Our History

In 1991, Lowell resident Evelyn Leeman had an idea to restart a Friends of the Library group at the Lowell Library, part of the Kent County Library system. Formed as a club, the Friends organization’s mission was to promote the use of the library, to raise the library’s profile and to raise money for the library itself.

 At that time, the library occupied half of the current Graham Building, at the corner of Main Street and Hudson. The other tenant was the Lowell YMCA. The Graham Building, built around 1878 by Robert Graham, had housed a library since 1922, with Graham as Lowell’s first librarian. While the historic building was attractive, its design proved too cramped and did not allow for handicap access. It was evident that a change was needed and became one of the Friends’ most ambitious tasks  - start raising funds for a new, larger library! The new library had a $1.2 million price tag. And brick by brick, the fundraising began in 1994.

The entire community recognized and supported the need for a larger library and became involved. The Friends sold used books, cookies, and ice cream. Once the group was granted private, non-profit status in 1995, they became key fundraisers in helping raise monies for construction of the new library. Many other non-profit groups and local businesses donated to the campaign. Local school children participated in fund drives. Lowell Area Schools sold the 1-acre site to the city for $1.00. Then, fundraising chairman Charles Myers reported that two large donations had come in. The sum of $270,000 came from the Helen Look Newell Daley Memorial Fund. Harold and Mildred Englehardt contributed a generous $380,000. The new library built overlooking the water on the east side of the Flat River became the Englehardt Branch of Kent District Library, a vital part of the greater Lowell community.

The Friends of the Englehardt Library held their first meeting in the new library in February 1997 with officers: Joy Smith, President, Anne Pasquale, Vice-President, Donna Hill, Secretary, Evelyn Leeman, Treasurer and Joan Wittenbach, Ledger Correspondent.

Throughout the years the Friends leadership has changed, but the group continues to grow and has become a valued partner in supporting the library. The Friends help underwrite library programming, regularly update library furnishings, purchase new children’s area toys and furniture and support millage votes. In 2017, the Friends expanded the library’s footprint to include the construction and maintenance of the Library Reading Garden.