhelming 2-1 majority and renewals in both 2012 and 2018 enjoyed the same result.

The Alger County Library Board is responsible for the county-wide three-tenths (3/10) millage. Three-tenths is the minimum amount of local support needed to continue getting State Aid funding for libraries in the State of Michigan. A mill is a way to determine property taxes. One mill is valued at $1.00 per each $1,000.00 in Taxable Value.

Having the millage demonstrates to the State of Michigan that Alger County has strong support from the public community for library service. This demonstration of local financial support qualifies the library for cooperative membership, State Aid and the ability to participate in the many benefits and opportunities that that membership brings, including many grants. Without the millage funding, the library would have to drastically cut funding for new books, reduce the staff, cancel digital services, reduce programming and open hours, and curtail any outreach services.

The Munising School Public Library has a long and successful history of serving the entire county, has the certified, trained staff with the knowledge and professional expertise necessary to administer such services, and meets the benchmarks necessary to provide first class service to the people that call this county home. The library collection is very up to date with quality materials. The very popular digital library is top notch and the new streaming services are in extremely high demand. Millage approval will ensure that these and all the other library services will continue for years to come.