FLITE is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, a rural community of about 10,000 people.
The total population of Mecosta County is about 40,000. Big Rapid's economic base
is varied, with the largest employers being the university, the local hospital, and
with companies in the industrial park. A fairly significant portion of the county’s
population engages in agriculture, or the recreation industry.
Ferris is the only institution of higher education in Mecosta County, although Central
Michigan University is only about 45 miles away in Isabella County, and Grand Valley
State University is only about 60 miles away in Grand Rapids, and Allendale. The only
public library serving the people of Big Rapids is the Big Rapids Community Library.
A number of smaller community libraries also exist in Mecosta County. The only museum
in Big Rapids or in the county is the Mecosta County Historical Museum.
Ferris State University has been a major part of the life of Mecosta County since
1884 when the Big Rapids Industrial School was founded, which subsequently became
FSU. Over 10,000 students currently attend the university in Big Rapids, and these
students come from every county in the state of Michigan. A large portion of our students
come from Mecosta County, and surrounding counties, but a significant number also
comes from Wayne County.
The primary users of FLITE are the students, faculty and staff of FSU. It is also
used by people of the Big Rapids and Mecosta County communities. FLITE cooperates
with other libraries, in the area, and nationwide in sharing resources through reciprocal
borrowing privileges, InterLibrary loan, and other activities and programs.
Downtown businesses and city/county government find it convenient to use some of our
standard materials (FR, CFR, USC, Census), because of our location.