A history of Grand Traverse County, Michigan libraries, beginning with an early Traverse Township Library and a Ladies' Library Association established in 1869. Emphasis is on community support of its libraries through 140 years and how libraries continued engaging the public and remaining an integral part of the community. More recently local libraries needed to reinvent themselves to provide services during the pandemic. Includes historic photographs and local Traverse City history. An additional feature is an essay, The Living Library, by Native American elder Hank Bailey. The history is presented in a lively narrative based on interviews by author Heather Shumaker, along with many historical documents.