About the Egelston Branch
Egelston Branch—East Muskegon’s Star Library
Nestled between the fire department and the township offices sits the Egelston Branch of the Muskegon Area District Library. First established in a small room in the basement of the township hall, the library was moved into the old township governmental offices in 1972. A children’s area was constructed in 1979 with the help of a federal grant. In 1982, online computer circulation services were connected with the Muskegon County Library and the branch thrived until it outgrew its small building location.
In 1990, Muskegon County Library, local businesses, supportive residents and the Egelston Township board all worked together on a fundraiser for a new library building. Then in 1992, a new Egelston Branch was built in its current location at 5428 E. Apple Avenue. The 5,000 square foot location has a spacious layout, a comfortable seating area for visitors to read, and a children’s area where kids can sit back and escape with a book.
The branch houses a large DVD collection, and visitors mention that the selection at the library rivals local video stores. The branch also has a special collection of books written by local authors. These books are written by current or former residents of West Michigan. Authors are encouraged to donate a copy of their works to the library to add to the collection so others in the area can enjoy them.
The library offers weekly preschool Storytime programs, including a Tiny Tots programs for toddlers. Many families, toddlers and children enjoy these well attended and popular early literacy programs. Adults can participate in various monthly craft programs. A unique service that the branch offers to the public is educational proctoring. Students who are taking online or off-campus classes can make arrangements in advance to take exams at the library free of charge.
In 1996, circulation was 37,630. Twenty years later, in 2016, circulation almost doubled to 73,086, ranking the branch as third busiest in the MADL system. The community continues its support with thousands of people visiting each month to use the library’s six Internet computers and free Wi-Fi. A color copy machine is also available, along with fax services.
An annual book sale is held every August by a group of dedicated volunteers. Items donated from residents are sold and proceeds help to support programs. Members of our community over the years have also donated book shelving. The library has grown to be a place with more than just a wide variety of books. With a MADL library card, patrons can download free music and videos to laptops and smart devices. Audio and e-books are also available.
The Egelston branch continues to be a star in the community and provides a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for its many users. With the continued support of the township, the library will flourish for many years to come.