History
Library services began for the people living in the Township of Southfield in 1844. The services proved so popular that by 1845 Township rules were adopted for the Southfield Township Library. The early Library system relied heavily on the school districts. Every three months, the Township librarian took a rotating collection of books to each school. After 1859, not much is known about library services in the Township of Southfield.
In the 1950s, a group of citizens began a campaign for a public library in the newly formed City of Southfield. This group eventually became known as the Friends of the Southfield Public Library. Their efforts were successful and on February 3, 1960 the first Southfield Public Library opened its doors in a renovated two-room school house.
It quickly became apparent that the Library would need a new building in order to keep up with the rapid growth and vitality of the new City of Southfield. In 1964, the Library moved to a new building in the Southfield Civic Center complex. The 1960s and 1970s were years of continued growth for the City of Southfield and its Library. To keep pace with the City’s expansion, an enlarged and renovated Southfield Public Library was made available to the community in 1980.
By the mid 1980s, Southfield’s reputation as a center for business solidified as a number of Fortune 500 companies moved their world headquarters to the city.
In 1999, Southfield voters approved a millage increase to build and operate a new library building. The new Southfield Public Library opened the doors to its new $36,000,000 home on June 15, 2003.
On May 3, 2011 Southfield voters approved a millage for police and fire protection, library operations, street maintenance and parks and recreation programming. The millage was passed with over 83% of the vote.
On September 4, 2012 the library began shortened hours due to property tax revenue decreases. The new hours are: Mondays & Wednesdays: 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Fridays: closed; Saturdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sundays: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (from September – May)
Read more about this topic: Southfield Public Library
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