Your Digital Access Just Got Bigger

Get more with your HTP Library Card and Libby

New libraries have partnered with HTPL on Libby. HTPL users can now use their library card at the following digital libraries:

  • Bay County Library System
  • Download Destination
  • Genesee District Library
  • Great Lakes Digital Library
  • Lakeland Digital Library
  • Metro Net Library Consortium
  • Mideastern Michigan Library Consortium
  • Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
  • Southwest Michigan Digital Library
  • St. Clair County Library System
  • Traverse Area District Library
  • Up North Digital Library
  • White Pine Library Collaborative
  • Woodlands Library

To register your library card and use these collections, go to “Add a Library” in Libby or “Manage Libraries +” in OverDrive. Search for the partner library and sign in with your library card. Your HTPL card gives you more digital access than ever before!

 

Federal Executive Order Diminishes Services at Local Public Libraries

April 1, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Federal Executive Order Diminishes Services at Local Public Libraries

 

For twenty years, Michigan residents have enjoyed use of the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL). This critical library service and adjacent programs are about to be eliminated due to a federal Executive Order (EO).

The EO signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025 seeks to eliminate the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries. On March 31, nearly all staff at IMLS was placed on administrative leave and, as a result, all processing of grants has been suspended and are “ultimately likely to be cancelled,” according to the American Library Association. IMLS dollars routed to Michigan fund MeL, as well as a state-wide interlibrary loan service called MeLCat. If IMLS funding is eliminated, local library users will have less access to books and other library materials.

“As an art teacher, MeLCat has been a massive help in saving money and finding valuable children’s books for my art projects,” Michelle of Harrison Township said. “Instead of buying expensive books for my students, I borrow them for free from libraries all over the state. This has allowed me to use a variety of books that fit the themes of my lessons, helping me and my district save money and support our local library. This resource has been a blessing in my classroom and for other teachers as well. If MeLCat is dismantled, I will again have to spend money out of my pocket on materials for my students.”

In 2024, the MeLCat program saw Michigan libraries lend over one million books and other materials that are not locally available. Through MeL, students and other residents last year accessed over 19 million electronic articles, journals and other online resources to do homework, research, prepare for tests and more. Residents also benefited from MeL’s authoritative sources on education, medicine, business, and history, among other topics that help people make informed decisions.

While the majority of revenue for public libraries in Michigan comes from local property taxes, the most significant impact of the potential loss of IMLS funding could be the elimination of MeL and MeLCat.

In Michigan, these federally funded programs provide a hard return on investment of $27 per tax dollar. This means for every $1 invested in libraries across the state, Michiganders see $27 in received value.

MeLCat is a priceless resource at the Harrison Township Public Library,” said Library Director, Melissa Goins. “We are a small library in 3900 square feet. We can’t possibly have all of the resources our community needs in our space and HTPL users regularly request materials from other libraries across the state. We receive MeLCat deliveries 5 days a week and process 6,000 requests per year. I’m not sure what the community and folks like Michelle will do if MeL and MeLCat resources are no longer available.”

You can read more about the impact of the elimination of IMLS in a press release from the Michigan Department of Education, published on March 20, 2025 and available here: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2025/03/20/michigan-library-users-will-be-harmed-by-order-to-abolish-federal-agency

 

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Tech Time

Join the adult librarians for Tech Time at HTPL! Each month, we'll discuss a different technology-related topic, followed by a brief Q&A.

If you missed a presentation, check out the links below for our slides.

Drop-In Tech Help

Every month, we host drop-in tech help sessions! Need help navigating your smartphone? Have questions about your new computer? An adult librarian is available for basic tech assistance during this time on a first come, first served basis. No registration required. Please bring your device and any relevant passwords. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Times

Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the following dates:

  • January 14th
  • February 11th
  • March 11th
  • April 8th

If you need one-on-one tech assistance on a different day, please call the library at (586) 329-1261 to check for availability. A librarian would be happy to set up an appointment with you.

Past Tech Time Discussions

Click the links below to access the slides from past presentations, if they are available.

Upcoming Tech Time Discussions

Please check the Events Calendar for more information. Registration is not required for Tech Time programs, but it is encouraged.

  • Thursday, January 22nd at 6:30 p.m. - Intro to Libby and Hoopla
  • Tuesday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. - Intro to Photo Retouching
  • Tuesday, March 24th at 6:30 p.m. - Spring Cleaning Your Devices
  • Tuesday, April 21st at 6:30 p.m. - Booking a Vacation

Spotlight on HTPL: Gardening 101 with Sue

Sue Keehn launched her first of three outdoor lecture series (Gardening 101 with Sue) at the Harrison Township Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 22. The topic of conversation was none other than sensational succulents.
Sue is an active member of the Harrison Township Beautification Commission, a group that promotes environmental advancement in the community through a variety of gardens maintained by members, clean-up days, plant swaps, and other programs and events.
Sue is deeply passionate about the style and beauty of the Beatification Commission’s work. If you notice various colorful flowers and astonishingly beautiful plants at HTPL’s main entrance during the warmer seasons, it’s likely the work of Sue and other Beautification Commission members.
“It’s a joy to talk about gardening at this time of year, isn’t it? It’s time to get the hands dirty again,” Sue began. “Succulents are a group of plants with one of the most diverse forms, colors, and blooms. These easy-to-care-for indoor and outdoor specimens are really a dream for the busy gardener.”
As Sue explains, succulents are easily inspiring with their unique colors, textures, and growing variability. While they have grown in popularity as unique accents to a home or garden, their complexities make them hard to define.
“Oddly, some botanists and horticultural experts differ on which plants are technically succulents. Their appearance differs from species to species. One common characteristic is swollen leaves, pads, or stems,” she explained. “All types of succulents are pleasing to the eye, require minimal care, and produce delightful little surprises during their life cycle.”
Sue continued discussing three main types of succulents: echeveria, aeonium, and sempervivum. Plants in the sempervivum genus (often referred to as “hens & chicks”) are unique in that they can withstand harsh Michigan winters and temperatures as low as -20 degrees. Unlike other succulents associated with desert or jungle landscapes, sempervivum is astonishingly reliable for growing outdoors in places like Harrison Township.
Succulents are easily maintainable, Sue explained, as long as they get what they need and nothing more. It’s best to water them only when the soil is completely dry, fertilize succulents once per month, and use rubbing alcohol to take care of pests.
“The easiest way to kill a succulent is to overwater. We kill them with kindness, we think they need more, and they don’t.”
The most common problem is rotted roots when the succulents are watered too often and don’t have proper drainage. Sue encouraged succulent soil to be made of two parts potting soil, one part perlite, and one part small-sized gravel. This guarantees proper drainage needed for succulents to maintain healthy roots.
“So, why plant succulents? They require little water or fertilizer, they are unique and interesting, their colors and textures for outdoor and indoor gardens, many have blooms, they are easy to propagate, they improve the air indoors, they improve our mood during the winter months, and they are easy to share,” Sue explained. “That’s a lot of bang for your buck out of a little plant.”
The eye-catching presentation was the first of a three-part lecture series about all things gardening. Sue will return to HTPL on Saturday, March 8, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the wonders of compost and how to do it yourself. Then, on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 p.m., Sue will be back again to discuss the most important aspects of Spring garden clean-ups.
Maintaining a garden does not have to be daunting. Experts like Sue are here to help. She says it best; “Something very simple can become very creative and beautifully colorful.”

To register for Gardening 101 with Sue, call (586) 329-1261, visit htlibrary.org, or stop by the Harrison Township Public Library and register at the front desk.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Did you know that September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month? If you’re a Harrison Township resident, stop by and get your very own library card. You can spin our prize wheel and win a cool prize for free! If you already have a card, feel free to renew it at this time.

What can you do with your HTPL card? Here are just some of the many amazing things you can utilize, all for free:

  •  Books, audiobooks, and movies, available in the library or by request from other libraries in the state
  •  24/7 access to e-books, e-magazines, music, movies, and more via apps like Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy
  •  Monthly library programs for all ages
  •  24/7 Wi-Fi (available from our parking lot after hours) along with computer access and printing/scanning/faxing services
  •  Free job and business resources
  •  Free homework help via Tutor.com
  •  Hundreds of databases for educational and entertainment purposes
  •  Michigan Activity Pass (miactivitypass.org), which allows you to get free passes to the metroparks, local museums, and more

Check out our website for additional information, or stop by and ask us your questions. There’s plenty more to learn and explore with your library card! Be sure to join us on Friday, September 27th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month with our “All-Ages Happy Hour.” We’ll have crafts, snacks, mocktails, and activities for all to participate in. No need to register! We hope to see you there.

ConnectEd Virtual Library Card for LCS Students

L’Anse Creuse Student ID Virtual Card

L’Anse Creuse Students:
You Have a ConnectED Virtual Library Card! It’s your student ID#
Your student ID gives you FREE access to all
of Harrison Township Public Library’s
digital services including Tutor.com, streaming movies, music downloads, eBooks, and eAudiobooks.

Here’s How To Do It
Go to our website: htlibrary.org for more info on each digital service.
When logging in:
Your “Card Number” is LCS followed by your student ID number.
(example: LCS1234567)
Your password is your birthdate as a 4 digit PIN MMDD.

Questions? Contact us! Call: (586)329-1261 Text: (586)630-4446

Students in the following schools have access to HTPL resources with their student ID#:

  • Early Childhood Center
  • Donald J. Yacks Elementary
  • Emma V. Lobbestael Elementary
  • Marie C. Graham Elementary
  • South River Elementary
  • LAnse Creuse Middle School – Central
  • LAnse Creuse Middle School – South
  • LAnse Creuse High School
Take me to digital services

Book Groups

Book Groups

 

 

Tuesday Night Book Group

What we read: We choose books that spark great conversations! Members recommend titles, and then we vote on them. New members are always welcome—just grab a copy of our next book and join in! Connect with us on Goodreads! 

Register for the book club meetings online through the events calendar or call (586) 329-1261.

Here is a list of our Tuesday Night Book Group Titles 2017-2025

 

January 27th at 6:00 p.m.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Book Description:

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

February 24th at 6:00 p.m.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Book Description:

A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined.

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?

Murder & Booze Book Club

What We Read: We look for books that give us a lot to talk about! Mysteries, thrillers, true crime, and books with lots of twists and turns are ideal. Enjoy a cold one and grab an appetizer at a new location every month for our mystery, thriller, and true crime book club! 

Registration is REQUIRED due to restaurant capacity!

Register for the book club meetings online through the events calendar or call (586) 329-1261.

Please check the calendar for dates.

 

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

We are meeting at:

Three Blind Mice Irish Pub (in upstairs room)

101 N Main St

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

Registration is required and will open December 8th at 9:00 a.m.

Book description:

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

We are meeting at:

Bentley’s Roadhouse

28410 S River Rd, Harrison Township, MI 48045

Registration is required.

Book description:

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren't really there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?

In a debut novel that has already been optioned for a limited series by actress Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the world, Stacy Willingham has created an unforgettable character in a spellbinding thriller that will appeal equally to fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter.

Silent Book Club

 

What We Read: At Silent Book Club, there's no assigned reading. Bring whatever book you are reading and join an evening out with fellow book lovers. All readers are welcome - ebooks, audiobooks, textbooks, comic books... it's BYOBook.

At the beginning of each meeting we will have time to mingle followed by an hour of of silent reading.

Register for the book club meetings online through the events calendar or call (586) 329-1261.

Please check the calendar for dates. 

 

 

Book Selections on Goodreads:

New Library Merch!

Support the library by buying our new hoodies!

 

“I don’t need a new hoodie,” said no one ever. New HTPL merch just dropped! Available for purchase at the Circulation Desk.

Hoodies are just $25, in heather blue, and fleece lined.

Wrap yourself in a library hug this winter!

CreativeBug is here!

HTPL now offers Creativebug! Screen time you can feel good about. Get crafting!

 

Creativebug offers online video tutorials of arts, crafts, and techniques. Learn how to paint, knit, crochet, sew, screen print, and more. Screen time you can feel good about!

  Take me to Creativebug