HANOVER, MI – Jackson District Library officials purchased the former Bombshells Beauty Parlor recently and plan to move the current library branch to the site at 137 Main St. later this year. JDL officials plan to tentatively re-open in the new location sometime toward the end of 2024.
Library officials closed on the property Friday, Dec. 1, and paid $65,000 for the parcel, which will expand the library’s footprint, creating a new multi-functional space to accommodate a range of activities, programs, and collections. Currently, JDL leases space from the Village of Hanover and operates the Hanover Branch out of the Hanover Village Office building at 118 Main St.
“The Library is continually looking to improve our facilities and services, and we are excited that moving across the street will allow us to do just that for the Hanover community which has a long history of supporting and utilizing all that JDL has to offer.” JDL Board President Stephen Rajzer said.
The current branch is roughly 1,100 square feet while the new one-story building is roughly 1,525 square feet. Officials plan to totally renovate the new location with upgraded electrical and mechanical services as well as interior and exterior finishes.
“We’re continuing to make an effort to expand and update our library spaces in Jackson County and the Hanover Branch is the most recent example of our intentions to provide the best possible experience for county residents,” JDL Director Liz Breed said.
Jackson District Library officials plan to renovate other branches across the county in the next couple of years, adding to a growing list of library relocations and renovations including the expansion of the
Brooklyn Branch in 2020, introducing a new bookmobile in 2021, moving the Spring Arbor Branch to a new building in 2023, and recently updating the existing Eastern Branch, among other initiatives.
“We made a promise to Jackson County residents that we’d utilize their tax dollars to refresh our library spaces throughout the county, and we want to follow through on that promise,” Breed said.