Petoskey District Library (PDL) is excited to announce the expansion of its BiblioBag service to eligible residents in all of Emmet County. BiblioBag provides homebound residents the opportunity to get a wide range of library items mailed to their homes at no cost.
In January 2022, PDL began offering its BiblioBag delivery service to temporarily or permanently homebound residents within the library's service area, which includes the City of Petoskey and the townships of Bear Creek, Little Traverse, Resort and Springvale.
With PDL already providing the BiblioBag service, library staff was encouraged in the summer of 2022 to apply during the county’s senior millage fund allocation process. The library’s application also included the ongoing outreach of delivering library materials to several senior living facilities every two weeks as well as continued investment in large print materials.
Each year, the Emmet County Advisory Committee on Aging accepts applications from any public or private non-profit agency for millage funds available to be used to plan, coordinate, and provide services for senior citizens in county. Any public or private non-profit agency may apply. Most of the millage funds each year are distributed to the three senior centers and Bay Bluffs.
After county leaders approved allocation of $12,375 to the library last year, PDL staff began exploring how to expand the “library by mail service” countywide. The library was approved for $14,400 from the county’s senior millage fund in 2024, providing the incentive to expand its BiblioBag delivery service.
With BiblioBag, eligible library cardholders can get most library items mailed to their home at no cost. This includes books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. If you, or someone you know, is temporarily or permanently homebound, and would like to have library items mailed directly to your Emmet County residence, please call your home library to discuss whether you qualify for BiblioBag service. Participating libraries include Alanson Public Library (231-548-5465), Harbor Springs Library (231-526-2531), Mackinaw Area Public Library (231-436-5451), and Petoskey District Library (231-758-3121). If you do not know your home library, please call Jodi Haven at 231.758.3121.