In 2023, the Southfield Public Library celebrated its 20-year anniversary of its current location. Have you ever wondered how the Library began? Check out the timeline below and hover over the light blue timeline markers to discover even more historical information about the Library.
Southfield Library Historical Timeline
1817
Town 1 North Range 10 East was surveyed.
1830
For 17 days, the new township was named Ossewa, then was changed to Southfield Township.
1834
Early settler David Stewart arrived. He loved books and would loan them to others.
1845
The township started to pay for books. The early library system relied heavily on the school districts. Records show that school inspectors had received from the township treasury a total of $25 for the township library. These monies were paid to a man from Detroit.
June 7, 1845
The first library book was withdrawn. The Library included 300 books.
May 2, 1846
Benjamin C. Gunn, the first librarian, swore oath.
1847
The rules were amended by the school inspectors that allowed books to be distributed to parents.
1854
700 volumes were in use by local schools, rotating every 3 months. It is unknown where the library was located, but it was probably in the home of the librarian.
1958
Most of Southfield Township became the City of Southfield, and a group of citizens requested a library. This group later became the Friends of the Southfield Public Library.
February 1, 1960
The first Library opens with a collection of 10,000 books in the Old Brooks School on the southwest corner of Lahser and Eleven Mile Roads.
1964
The Civic Center opened, including City Hall, Police Building, & Recreation Center. The Library moved to the David Stewart Memorial Library in the Southfield Civic Center.
1969
The Library expanded with the opening of the Children’s Room. The Library had a staff of 20, and 45,000 books were circulated.
1974
The Beech Woods Reading Center opened as one of the first paperback facilities in the country. McDonnell Towers also had a small branch library.
1980
The U.S. Census recorded 75,568 residents. The Library expanded by opening the lower level. Other media was added, including records, cassettes, and microfilms.
1982
The Library adopted bar coded library cards.
1985
The Library celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Friends of the Southfield Public Library established a sister library in Hino, Japan.
1986
The Library installed an automated bibliographic control system.
1990
U.S. Census 75,728 residents. The Library’s card catalog became automated.
1992
The Library introduces the InfoNet dial-in catalog service.
1993
Library Circulation and other services are automated with the Innovative Interfaces, Inc. Integrated Library System.
1997
The Beech Woods Reading Center was relocated to the John Grace Community Center.
March 9, 1999
Southfield voters approved a millage to finance the construction of a new Library building.
2000
Circulation exceeded 500,000. The library recorded over 424,000 visits, and computers were used almost 165,000 times.
April 11, 2001
Groundbreaking for the new library building began.
June 15, 2003
The new Library opened. The building is over 127,000 square feet, houses over 250,000 volumes, 250 computers, and 1,000 wired Internet connections.
2009
John Grace library branch closes.
2013
A few golden library cards were issued to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the library building. The Library reduces hours due to the economic downturn and reduction in tax revenue.
2015
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bust is permanently installed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force and their annual Peace Walk held every January.
2016
The Bear and Boy statue by Marshall Fredericks was relocated to the Library’s Tower Lobby from Northland Mall.
2019
The Library increases hours open to the public.
March 2020
The Library closed the building due to COVID-19, but boosted the digital library offerings and started virtual programming.
July 2020
The Library reopened for phone and drive-up service and opened a computer lab in the Meeting Room. Outdoor programming and take and make kits are offered.
2021
The building opened fully for in-person use in June. A Library of Things was introduced with Hot Spots and Raspberry Pi kits available to checkout.
2022
Full hours were restored to the library.
2023
The Library became fine free and celebrated 20 years at its current location.
