The changing role of local libraries

By Stacy Gittleman

With the coming of the digital age, how we look up information and access media has changed. The library catalog of index cards stored in wooden pull-out cabinets is long gone and replaced by the Internet. Libraries are whittling their physical collections as all forms of media or information can be searched for or streamed online.

With newly configured spaces, libraries have made room for people to gather, study, learn a new skill or hobby or attend concerts and movie screenings. But fear not, bookworms. Libraries continue to keep their literary collections current. Library associations with thousands of ambassador members locally advocate against legislation that would have some materials banned from their shelves.

According to the Michigan Library Association (MLA), our state contains 397 library systems with 650 buildings. The organization said the library as an institution is becoming the last place where people of any political, socioeconomic or cultural affiliation can gather for free. In addition to their lending capabilities, libraries in the last decade serve as a place where one can get help with everything from navigating unemployment or veteran’s assistance, picking up voter registration and tax filing information. In inclement weather, libraries serve as cooling or warming centers for marginalized populations, and during the height of COVID, librarians fielded questions about how to get telemedicine help or where to go to get vaccinated.

In a state with 10 million residents, half of us are library card carriers. In 2024, we made 26.5 million in-person and 38.1 million virtual visits. Over three million attended a multitude of library programs across the state, from baby and toddler bedtime story hour to adult book club and movie screenings, lectures, crafting and maker space events.

“Libraries are still highly valued as places to take out a book or other media,” said MLA Executive Director Deborah Mikula. “But what I have seen over the last 10 years is that they have become the cultural institutions that are at the heart of every community in Michigan. They are the last public place one can gather and get resources for free. Our community centers have become destinations to understand our past. Many libraries are the keepers of the archives of a community’s history. Libraries are becoming places where people want to meet and socialize. You will notice that many libraries are being reconfigured to contain not only meeting rooms but cozy reading areas complete with fireplaces where you can still sit and read a printed newspaper.”

Sharing some statistics, Mikula said during the 2023-2024 fiscal library year, which runs from February to March, Michigan’s libraries loaned out 54 million books, movies, music, and other physical items, along with 15.1 million digital materials.

But that’s not all you can loan from a library, said Mikula. As no two libraries are alike, Mikula added that libraries operate independently to match the needs of their communities.

“In more rural parts of the state, the library may be the only free place in town with a Wi-

Fi connection,” Mikula said. “There are libraries where you can loan out a kayak or a canoe. Are you planning to bake a pie but don’t feel like paying for a pie tin? Some libraries can loan that to you as well. Or a sewing machine with books that can teach you how to sew.

Mikula said the profession of a librarian has evolved from a focus on data and information to helping people pursue a life of learning. They are just as skilled at teaching digital literacy classes and pointing patrons to resources to brush up their resume as they are to recommending the next book to read.

“We trust that our libraries are going to listen to their communities to create a place that will foster all kinds of lifelong learning, because all of us need to keep learning,” Mikula said. “That doesn’t always look like the formal learning of getting a higher education degree. Libraries are places where you can learn a new skill in a maker space. You can try out a 3D printer to pick up a new hobby or skill. Whether our patrons visit the library once a month or just twice a year, we know that our institution is highly valued in their life.”

Local libraries are good examples of the changing role of a modern library.

The original structure of the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham was completed in 1927 and had construction expansions in the 1960s and 1980s. The library’s current budget is $5.9 million. Most of the funds come from $4.7 collected from a Birmingham library millage in Birmingham. The budget also includes $45K in state and local funding and $50K in penal fines. The library also receives money from service contracts with Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, and Bloomfield Hills.

Baldwin staffs 95 employees and is open seven days a week. The library’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Baldwin Library Director Rebekah Craft was a graphic designer when she decided to make a career switch. Tired of working in the corporate world with a desire to make the world a better place, she said she became a librarian at the suggestion of a friend. She started at the library as associate director in 2015 and became director in 2021.

“Being a librarian works with my strengths,” said Craft. “Reference librarians must know a little bit about everything. We stay up to date on the news, we must have our fingers in a lot of different categories of information to field questions on a wide array of topics from our patrons. It helped to have a liberal arts undergraduate degree.”

Craft came to the library at a time of modernization and expansion of its physical footprint, a three-phase renovation that began in 2017 and was completed in 2020.

The renovations included a 2000-square foot atrium entrance on Merrill Street where users can return items in the book return slot. Patrons can enter the library through automatic sliding doors. In the winter, the outdoor sidewalk will utilize a snowmelt system to keep sidewalks free of snow and ice. Accessibility additions also include ramps, an elevator and enlarged restrooms.

Each year, Baldwin welcomes about 220,000 visitors and this number has ticked up with the completion of the new entryway. For those visitors looking for a place to sit, plug in, read, study, write or surf the internet, Baldwin has tripled its seating and outlet availability compared to a decade ago.

All this is possible from consistent and long-held financial support of the library, Craft said.

“Our last millage election for Birmingham increase of 1.75 was in 1998 and it overwhelmingly passed,” Craft said. “We have such great support from Birmingham and our contract communities. It is wonderful to work at a place where everyone wants to spend time and you get the sense that all are grateful that we are around.”

With an expanding digital footprint where library patrons can stream and access everything from movies to online newspapers and periodicals, the library will unveil a newly designed website this June. The library dedicates 15 employees to keep its website fresh and current.

Modernization improvements also included the addition of lots of outlets to plug in one’s devices and enhanced WIFI capabilities. The addition of study rooms means that students can meet with tutors for extra help from anything from early reading and math skills up to providing resources for those preparing for college and graduate school entrance exams. Lots of this space was created by culling its reference section by nearly 90 percent and moving these resources online. The library also whittled its fiction section. While it stays current stocking the latest novels on its shelves, Craft said that while there is no longer a need to keep multiple copies of every James Patterson thriller or Steig Larsen novel taking up shelf space, the library stocks resources for book clubs in recognizing that reading the same book creates community. With enough planning, book clubs can loan a tote bag with up to 10 copies of their next read. The tote bag also comes with reviews of the book, discussion questions and an author biography.

Craft said the library respects some of the oldest pieces in its collection. Irreplaceable out-of-print books, documents and deeds of historical value are stored in climate-controlled rooms at the Birmingham Museum where residents can access them upon request. In connecting residents with their past, the library also organizes lectures and events at the museum.

With spring approaching, Craft said one of the unique program offerings is the library’s seed and seedling library. Residents can pick up flower and vegetable seeds purchased by the library through funds collected from room rental fees. Craft added that this summer, the library is launching a new afternoon concert series in the atrium to complement the concerts held at Shain Park.

“We have so much more to loan out beyond books and media,” Craft said. “For families looking to refresh and switch out their toy collection, or empty nesters who will have children visiting, you can loan toys, games and even lawn and outdoor games.”

Craft said events like the techno music party prove that even in our digital age, the library remains the place where residents of all ages still want to be.

“Libraries are still relevant places,” Craft said. “We provide services, resources and programming that are needed and appreciated in the community. The library is still a place where people like to be and gather.”

Unfortunately, cuts are coming to its budget. Craft said she expects them to hit the interlibrary loan system, from which patrons of the library borrow 8,000 items each year. The money covered transportation and shipping costs of those items. The library’s budget for continuing education stipends for its staff will be eliminated. In the last three years, staff have benefitted from $27,000 in continuing education funds.

The Bloomfield Township Public Library serves a population of over 44,000 residents with 22,000 of them holding a library card. It has an annual budget of $9.7 million supported by three different mileage rates.

Two are levied in perpetuity and one of which expired at the end of 2023, was renewed by 72 percent of the community at the current rate of .5047 for the next 10 years. This funding accounts for approximately 27 percent of the library’s revenues. It cost the average taxpayer approximately $151 per year on a home with a taxable value of $300,000.

Constructed in 1964, the building, which is over 100,000 square feet, underwent major renovations in 1969, 1986 and 2008. In fiscal year 2023-2024, it circulated 639,514 items.

The library is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Among special community events, each year, the library invites residents to participate in its annual photography contest and finalist entries are displayed throughout the building. Attendance at summer and winter library reading programs, especially those geared for families with young children, exceeded attendance expectations.

Behind the scenes, library staff launched a mobile app in 2023, which allows users to check their library accounts, place holds, search for materials, and check out items. In 2024, the library upgraded to a new online catalog system and cloud-based printing services and expanded online access to over 7,000 newspapers and magazines.

The library in 2024 also launched a podcast -- “The Distracted Librarians” -- which features chats with adult and teen librarians talking about the latest buzz in literature and pop culture.

Bloomfield Township Head Librarian Tera Moon’s journey to becoming a librarian stemmed from her love of books and literature. She landed a job at the now-defunct bookstore chain Borders after college. An avid reader of all genres of fiction and non-fiction, her favorite part of her job was helping people find the books they were seeking or introducing them to another author.

Moon worked for 12 years at the Southfield Public Library before making the move to the Bloomfield Township Public Library over a decade ago. In her position for the last four years, she manages a staff of 100 employees.

In March, Moon and her staff were busy celebrating Reading Awareness Month by inviting all Bloomfield Hills Schools kindergarteners to the library’s children’s section. There, they were entertained with a skit written and performed by the youth librarians to instill the joys and importance of reading. Plans are underway for an entire summer’s worth of programs around literacy and reading with plenty of giveaway prizes to incentivize young bookworms.

Moon began her career as a librarian in 2001. In those days, Google was just taking off, libraries were still using the old-fashioned card catalog system, and libraries were just at the beginning of meshing with the digital age.

“Back then, the Internet was well established, but how we use it now is completely different,” Moon said. “It is interesting to see how libraries have evolved with the internet. It has reduced the size of our reference collection because it’s just so easy to search for everything online.”

The trick is for librarians to educate their patrons on how to become digitally literate.

“As librarians, we've had to become savvy in digital information literacy so we could evaluate the accuracy of all the websites out there to provide accurate information to our patrons,” said Moon. “Ultimately, the internet replaced our reference book shelves as a source for information. As far as newspapers and periodicals go, most of those can also be found online, including issues that go back decades or publications no longer in print.”

When Moon began her tenure at the library in 2013, there was lots of floor space for DVDs, books on CDs and other formats. Now with all media available on streaming, there is more room for seating.

“When exams were going on in our high schools, it was hard to find a place to sit, or a group of students to study together,” Moon said. “We would quickly run out of seating. We’d bring in temporary folding chairs and tables. It looked like a crowded airport when a bunch of flights got canceled. In general, people crave a place to meet and collaborate on projects, and we are shrinking our physical collection into the digital realm to make space for that.”

In response, the new media section and added 70 seats, some at tables, others in comfortable armchairs, and lots of electric outlets for patrons to plug in their devices.

Another area in the library that Moon considers “prime real estate” is the computer lab. When the library was renovated in 2008, space was made for computer classes such as learning about the internet and software programs such as word processing and spreadsheets. Now, the space has been converted as a flexible area to be used for a multitude of programs from concerts, lectures, and movie screenings.

Once again, the library is embarking on evaluating the use of its footprint.

In March, the library began working with an interior designer to re-imagine its space, keeping in mind the ever-changing needs of its patrons.

Libraries in neighboring communities are also embracing their changing roles in the community.

West Bloomfield Executive Library Director Cathleen Russ never set out to become a librarian, but instead the profession chose her. A lifelong lover of books and reading, Russ earned her MLIS in 2003 after working in several area libraries and has been in her current position since 2020.

Russ spoke about the library’s continued tradition of valuing and encouraging early literacy. The large children’s section, complete with an ample sized play area with toys, puppets and other items to spark creativity, features programming for the smallest patrons who have yet to learn to walk.

“We have an excellent reputation as a place for early literacy,” Russ said. “We have babies and young kids learning in a variety of ways, from singing, playing, putting (toys) together and eventually writing their own stories. Our library has always had an academic support focus. You can see that when you walk through the library, where students are working alone or in groups in reserved rooms, complete with white boards. But I wanted to expand the library’s mission into more adult community engagement. Rather than expecting people to always come into the library, we have ramped up this community outreach along with enhanced digital services, and computer and tech classes.”

The library has kept up with the changing habits of its patrons by converting a little-used computer lab into a community commons space where the library hosts meetings and lectures as well as craft and maker space programs. The library also features a quiet reflection room that overlooks a stand of trees.

Recognizing that over half of West Bloomfield’s population is skewing into the 55 and over age range, the library now conducts literacy events in area senior residences and coordinates programs with West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Department. One initiative includes its “books on the trail program” where residents are encouraged to read a selected book and then discuss it while out on a hike in one of the township’s parks. Russ said there are more programs geared for young families at the library’s West Acres branch because this is where this demographic resides.

At press time, West Bloomfield’s librarians were still at work finalizing their summer schedule of special events. Most recently, it pooled resources with other area libraries to host Shelby Van Pelt, bestselling author of the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Each month, regularly scheduled programming includes creative writing groups for teens and adults, and conversational English groups as well as movie screenings, computer classes and book discussions. Special events in May include a 55 and over trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts. The West Acres branch features a seed library for budding gardeners.

In the city of Troy, a testament to the love of being a librarian can be found at the library. There, behind the reference desk and among the stacks you will find Troy Library Director Emily Dumas. Dumas followed in her late mother Carla Watkins' footsteps, who was a part-time youth librarian at the same library decades ago. Other members of her extended family are also librarians.

Now leading the library and working alongside staff that also worked with her mother, Dumas said the job is a bit of a homecoming. She has been in her position for four years, and was first drawn to working in the children’s sections of other libraries because it spoke to her creative, “artsy” side.

Dumas is spearheading an ambitious plan to transform the library's aging facility. Troy has a rapidly growing diverse population and has long outgrown the 48,000 square-foot building. There has not been a renovation to the library since 1984.

"We're currently undersized for our community," she explains. "National averages suggest we should be between 80,000 to 100,000 square feet." The library is exploring a bond proposal to build an entirely new facility that can better serve Troy's 87,000 residents.

Despite space constraints, Dumas said the library's programming has become a cornerstone of community engagement, particularly through its innovative Talk Time program.

"Troy has a high immigrant population," said Dumas. Over a third of households speak a language other than English. This program helps English learners not only practice the language together, but participants, who are all newcomers, form friendships through learning.”

Even with challenges from technological changes and potential funding threats, Dumas remains optimistic. According to its 2023-2024 annual report, the library circulated over one million items, including over 2,300 items to homebound seniors. Attendance to programs was at 33,000 and people made over 44,000 visits. The library’s patronage consists of 71,681 library card carriers with 11,877 new library cards issued in the last year. Reference librarians during this time fielded over 46,000 questions.

Last year, the library welcomed 344,000 visitors and circulated over one million items, demonstrating its continued relevance in the digital age.

"People still love physical books," Dumas said. "We're adapting by offering everything from board games to STEM kits, always looking to meet our community's evolving needs.

Dumas awaits the architectural plans for a new facility to be completed this spring, which will be presented to the Troy City Council and made available for public viewing.

Dumas said that judging by the amount of people who visit the library and the space constraints they are under until a bond proposal is approved to build a new library proves that libraries are here to stay.

“There was always this thought that when the internet, and then audio and eBooks came along, that would spell the end of libraries,” Dumas said. “But libraries do keep surviving. And, in surveys, there was a one to three ratio of people who preferred physical books to their digital formats. Books are the most important part that people want to protect in our library collection. Especially in the children’s section, books that we can touch and pick up and turn pages, those are here to stay.”

All local libraries note that keeping up with the times and redesigning library spaces costs money.

In Michigan, there are three main sources for library funding. They include monies collected through local library mileages, and funding allocated by the Michigan Department of Education.

Another pool of funding practiced in Michigan and 13 other states is money attained through court-issued penal fines for minor traffic infringements and misdemeanors. Penal fines significantly fund Michigan’s libraries, especially rural ones, up to 70 percent, according to the Michigan Library Association.

Cody James is the director of the Jameson Law Library and an assistant professor at the University of Montana. He also worked as a law librarian at the University of Colorado Law School and the University of Michigan Law School.

In an article he authored for the October 2024 issue of the Michigan State Bar Journal, he determined that while 13 states use this funding method, James discovered that Michigan is the only state with such a broad approach to library funding and is codified into the Michigan State Constitution.

The constitutional provision states: “All fines assessed and collected in the several counties, townships and cities for any breach of the penal laws shall be exclusively applied to the support of such public libraries, and county law libraries as provided by law.”

James said the funding mechanism creates an intriguing paradox. While libraries serve low-income communities by providing free resources, the money often comes from fines collected from the people who can least afford them.

“Libraries are one of the few spaces where people can just kind of go and exist for free in our society," James said. “At the same time, they are being funded in part by economically challenged individuals. While other states collect fines and use them for libraries, the funding is not directed towards all libraries but rather very specific libraries like those that exist within county courthouses. Michigan is the only state where there's a constitutional provision mandating that these funds are broadly distributed across all public libraries.”

James reported that some of this funding is drying up. While money is still coming in from speeding tickets, the legalization of marijuana in Michigan means that coffers built from possession of the drug dropped from $32 million in 2008 to $24 million in 2020.

James mentioned that broader criminal justice reforms are moving away from monetary penalties, which could further reduce library funding.

"There has been a school of thought within criminal law that fines can unfairly hurt lower economic people," James explained. “This can be a potential conflict of interest for some. I was once a prosecutor in Colorado. In that role, you think about this when you cite plea deals. Thinking about how your decision could help or hurt a local library is not something that should be taken into account for a judge or a prosecutor in a court setting.”

Fortunately, librarians say our local libraries have the financial and community support from their boards, volunteers, and Friends of the Library non-profit organizations that all raise funds for their libraries through used book sales and gift shops.

As the role of libraries continues to evolve, so does the formal training and education for the librarians.

Like every librarian interviewed by Downtown, Bloomfield township’s Tera Moon earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS) at Wayne State University.

Accredited as a library school since the 1960s, WSU’s library school is one of the top programs in the nation. WSU educates new librarians across multiple sectors - from public and academic libraries to school media centers and industry positions.

Under the leadership of Dean Paul Bracke, the program is redefining what it means to be a librarian in the 21st century.

"Libraries are no longer just places to check out books," said Bracke. "They've become dynamic community platforms that support learning, creativity, and technological access for everyone."

Bracke said WSU’s library students come from diverse backgrounds. Some pursuing their MLIS are recent graduates with a liberal arts background, while others are seeking career changes. Bracke said coursework teaches students not only how to harness technology and manage library collections but how to maintain a library culture that is dedicated to helping people find a passion for continued learning.

Bracke said with a heavy emphasis on building community through library programming, today’s library students need to gain skills that help them create these programs based on the volumes of literature that sit on library shelves or reside online.

Bracke added that public libraries have become critical technology access points, providing essential digital resources for job applications, research, and personal development. "Access to technology is no longer optional in today's society," said Bracke. "Libraries are where everyone can find the resources they need to learn, grow, and connect. The future of libraries is not about replacing physical spaces, but about reimagining them as vibrant, inclusive community hubs that bridge digital divides and foster lifelong learning.”

Bracke said as society speeds ahead into the digital age, there will always be a need for libraries and the printed book.

“Yes, there is a trend towards digitization, but not every item in a library’s collection can or should be digitized,” Bracke said. “There is still a role for print in people’s lives and libraries will not abandon that. I remember being a small child and what it felt like to check out a book that I chose on my own. Libraries were a community hub back then and they remain as a community hub today.”

At the University of Michigan the School of Library and Information Sciences has grown from one of the nation’s smallest programs to one of its largest. An average of 150 graduate students annually enroll in its MLIS program as well as 100 Ph.D. students.

“Our students are technologically adventurous and deeply care about information and data and making sure people have access to that information,” said. Kristin Fontichiaro, clinical professor of the University of Michigan School of Information.

Fontichiaro said there is a shift in perceptions about the profession. What was once thought of as a job that dealt with data and information management is moving into a perception that this is a field for right-brained creative types.

“Generally, those pursuing the field of library sciences have a general interest in working with people, which is the hallmark of our profession,” Fontichiaro explained. “Their backgrounds vary. Some come to us who have worked in the food service industry, or they are teachers or have a non-profit background. What we know is that there is a steady demand for library professionals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The success of the profession lies in how technology makes it easier or harder for people to attain information. What excites us is the growing numbers who want to enter this profession, which has become much more people-centric and extroverted than it used to be.”

Fontichiaro is overseeing a statewide study to be published in June. The survey of 60 communities across the state is revealing that people across political lines and demographics believe that maintaining a vibrant library is important to their communities.

“People are eager for a place in the community where it does not cost money to be together with other people, and the place to do this is at the library,” Fontichiaro said. “Our research showed that in many areas, there are no longer any places to gather that are alcohol free or family friendly. For Michigan residents we surveyed, they told us that libraries matter. And while we may lose some federal funding which comes down to the state level, our librarians are adaptive and resourceful and will continue to serve our communities.”