The Interlochen Public Library had its earliest beginnings in the summer of 1976 when a committee was formed to establish a library for Green Lake Township.  The original collection consisted almost entirely of donated books that were displayed on homemade shelves in a corner of the old township hall.  Because the building at that time housed other civic functions, space for the library was limited and it's growth was accordingly slow.

In 1981, after the township firehouse and community room were completed, the old township hall became available for a larger and more comprehensive library.  Under the leadership of Marge Dilley more books were acquired, a cataloging system was begun and volunteers to staff the library on a part-time basis were recruited.  At this time, too, regular story hours for children were started even though attendance was sometimes very small.  Funding for this early library was derived from modest township grants abetted by the proceeds of bake sales and flea markets held by the library committee members who had organized themselves into the Interlochen Library Association.

The decisive step in transforming this struggling private library to the vigorous institution that it is today came in June, 1982, when voters attending the annual Green Lake Township meeting approved a motion to make it a public library.  Public library status made the Interlochen library eligible for state aid and a share of the penal fines levied in the county.  More importantly, it allowed the library to affiliate itself with the Traverse Area District Library when that system was formed in the fall of 1982 and to share in the tax revenues that were approved for the District Library.

With adequate operational funding assured, the board turned to the problem of obtaining a new building for the library.  Grants for a community center/library building in Interlochen were obtained from Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the Library of Michigan.  Green Lake Township added $15,000 in township funds to the grant moneys and private donations to make up the balance of the needed money.  Ground was broken in July 1984 at a site on Riley Road that had been donated by the Lions Club and the Behensky family.  The Library moved into its new facility on June 15, 1985.

During the summer of 1999 plans were made to renovate the library.  Once again Rotary Charities was willing to provide grant money for the project along with Green Lake Township, Friends of IPL and private donations.  Construction was started in late January 2000 and for the most part completed by late March.  The library remained open during renovation except for four days in late March when the carpeting was installed. With funds from Green Lake Township, central air conditioning was installed in late June of 2000.

The Friends were given an office in the renovation, and use a portion of it for sorting donated used books.  The books are then stored in the library annex, a building underwritten by four life members of the Friends.  Thanks to anonymous donors our Children's Garden is now a reality.  The garden was designed and installed and since its opening, several story hours have taken place in the garden.  Stop by when the weather is nice and take a stroll through our garden.  Today the library is easily the most heavily used and vital public institution in Interlochen and the surrounding area.  Much of the credit is given to the Friends' continuous support.