About

Bruce Area Library serves communities of Rusk County and adjoining areas.

History

The Bruce Area Public Library started in 1985 in a corner of the Bruce Historical Society Museum as an experiment to see if the community would use a local library.  By the end of the summer of 1985 it was necessary to find a larger location and the move was made to the American Legion Building.

• 1988: The Library was recognized by the state with a paid certified librarian.
• 1989: An agreement was signed by the Library, the Village of Bruce and the towns of Atlanta, Thornapple and Stubbs to form a joint library.  The Library continued to grow until there was no room to expand.
• 2003: The Village of Bruce decided to build a new village hall with an area for the Library that was about four times the size of the American Legion Building.  The Library moved to its present location and opened the doors on February 12, 2003. We now had room for Internet Computers and thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation the Library started to offer Internet access to our library users.
• 2004: The Thornapple township withdrew from the joint library agreement this year and the Library joined the Bi-County Library and Information Consortium (BCLIC). The library became busier than ever once it was automated, provided Internet access to the public, and had  a courier system to transport materials between cooperating libraries.
• 2005: the Library officially dropped ‘Public’ from the library name.
• 2008: The libraries that had been part of BCLIC all joined the MORE system and dissolved the BCLIC automated system.  The Bruce Area Library now has access to over one and a half million items from 53 libraries in ten counties, as well as access to additional resources and services. Library users can access library resources in person during library hours, or online anytime.