Detroit Public Library

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Detroit Public Library
Established	1865
Location	5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202
Branches	24
Collection
Size	7,572,562
Access and use
Population served	918,849
Other information
Director	Nancy Skowronski
Website	http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us
Detroit Public Library U.S. Historic District Contributing Property Part of: Cultural Center Historic District (#83003791) Designated CP: November 21, 1983

The Detroit Public Library (DPL) is the largest library system in Michigan. It is composed of a Main Library on Woodward Avenue, which houses DPL administration offices, and twenty-three branch locations across the city. The Main Library is part of Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places adjacent to Wayne State University campus and across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Designed by Cass Gilbert, the Detroit Public Library (1921) was constructed with Vermont marble and serpentine Italian marble trim in an Italianate architecture style. His son, Cass Gilbert, Jr. was a partner with Francis J. Keally in the design of the library's additional wings added in 1963. Among his other buildings, Cass Gilbert designed the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

Contents 1 History 2 Administration 3 Collections 4 Services 5 Photo gallery 6 Branches 7 Former branches 8 References and further reading 9 External links

[edit] History

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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 at 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 was not officially dedicated until June 3, 1921.^{[citation needed]} The main library opened on March 21, 1921, while the wings opened on June 23, 1963.^[1]

Detroit Public Library is also a founding member of the Detroit area library network (DALNET). Historically, DALNET 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 wain, and the library now runs its own systems. The library continues to be a member partner in the consortium.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Administration

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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 administer the funds. There are 7 Library Commissioners, with the seventh commissioner being the current president of the Board of Education, who is an ex-offico 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 appoint and hires the Director, Deputy Director and all other employees are hired by the commission, upon the recommendation of the Director.

[edit] Collections

The Detroit Public Library offers users books, magazines, records, CDs, videos, DVDs and electronic materials through access to subscription databases. It also houses the Burton Historical Collection (named for historian and donor Clarence M. Burton), the Hackley Collection, and the National Automotive History Collection. Additionally, there are online collections, including one on Detroit Tigers and Baseball Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The Ernie Harwell Online Exhibit is part of the Burton Historical Collection.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Photo gallery

Main entrance with Italian Renaissance style marble.	Detroit Public Library back entrance from Cass Ave.	First branch in Detroit history, now called Skillman.	The Skillman Branch seen from the aptly-named Library Street.
Skillman Branch reopened in 2006 after renovations.

[edit] Branches

^[2]

Branch	Address
Herbert Bowen Branch	3648 W. Vernor/W. Grand Blvd.
James Valentine Campbell Branch	8733 W. Vernor/Springwells
Chandler Park Branch	12800 Harper/Dickerson
Henry Chaney Branch	16101 Grand River/Greenfield
Jessie C. Chase Branch	17731 W. Seven M./Southfield
Edwin F. Conely Branch	4600 Martin/Michigan
Douglass Branch for Specialized Services (formerly The Frederick Douglass Center for Specialized Services)[2]	3666 Grand River/Trumbull
Divie B. Duffield Branch	2507 W. Grand Blvd./14th St.
Thomas A. Edison Branch	18400 Joy Rd./Southfield
Elmwood Park Branch	550 Chene/Lafayette
Benjamin Franklin Branch	13651 E. McNichols/Gratiot
Bela Hubbard Branch	12929 W. McNichols/J. Couzens
Thomas Jefferson Branch	12350 E. Outer Drive/E. Warren
Elisabeth Knapp Branch	13330 Conant/E. Davison
Abraham Lincoln Branch	1221 E. Seven Mile/Russell
Main Library	5201 Woodward Ave
Mark Twain Annex/Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church	4741 Iroquois
John Monteith Branch	14100 Kercheval/Eastlawn
Francis Parkman Branch	1766 Oakman Blvd./Linwood
Redford Branch	21200 Grand River/W. McNichols
Gabriel Richard Branch	9876 Grand River/Stoepel
Sherwood Forest Branch	7117 W. Seven Mile/Livernois
Rose and Robert Skillman Branch (formerly Downtown Library)[2]	121 Gratiot / Library
Laura Ingalls Wilder Branch	7140 E. Seven Mile/Van Dyke

[edit] Former branches

• John F. Gray Branch^[2]

[edit] References and further reading

1. ^ "Main Library." Detroit Public Library. Retrieved on April 18, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Locations & Hours." Detroit Public Library. Retrieved on April 26, 2009.

• Christen, Barbara S.; Flanders, Steven (2001). Cass Gilbert, Life and Work: Architect of the Public Domain. W.W. Norton. ISBN 0393730654. 
• Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3. 
• 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. ISBN 0-8143-1651-4. 
• Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3270-6. 

[edit] External links

• Detroit Public Library website includes a historical sketch of the DPL and information on branches and access to the Online Catalogue.
• TIP (The Information Place).
• The Ernie Harwell Online Exhibit.
• The Drawing Power: An Exhibit of Motor City Ad Art in the the Age of Muscle and Chrome.
• The The Making of Modern Michigan.

v • d • e Architecture of metropolitan Detroit Skyscrapers 10 tallest to 73 stories Renaissance Center • One Detroit Center • Penobscot • RenCen Towers 100-400 • Guardian • Book Tower • 150 West Jefferson 20 tallest Fisher • Cadillac Tower • Stott • One Woodward Avenue • McNamara • Detroit Edison • Broderick • 211 West Fort • Buhl • Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel • Greektown Casino 30 tallest First National • Cadillac Centre • RenCen Towers 500-600 • 1001 Woodward • Milleder Center • Jeffersonian • AT&T • Dime • Blue Cross • Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 40 tallest Penobscot Annex • Lafayette East • Riverfront Tower 300 • Riverfront Tower 200 • Whitney • Washington Square • Riverfront Tower 100 • Water Board • State of Michigan Plaza • Washington Boulevard 50 - 195 tallest Riverside Hotel • Fort Shelby Hotel • Industrial-Stevens • Courtyard by Marriott • Ford • Leland • Fyfe • Grand Park Centre • Compuware • United Artists Theatre • Michigan Central Station • Cadillac Place 60 - 195 tallest MGM Grand Detroit • MotorCity Casino • Chase Tower • Maccabees • Fort Washington Plaza • One Kennedy Square • Detroit Free Press • Metropolitan • Wardell 70 - 195 tallest Kales • Masonic Temple • Michigan Building • Vinton • Bellcrest • Park Avenue House • Harvard Square • Fox Theatre • Detroit Building • The Penobscot (1905) • Marquette New Center to 30 stories Fisher • Cadillac Place • Argonaut Building • Wayne State University Buildings • Henry Ford Hospital • New Center Building East side to 29 stories Lafayette Park • Jeffersonian • Detroit Towers • The Kean • The Whittier • Harbortown Apartments Suburban to 32 stories Southfield Town Center • American Center • Top of Troy • Tower Plaza • Hyatt Regency Dearborn • Parklane Towers • Chrysler Headquarters Low rise under 10 stories selected Downtown 411 • Bankers Trust • Cass Building • Detroit Athletic Club • Detroit Club • Detroit Cornice and Slate • Fillmore • Harmonie Centre • Harmonie Club • L. B. King • Opera House • Music Hall • Merchants • Wayne County Building • Wright-Kay • Savoyard Centre Midtown Orchestra Hall • Metropolitan Center for High Technology • Phoenix Group • Old Main • Rackham Building • Verona East side Brewery Park • Milner Arms • Pasadena • Garden Court • Alden Park Towers • Coronado Suburban The Dearborn Inn • GM Technical Center • Royal Park Hotel Parks and gardens Belle Isle • Cranbrook • Campus Martius • Grand Circus • Metroparks • Matthaei Botanical Gardens • Riverfront parks • Detroit Zoo Museums and libraries Detroit Institute of Arts • Detroit Public Library • Museum of Contemporary Art • Museum of African American History • Science Center • Historical Museum • Cranbrook • The Henry Ford • Meadowbrook Hall • Fair Lane • Edsel and Eleanor Ford House • Southfield Public Library Religious landmarks Religious landmarks Performance centers Theatres and performing arts venues Neighborhood Historic Districts Residential Arden Park-East Boston  • Atkinson Avenue  • Beverly Road  • Boston-Edison  • Brush Park  • Corktown  • East Ferry  • East Grand Boulevard  • East Jefferson Avenue  • Grosse Pointe • Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub.  • Indian Village  • Layafette Park  • Palmer Park Apartments  • Palmer Woods  • Park Avenue  • Rosedale Park  • Sherwood Forest  • Virginia Park  • Warren-Prentis  • West Canfield • West Village  • Willis-Seldon  • Woodbridge  • Woodward East  • (See also: Historic homes) Mixed-use Adams Street  • Broadway Ave.  • Capitol Park • Cass Park • Cass-Davenport  • Congress Street • Cultural Center • Eastern Market • Eastside Cemetery • Financial District • Grand Boulevard  • Grand Circus  • Grand River Avenue  • Gratiot Avenue  • Griswold Street  • Greektown  • Jefferson Avenue • Jefferson Chalmers • Larned Street  • Lower Woodward  • Michigan Avenue • Midtown Woodward • Monroe Avenue • New Amsterdam • New Center • Piquette Ave • Randolph Street  • Shelby Street • State Street • Sugar Hill • Washington Boulevard  • West Vernor-Junction • West Vernor-Lawndale  • West Vernor-Springwells • Woodward Avenue See also: List of tallest buildings in Detroit

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Coordinates: 42°21′30.9″N 83°4′0″W / 42.358583°N 83.066667°W / 42.358583; -83.066667