PRESS RELEASE: Allegan County Community Foundation Commits $100,000 to Henika District Library Expansion Project
Wayland, Michigan – August 25th, 2026
Henika District Library is pleased to announce that the Allegan County Community Foundation has committed $100,000 toward the Henika District Library’s planned expansion project. This funding is contingent upon passage of the ballot initiative necessary to move the project forward.
The commitment represents a significant investment in Henika’s future and provides crucial private support for the $6 million project. Allegan County Community Foundation’s support reflects growing community and philanthropic confidence in a project designed to strengthen one of Wayland’s most important community resources.
“We are proud to support Henika District Library and its vision for creating a more accessible and welcoming space for the entire community. This project will provide lasting benefits for generations to come.” – Stephanie Calhoun, President/CEO of Allegan County Community Foundation
The mission of the Allegan County Community Foundation is to positively impact Allegan County through financial stewardship, education and community partnerships. With the wisdom and foresight of a small group of civic minded individuals, the Allegan County Community Foundation was established in 1965.
Their first endowed fund was created in 1969 by Ethol Stone with a $1.2M bequest. Pairing donors’ charitable intentions with the needs that exist in our county is the unique privilege of a community foundation. More than sixty years later the Foundation is still assisting donors meet those needs.
EXPANDING A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Located in downtown Wayland, Henika District Library has served the community for more than a century. Today, Henika houses more than 18,800 items, welcomes the community 50 hours each week, and recorded nearly 86,000 visits and more than 12,000 program attendees in 2025. Despite its tremendous use, Henika operates within approximately 3,500 square feet of usable space while serving nearly 8,000 residents. Comparable libraries in Michigan average approximately 8,500 square feet, meaning Henika has about half as much space per resident for everyday operations.
Community members have experienced the limitations firsthand. In a 2023–24 survey, 89% of respondents supported a library expansion. Residents identified crowded programs, limited seating, shared spaces for children and teens, a lack of quiet areas, restricted shelf space, and accessibility barriers among Henika’s most pressing challenges.
The planned $6 million expansion will improve accessibility and add essential space while honoring the building’s historic character. The project will create dedicated areas for children and teens, private study and meeting rooms, a versatile community space, additional seating, improved restroom capacity, expanded staff areas, and greater accessibility for patrons of all ages and abilities.
A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Henika District Library is pursuing bond funding as an important component of the project's financing. The bond would help provide the public funding necessary to advance the expansion while philanthropy and other funding sources continue to play an important role. Henika District Library notes that the proposed bond and final taxpayer cost have not yet been finalized, but intend to cover approximately $4 million of the project’s costs. Voters will decide the outcome of the project at the May 2027 election.
The $100,000 commitment from Allegan County Community Foundation is specifically contingent upon passage of the bond, making the community's decision an important milestone for the project.
Henika has long been a valuable community investment, generating an estimated $1.49 million in community value annually—more than three times the return on the tax investment that supports it. The expansion will build on that impact by removing barriers to access, expanding opportunities for programming and community use, and providing the space necessary to serve the community for generations.
“This project is not about changing what Henika is, it is about strengthening what it already does well. Henika has accomplished an extraordinary amount within a very small footprint. This expansion will give our community the space, accessibility, and resources needed to carry that work forward.” – Cierra Bakovka, Director of Henika District Library
Construction is currently anticipated to begin in spring 2028, with an estimated construction period of approximately 9–18 months.
ABOUT HENIKA DISTRICT LIBRARY
Henika District Library is a Class III public library located at 149 S. Main Street in downtown Wayland, serving residents of Wayland City and Wayland Township. With an official librarian on staff since 1916, Henika has become a cultural and informational anchor for the Wayland region. The Library's mission is to encourage community and personal growth through diverse materials, services, and experiences.
For more information about the Henika District Library Expansion Project, visit henikalibrary.org/expansion or contact Library Director Cierra Bakovka at cierra@henikalibrary.org.