The city then established a library in the City Hall in February 1934, which continued until the passage of the county-wide millage in 1961.

The Norway branch of the Dickinson County Library was relocated next door to the Coast to Coast building until it was destroyed by fire in February 1977.

Plans immediately began for a new facility. Two lots that Ellen and Lillian Solomonson bequeathed to the city at U.S. 2 and Section Street were offered as a site.

The Solomonson Branch of the Dickinson County Library opened for service at 620 Section St. in Norway on April 10, 1978.

The Solomonson Branch of the Dickinson County Library opened for service at 620 Section St. in Norway on April 10, 1978.

The Norway branch continues to offer services six days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Having the three library sites — the others are the main library in Iron Mountain and the North Dickinson branch in Felch Township — “is crucial to providing accessible, county-wide library services,” Dickinson County Library Director Megan Buck said.

Some of the items available for checkout at the Norway branch are books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, mobile hotspots and more.

They have public computers connected to the internet and a printer, as well as free WiFi service in and around the building.

They also offer printing, copying and scanning services; printing is 10 cents per page for black and white and $1 per page for color; copying costs 10 cents per page for black and white, and scanning is free.

Anyone is welcome to use these services in the building, but patrons must have a library card to check out items.

Library cards are free to all Dickinson County residents and property taxpayers. Library cards are available as well to out-of-county residents at $17.50 for six months or $35 for one year.

“Paramount to the library’s mission is empowering our community, stimulating an interest in reading, cultivating a love of lifelong learning, and providing welcoming spaces where patrons can try new things,” Buck said. “The Solomonson Branch in Norway allows us to provide the services to meet our mission close to home for residents in south-central and southeastern Dickinson County.”

Limited in-person programming has slowly returned to the Solomonson Branch. Storytime sessions for children through age 5 are at 10:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

Patrons can go to the events calendar on the library’s website at www.dcl-lib.org for updates to the schedule and additional programs.

Take-n-make craft kits for all ages are available several times each month. These might include fun art projects for children or an interesting challenge for adults. Some kits may need to be requested in advance before being available for pick-up; call 906-563-8617 for more information.

“For anyone who hasn’t visited the library in recent years, I can promise we have something for everyone,” Buck said. “With digital services available 24/7, many with free mobile apps for smartphones, the library has never been easier to access.”