Beaver Island District Library
🏢 UpNorth Michigan Libraries · Beaver Island, Michigan
Beaver Island District Library
Beaver Island District Library serves Michigan's largest freshwater island — a 56-square-mile community in northern Lake Michigan that was once the throne of self-proclaimed Mormon king James Strang, then resettled by Irish Catholic fishermen from County Donegal whose descendants still call it home. Open six days a week at 26400 Donegal Bay Road, the library has been an island institution for more than 35 years and sustains a Caitlin's Fairy Garden memorial with native plants and songbird habitat on its grounds.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 26400 Donegal Bay Road, BEAVER ISLAND, MI 49782
Phone: (231) 448-2701
Website: beaverisland.michlibrary.org
Plus Code: 86QPPFWG+PM (BEAVER ISLAND, MI)
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📖 About Beaver Island District Library
Beaver Island District Library is the public library of Beaver Island, Michigan, the largest island in Lake Michigan and a Charlevoix County community reachable only by ferry or small plane from the mainland port of Charlevoix (about 32 miles away). The island has one of Michigan's most storied histories: in 1848 James Strang led a Mormon splinter group to the island and crowned himself king in 1850, ruling until his assassination in 1856, when a wave of Irish Catholic fishermen — many from County Donegal's Gaeltacht region — arrived and repopulated the island. Their descendants preserved Ulster Irish language and customs into the twentieth century, making Beaver Island one of the most culturally distinctive communities in the Great Lakes. By the 1880s the island was the largest supplier of freshwater fish consumed in the United States; today tourism and seasonal residents sustain the economy. The library has served islanders and visitors for over 35 years, maintains an endowment fund for long-term support, and participates in the UpNorth Michigan library consortium, giving every cardholder free access to downloadable eBooks and audiobooks. The library's grounds include the Caitlin's Fairy Garden memorial, planted with native species and habitat for songbirds.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Serves Michigan's largest freshwater island — 56 square miles in Lake Michigan, accessible only by ferry or plane from Charlevoix (~32 miles)
- Site of James Strang's self-declared Mormon kingdom (1850–1856), the only American monarchy on U.S. soil; he was assassinated by subjects he had flogged
- Resettled by Irish Catholic fishermen from County Donegal after Strang's death — their descendants preserved Ulster Irish language and culture into the twentieth century
- By the 1880s, Beaver Island was the single largest source of freshwater fish consumed across the United States
- Caitlin's Fairy Garden on the library grounds — a native-plant and songbird memorial tended by the library community
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Beaver Island District Library cardholders can read, stream and research free through Michigan's statewide and consortium digital resources:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Beaver Island residents and visitors
- Public computer access and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through MeLCat (Michigan statewide shared catalog)
- Children's and adult collections including local and Great Lakes history materials
- Meeting and community program space
- Endowment fund for patron contributions supporting long-term library sustainability
- Caitlin's Fairy Garden — native plant and songbird memorial on library grounds
🎸 Programs
- Babies & Toddlers gatherings (Tuesdays, 10 a.m., ages 0–3)
- Homeschool meetups with STEM activities
- Afterschool programming: crafts, STEM projects, board games and Legos
- BOBI Book Discussions (Book of Beaver Island book group)
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Community events and island cultural programming
📍 Nearby Libraries on the Northern Michigan Mainland
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in BEAVER ISLAND · Browse all Michigan libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Beaver Island to visit the library?
Beaver Island is accessible by ferry from Charlevoix, Michigan (approximately 32 miles, about 2 hours by boat) or by small plane to the island's airport. There are no bridges. The Beaver Island District Library is located at 26400 Donegal Bay Road. Call (231) 448-2701 for current hours before your visit, as island ferry schedules vary seasonally.
What is the history of James Strang and Beaver Island?
In 1848 James Strang led a Mormon splinter group to Beaver Island and in 1850 proclaimed himself king — making it the only place in the United States ever ruled by a self-declared monarchy. He was shot by two subjects he had flogged and died on July 9, 1856. Shortly after, Irish Catholic fishermen from County Donegal expelled the remaining Strangites and resettled the island. Their descendants preserved Ulster Irish language and culture well into the twentieth century, giving Beaver Island a uniquely layered heritage.
What digital resources are available with a Beaver Island library card?
Cardholders have free access to the UpNorth Michigan consortium's Libby collection for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, as well as MeL (Michigan eLibrary) for statewide research databases and the MeLCat shared catalog. hoopla provides instant borrows of digital content with no waitlists. All are available 24/7 from any device.
What is the Caitlin's Fairy Garden at the library?
Caitlin's Fairy Garden is a memorial garden on the Beaver Island District Library's grounds planted with native species and designed to provide habitat for songbirds. It is maintained by the library community as a peaceful outdoor space open to visitors.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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