Detroit Public Library

History

A stand-alone public library in Detroit dates back to 1865. An 1842 state law requiring the Detroit Board of Education to open a library resulted in a public reading room opening on March 25, 1865, in the old Capitol High School at State and Griswold Street. In 1872, the Centre Park Library opened across the street from the current location of the Skillman Branch in downtown Detroit at Gratiot and Library Street. The first branch library opened in 1897 when the Detroit Water Commission library was opened to the public; in 1905 this library was turned over to the Detroit Library Commission.

Several additional branches opened shortly afterwards, including one in the Old Main building of Wayne State University. But it was not until 1910 when Andrew Carnegie, the great American library philanthropist of the early 20th century, donated funds did Detroiters decide to build a larger central library to supplement Centre Park. Property near Woodward and Kirby was purchased and in 1912 Cass Gilbert was commissioned to construct his design of a three-floor, early Italian Renaissance-style building. Due to delays and World War I, the Main Library did not open until March 21, 1921. It was dedicated June 3, 1921. In 1937, the Detroit Public Library hired its first African-American librarian, Marjorie A. Blackistone; Blackistone worked throughout her career to expand the library's African-American literature collection. The library system's bookmobile service began in 1940.

Ralph Ulveling was Director from 1941 to 1967.

After World War II, Detroit Public Library obtained "projected books" on microfilm and loaned these with portable projectors to disabled veterans (and other patrons with disabilities) who could press a switch under their chin more easily than turning a page.

The north and south wings opened on June 23, 1963, and added a significant amount of space to the building. The wings were connected along the rear of the original building and a new entrance created on Cass Avenue. Above this entrance is a mosaic by Millard Sheets entitled The River of Knowledge. As part of the addition, a triptych mural was added to the west wall of Adam Strohm Hall on the third floor. The mural by local artist John Stephens Coppin is entitled Man's Mobility and depicts a history of transportation. This mural complements a tryparch mural on the opposite wall completed in 1921 by Gari Melchers depicting Detroit's early history.

In 1970 Clara Stanton Jones became the first African American and the first woman to serve as director of a major library system in America, as director of the Detroit Public Library. The Clara Stanton Jones Friends Auditorium is named in her honor.

The Detroit Public Library is also a founding member of the Detroit Area Library Network. The network initially ran the Integrated Library System (online library catalog) for the library, but the library later purchased its own servers, after the mainframe computer era began to wane, and the library now runs its own systems. The library continues to be a member partner in the network consortium.

Administration

The Detroit Public Library is a publicly funded, independent, municipal corporation. The Detroit Public Library Commission, whose members are appointed by the Detroit Public Schools Board of Education, is the governing authority for the system. The commission establishes policies and administers funds. There are 7 Library Commissioners, with the seventh commissioner being the current president of the Board of Education, who is an ex-officio commissioner. Library Commissioners are appointed to 6 year staggered terms. There is an annual general meeting where the president, vice president, and secretary of the commission are elected, and monthly meetings held at the Main Library which are open to the public. The commission appoints and hires the Director and deputy director, while all other employees are hired by the commission, upon the recommendation of the Director.

September 16, 2014, former chief administrative and technology officer Timothy Cromer was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a $1.5 million kickback scheme."

Collections

The Detroit Public Library offers users books, magazines, records, CDs, videos, DVDs, and electronic materials through access to subscription databases. The Detroit Public Library catalog can be viewed online. The Main Library houses the Burton Historical Collection (named for historian and donor Clarence M. Burton), the E. Azalia Hackley Collection (named for Emma Azalia Hackley), the Rare Book Collection, and the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection. Skillman Branch houses the National Automotive History Collection. Additionally, a selection of digitized materials are available in an online collection.

Services

The library also offers practical advice to Detroiters through their TIP service, short for The Information Place. Librarians and support staff have access to a TIP database and offer free community information and referral service on matters such as food, housing, transportation, financial aid, legal advice, education, counseling, health care and family support. Library clients can search the TIP database themselves when visiting the library.

Gallery

File:Detroit April 2008 219.JPG|Main entrance of the Italian Renaissance-style building File:DetroitPublicLibrarymainfromcass.jpg|Detroit Public Library, Cass Avenue entrance File:Library Mosaic Closeup.jpg|Detail of the Mosaic above the Cass Avenue entrance File:Detroit Public Library July 2018 17 (Pewabic fireplace).jpg|Pewabic fireplace in the HYPE Teen Center File:Detroit Public Library July 2018 03 (HYPE Teen Center).jpg|HYPE Teen Center File:Detroit Public Library July 2018 14 (Children's Library).jpg|Children's Library File:Detroit Public Library July 2018 15 (Burton Historical Collection).jpg|Burton Historical Collection File:Skillman Branch Detroit Public Library.jpg|Skillman Branch, opened in 1932 on the site of the Centre Park Branch File:Detlib2.jpg|Skillman Branch seen from the aptly named Library Street File:Detlib.jpg|Skillman Branch reopened in 2006 after renovations

Branches

Chandler Park Branch

Chandler Park, in the Eastside of Detroit, is a three-story facility built in 1957. The library, which has a collection specializing in books written by African Americans, is located on Harper Avenue, in proximity to Dickerson Street. , the interior is decorated with artwork from children living in the area and portraits of notable African-American people. In 2009 John Carlisle (Detroitblogger John) wrote in the Metro Times that most of its patrons go to the library to use its computers.

Frederick Douglass Branch, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

The Douglass Branch for Specialized Services is the base of operations for the bookmobile service. It also houses the Library for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped and other special services.

Skillman Branch

The quotes on the outside of the Skillman Branch read, per side:

Gratiot Avenue : "The Fountain of Knowledge Flows Through Books"

Library Street Side: "The Wealth Of The Mind Is The Only True Wealth"

Grand River Street Side : "Religion, Knowledge, Morality"

Farmer Street Side: "Civilization is the Accumulated Culture of Mankind"

Former branches

• John S. Gray Branch
• Bernard Ginsburg Branch (Closed in 1927 and turned over to Recreation Department.)
• Gabriel Richard Branch (Was located on 9876 Grand River/Stoepel. Closed due to budget cuts on December 22, 2011)
• George Van Ness Lothrop Branch (At the southwest corner of West Warren Avenue and West Grand Boulevard-demolished October 2009)
• George Osius Branch
• Henry M. Utley Branch ( 8726 Woodward Avenue, now "The Family Place". )
• Magnus Butzel Branch (At the southwest corner of Harper Avenue (I-94 Service Road) and East Grand Boulevard; demolished in 1998)
• Mark Twain Library (Closed and Relocated to Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in 1996. Demolished October 2011)
• Mark Twain Annex (Closed due to budget cuts on December 22, 2011. Located at 4741 Iroquois)
• George S. Hosmer Branch (Opened January 11, 1911 and closed May 30, 1932. Located at 3506 Gratiot Avenue. Purchased in 2016 and planned to be a bookstore and café.)

References

References

1. "Main Detroit Public Library".
2. "The Nation's Largest Libraries by Volumes Held".
3. Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A.. (1980). "Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition". Wayne State University Press.
4. (January 29, 2016). "Significant Dates in Michigan Library History".
5. (2006). "DPL History".
6. (20 November 1999). "Marjorie Bradfield: Put black history into library". Detroit Free Press.
7. Carlisle, John (Detroitblogger John) (June 15, 2011). [http://metrotimes.com/culture/magic-bus-1.1161864 "Magic bus"]. {{Webarchive. link. (2011-08-18. ''[[Metro Times]]''. Retrieved August 13, 2011.)
8. Rusk, Howard A.. (July 27, 1947). "Special pontoon suits help disabled veterans to swim; microfilmed books, typewriting by remote control also assist the handicapped". [[The New York Times]].
9. (December 2007). "The River of Knowledge Mosaic".
10. Bulanda, George. (September 2008). "The Main Detroit Public Library". [[Hour Detroit]].
11. James, Sheryl. (July 25, 2018). "Trailblazing librarian, U-M alumna Clara Stanton Jones elected to Michigan Women's Hall of Fame".
12. (January 9, 2025). "Policies".
13. (November 2010). "DALNET – Historical Timeline".
14. MacDonald, Christine. (September 16, 2014). "Former Detroit Library exec gets 10 years for bribery". [[The Detroit News]].
15. Peet, Lisa. (November 10, 2014). "Ex-Detroit Library Official Timothy Cromer Sentenced to Ten Years". [[Library Journal]].
16. "TIP".
17. "[https://web.archive.org/web/19980613192924/http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us/locations_hours.htm Locations & Hours]." ''Detroit Public Library''. Retrieved on April 26, 2009.
18. "[https://detroitpubliclibrary.org/locations Locations]." ''Detroit Public Library''. Retrieved on April 22, 2024.
19. (1952-02-03). "Detroit Reads in New, Better Libraries". [[Detroit Free Press]] Graphic.
20. (December 9, 2011). "Monteith library doomed?".
21. (2017). "The Detroit Public Library: An American Classic". Wayne State University Press.
22. (January 9, 2025). "Program for dedication of Laura Ingalls Wilder Branch Library".
23. Detroitblogger John. "[http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/dewey-eyed/Content?oid=2193966 Dewey-eyed ]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160623154812/http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/dewey-eyed/Content?oid=2193966 Archive]). ''[[Metro Times]]''. January 7, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
24. "Detroit Public Library Branches, 1914". J Bornman & Son.
25. "The Family Place". thefamilyplace4c.org.
26. Aguilar, Louis. (September 27, 2016). "Historic public library on Gratiot to open as bookstore". [[The Detroit News]].
27. Woodford, Frank B.. (1965). "Parnassus on Main Street: A History of the Detroit Public Library". Wayne State University Press.