Welcome to the Betsie Valley District Library!

Welcome to the Betsie Valley District Library...the little Library with a big heart!

A loving message from our hearts to you!
We are dedicated to being a welcoming haven to everyone in our community! We are here for you!

LIBRARY HOURS:
We will be open Monday 11am to 5pm, Tuesday 11am to 5pm, Wednesday 11am to 7pm, Thursday 11am to 5pm, Friday 11am to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to 2pm. See the list below for answers to your frequently asked questions:

HOW CAN WE USE THE COMPUTERS?

To make sure that everyone who needs to can have access to a computer, sessions will be 45 minutes long. If you have a special need, like an exam or job application that will required more time, you can ask the Library staff before you start your session and we will accommodate you the best that we can! We are kindly asking that you please call and schedule an appointment for a computer session so that we can assure that a computer is available for you

LIBRARY PROGRAMS:

Please visit our News and Events page or Facebook page for information on programs! Consequently, you can always watch our online Story Hour which can be seen on the Library’s Facebook page and on the Library’s YouTube channel at any time!

We realize that the Library is a haven for our community, and our community is the heart of the Library! We are the "Little Library with a big heart...and that heart belongs to each and everyone of you!

We are all in this together; we have a great community spirit! Let us all stay well, be kind, be hopeful, and smile!

Please remember, "Nothing is hopeless; we must hope for everything." —Madeleine L’Engle

We are pleased to provide this online presence for your convenience and enrichment. The Library is very grateful to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for their support in bringing you our website.

Our community was greatly blessed by the wonderful gift of a state of the art Library building by The Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation. We officially opened the doors to the new building in March 2014. We welcome all to "your" Library! We strive to make our Library a welcoming haven for all that visit and where we wish to grow the love and magic of reading with all of our community.

For your convenience, you may conduct any Library business on this site, such as renewals, reserves, etc., with the exception of paying fines.

Also, you may research the Library catalog; Title / Author / Keyword searching.

We encourage you to use the Up North Digital Collection to download ebooks, movies and music!

We encourage you in using the Michigan eLibrary or MeL:

MeL is a 24/7 online library for Michigan residents.

MeL Databases allow you instant access to full-text articles from tens of thousands of magazines and newspapers. Databases are available for kids and adults, covering specialized topics such as car repair and practice tests.
MeLCat allows you to order books, audio books, music, movies and other materials and have them delivered to your participating library. View a video to familiarize yourself with MeLCat. We are a MeLCat participant Library!
Seeking Michigan is home to a treasure trove of records, photographs, and maps. You can find records, state census records, and much more, including photographs, diaries, oral histories, local records and historical Michigan data.

We are currently utilizing a new circulation and cataloguing software called Apollo by the company Biblionix! We hope that you will find the new BVDL catalog will be much more user friendly! Our new catalog is now available!

Our website will include information about times, dates, speakers, etc. for Library programs and special services will be available.

Other links to local, regional and statewide information sources will be placed here.

The Library Board and Library staff invite and encourage you to use the website and
to check it often for information about upcoming Library programs and new services.

Your suggestions are encouraged, so we can make this site the most helpful to you, as well as your suggestions for the Library itself.

If the BVDL would have an open position for employment, the description of the position will be listed here:

Sincerely, Michelle Guerra, Library Director
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We just want to thank everyone who took the time to complete the Library's survey about the BVDL's services, programs, and resources. We greatly appreciate hearing your ideas, opinions, and suggestions for the Library.
Thank you very much!

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Beekeeping Class Flyer with a picture of instructor Rick Dimanin wearing a protective coat standing by a beehime.

JOIN US FOR “ADVENTURES IN BEEKEEPING” presented by Rick Dimanin

“Have you ever wanted to start beekeeping? Do you want to make some extra money selling pure honey, pollen, propolis and candles? Then the craft of sustainable beekeeping may be for you!

Ages 10 and above (with parental permission) welcome!

If you have at least one year of hands-on, actual beekeeping experience, you may be eligible to take the intermediate/advanced beekeeping classes that are described below.

**Beginning Beekeeping Classes will be held at the Betsy Valley District Library in Thompsonville beginning on February 7, 2026 at 1 PM, and meeting every two weeks thereafter.

Tuition is set at $75 for the entire beginning course and an additional $75 fee for the intermediate/advanced course.

***You cannot take both the beginning and intermediate/advanced courses during the same year. Each tuition includes one season of personal mentorship from the instructor, with all proceeds from the beekeeping classes donated to the Betsy Valley Library. We will meet a minimum of once every two weeks and will be visiting the apiary on each class session, depending on the weather.

If you’re interested in joining a bunch of novice beekeepers learning about honeybees and having fun in that the yard, please attend the first meeting on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Beginning beekeeping classes will be limited to 15 students to ensure that each student receives personal mentorship and attention.

**Intermediate/Advanced Beekeeping classes will begin on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 1 PM at the Betsy Valley library in Thompsonville and will meet a minimum of every two weeks. Enrollment is limited to 15 beekeepers, with each student having a minimum of one year beekeeping experience. We will concentrate on bee biology, advanced methods of swarm control such as the Demeree, splits/divides, Snelgrove board use and others. We will also learn multiple ways of rearing queens, including cell grafting, although cell punch, the Miller method and others. Each student will be able to keep the queens that they reared in class.

A syllabus will be available at the Library when you register.

Please call the Library or stop in person to register.

Questions, please call 231-378-2716.