My family and I are proud residents of Plainwell, Michigan. For more than a decade, we’ve been blessed to have the Ransom District Library (RDL) only a short car ride (or a long walk) away. It’s a magical place: a gateway to other worlds, to other moments in history, and to other points of view. Every book opens a door into a fiction writer’s imagination or an insightful observer’s perspective on real-world events that have shaped, or will shape, our lives. In the age of the internet, of course, information delivery has changed dramatically… and the library has changed with it. RDL still hosts a rich collection of paper books but also offers online channels for patrons to check out digital content: e-books, audiobooks, movies, and music.

RDL goes far beyond traditional library boundaries, though. Its innovative staff organize an in-library concert series showcasing local musicians, host author talks featuring writers as renowned as West Michigan literary treasure and National Book Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell, and create fun family events like the annual Dr. Seuss Night. RDL isn’t just a “book depository”: it’s a hub of activity for the surrounding community. It enriches us in ways too numerous to list.

And it’s accomplished all of this in an aging, undersized building now far beyond its expected useful life; a facility that challenges the staff’s efforts to meet the evolving needs of younger patrons in a connected, digitized, web-enabled world. The folks at RDL have managed to make it work, despite the constraints that limit how many physical books they can shelve, how many computers they can deploy for information-hungry kids, or where they can carve out space to host the wonderful events they schedule for members of the community to attend free of charge.

They’ve given us so much. Now it’s time to return the favor.

On August 7, voters have a chance to approve a critical bond issue to fund the construction of a new Ransom District Library. For about five dollars per month per local homeowner, the new RDL will be able to expand its collection of books, DVDs, audiobooks, and special collections; provide more study and meeting space; offer a venue actually designed for performances and programs; maintain a storehouse of local history; and make it far easier for patrons to find parking. This isn’t a tax or a fee. This is an investment in our community, one that will pay steady dividends year after year.

RDL and its staff have contributed an immense amount of time, effort, creativity, and value to the city of Plainwell. They’ve done this responsibly: adhered to the budget, squeezed the last drop of use out of their current home. Now they’ve outgrown that home. They deserve an upgrade, one that will provide a solid foundation to benefit all of us — book lovers, music lovers, local history buffs, teens looking for a place to meet, families searching for kid-friendly activities — for decades to come.

So here's a shout-out to my fellow Plainwellians: on August 7, please invest in our shared future. Vote yes to Grow Ransom Library. Give this story a happy ending!