Mobile Office 1: Central Lake, MI Public Library

CENTRAL LAKE, MI – The look of a librarian has power; stern or supportive, it carries weight.

Mary Loper’s looks come through sculptural red glasses, which have a divination power of their own.

Women often zoom in close for a better look.

But men — some not all, tend to look away, she says.

“Afraid of a strong, confident woman?” I guess. 

“I think that’s right,” she says, “That always tells me ‘I wouldn’t want to know you anyway.’”

Mary is one of the many delightful librarians I encounter in my travels, especially in the summer when I have to hide for the hotter part of the day. Since I have work to do anyway, a cool (and free!) office with WiFi and bathrooms is exactly what an itinerant blogger needs.

The one here in Central Lake is especially lovely. I ate my lunch outside on the shaded patio, which was surrounded by an eye-popping garden to my left and, to my right, a grassy area punctuated by lush oak and pine. (And yes, the WiFi reaches!)

The best part of working at a library, though, is often the librarians. Smart, often funny and usually women, they are welcoming, knowledgeable and efficient. A salve for all the yahoos we cannot always avoid on the road.

I convinced Mary and the library’s assistant director, Clara Tice, to give us some restaurant recco’s from the area:

I thought we were done, but each had one more to add:

Recreate my visit to Central Lake, MI Library:

Address: 7900 Maple St, Central Lake, MI 49622

Phone:  (231) 544-2517

Hours: 

Saturday	10AM–3PM
Sunday	Closed
Monday	10AM–6PM
Tuesday	10AM–6PM
Wednesday	10AM–6PM
Thursday	10AM–6PM
Friday	10AM–6PM

Information current as of 7-19