Local author Deborah Frontiera speaks about her writing at the Portage Lake District Library Monday in this Gazette file photo. The author gave a presentation at the Calumet Public Library on March 11 as part of March is Reading Month at the Library.

CALUMET — Lewis Nagel a Calumet High School hockey player, is celebrating March is Reading Month by reading a hockey themed book to preschoolers during the weekly Preschool Story Time, Thursdays at 10:15 a.m., at the Calumet Public Library.

The library houses a rich collection of hockey books, videos, and other materials as part of the Hockeyville Collection donated in 2019 by William J. Sproule (former MTU professor and author of Houghton: The Birthplace of Professional Hockey). The Friends of the Calumet Public Library donated the locally made bookshelf to hold the materials and has added to the collection yearly, including a large number of hockey themed children’s books. All materials are available for circulation so come and check out the collection.

In addition to Thursday’s Preschool Story Time, the library celebrated March is Reading month with two author talks. Both authors are familiar faces in local schools and their books have been enjoyed by young readers for many years. Deborah Frontiera was at the library on March 11. Frontiera is well known for her YA book “Living on Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy,” which was recently recognized as a U.P. Notable Classic Book. Her newest book (released in 2026) is a middle grade delight, “Douglass Houghton Michigan’s Pioneer Geologist, Doctor and Teacher.” While both books were written for grades 4-8, they are enjoyed by older students and adults, alike.

This past Wednesday author MC Tillson was at the Library. Tillson is the author of middle grade Lighthouse Adventure trilogies set in Michigan, North Carolina, and California. How and why does she do it? In Tillson’s words, “On March 18, 1994, my son Micah was born. Ten years later I found myself in Copper Harbor wanting to encourage his reading habit — to his specifications: “a mystery with some pictures and at least 100 pages.” Every day on the Keweenaw was another chapter as I let my imagination take over to create the framework for my first (but not last) Lighthouse Adventure trilogy. Writing was the fun part; now to get the children (and adults) to read it.”

These events were sponsored by the Friends of the Calumet Public Library.

During the school year, the Calumet Public Library is open:

Monday & Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Summer Hours:

Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.