Public Libraries of Saginaw history

In 1849, with Norman Little as agent, they purchased a substantial portion of East Saginaw.

After some difficult beginnings, the West Side Public Library was reestablished in 1857.

Hoyt’s last visit to Saginaw was in 1877; after that, ill health prevented his return.

The will was executed in June, 1882, and Jesse Hoyt died August 12, 1882.

Work on the building was begun in 1887.

In 1888, on the recommendation of Frederick Poole, Miss Harriet Ames was hired as librarian.

The library, opened in 1890, has been carefully preserved and remains a sign of the strength, endurance, and vision of the people of Saginaw.

The library bookmobile served the neighborhood until 1967 when the South Jefferson Branch was opened. It continues a tradition of library services in South Side Saginaw, which began in 1911 with a small collection of books for children and adults in a classroom of the Washington School.

By 1917, these facilities were much too small and limited and the Board of Education had set aside a library fund of $50,000 for the purpose of building a new public library on the East Side.

Accordingly, in 1919 negotiations for the merger were completed.

In April 1920, the Board of Education paid the trustees of Hoyt Library $35,000 as the first installment of a $105,000 sum for the construction of an addition to Hoyt Library for the use of the East Side Public Library.

In 1926, following the consolidation of Saginaw's school districts, the Butman-Fish Memorial Library, Hoyt Public Library, and the East Side Public Library were merged as the Public Libraries of Saginaw.

The Local History and Genealogy (LHG) Collection was created as a central repository and Saginaw local history library in 1960.

The library bookmobile served the neighborhood until 1967 when the South Jefferson Branch was opened.

The library's first operating millage was approved by Saginaw voters in November, 1972.

In 1975, the popularity of the facility far outdistanced any estimates and plans were drawn up to begin construction of a separate facility.

The new 8,285 square foot facility opened to the public on June 1, 1976 and offered such services as story times, service to shut-ins, lunch programs, and reference service by telephone (a new concept at the time!).

The completion of the renovation was celebrated with an open house on May 22, 1977 and attracted more than 500 admiring guests.

In 1979, the new Butman-Fish Library opened at its present location.

In the 1980's, approaching its 100th year of service, the Hoyt Library building saw some more changes.

A generous grant from the Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Foundation enabled the library to build the Wickes Library in 1982-83.

Ruth Brady Wickes Library was dedicated on October 2, 1983.

In the 1990's and beyond, the library continues to change with the times and provides a wide variety of services which now include public computers, access to the Internet, Makerspace rooms, a recently renovated meeting room, as well as traditional services and programs.

In August, 1994, the library separated from the public schools to become an independent district library.

In 1998, Butman-Fish Library was extensively renovated to accommodate modern library technology, make general building repairs, and make the library more handicapped-accessible.

Since that time, it has become one of the premier LHG collections in the Midwest, winning the Historical Society of Michigan State History Award in 2017.