Benton Harbor Public Library
213 E Wall St
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-4429
269-926-6139
Fax: 269-926-6174
Director: Frederick J. Kirby
History of the Benton Harbor Public Library
The Benton Harbor Public Library has provided library service to our community for over one hundred years.
The library was legally established for use by city residents in 1899.
The first building, funded by the Carnegie Foundation, was opened in 1903.
Service to Benton Charter Township residents was first offered in 1963.
The current library building was opened in April 1968 as a state of the art facility.
Today, the library serves over 27,000 residents of the City of Benton Harbor and Benton Charter Township.
The library offers access to over 100,000 books, DVDs, periodicals, and other items through our online catalog. We have an award-winning collection of federal documents available in both print and electronic formats. Computers for public internet access are located in both the Adult and Junior Departments. The library also offers numerous educational programs aimed at children and teenagers.
Information about the library, as well as our full online catalog of items, is available 24/7 from anywhere via the BHPL Website
The members of the Benton Harbor Public Library Board of Trustees have recently initiated an effort to bring the library into the twenty-first century. A major part of that project will include a complete renovation of the library's home for forty years.
We invite the Citizens of our area to imagine what the future of our library could be. Please work with us as we translate the imagination of today into the reality of tomorrow.
Turn pages
bhpl by-laws 2004
The Board of Trustees
President: Mamie Yarbrough
(City of Benton Harbor)
Vice-President: Rich Hensel
Trustees representing the City of Benton Harbor:
Sandra Barrett
June Hightower
Jewel Jones
Trustees representing Benton Charter Township:
Cherie Messinger
Noreen Szymanski
Board Reports 2010-2011
bhpl report 7-2010
bhpl report 8-17-10
Monthly Board Reports are available following the monthly meeting. The report contains the approved minutes of the meeting from the previous month.
bhpl report 8-2009
bhpl report 11-2009
bhpl report 9-2009
bhpl report 12-2009
bhpl report 10-2009
bhpl report 1-2010
bhpl report 4-2010
bhpl report 5-2010
bhpl report 2-2010
bhpl report 6-2010
bhpl report 3-2010
bhpl audit report 09
The Benton Harbor Library is located in downtown Benton Harbor, Michigan. Our service area is primarily the City of Benton Harbor and Benton Charter Township.
