The Ypsilanti District Library is a library that serves Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Superior Township in eastern Washtenaw County, Michigan, with a permanent branch in each municipality, as well as a bookmobile that travels throughout the service area. The main location is at 5577 Whittaker Road in Ypsilanti Township, the downtown branch is at 229 West Michigan Avenue, and a third branch is at 8975 MacArthur Boulevard in Superior Township. The library has been in operation since 1868, and presently has more than 309,000 volumes.
History
Early history
In 1868, a small group of women started a reading group that created a library, which originally included 175 volumes. They housed the library on the second floor of the Arcade Building on North Huron. In 1886, the Arcade Building became inadequate for the purpose and the library moved to the second floor on the Union Block on Michigan Avenue. In 1890, Mrs. Starkweather donated her home to the 'Ladies' Library' on Huron Street as well as new furniture and a large stained glass window. In the fall of 1948 the Ladies' Library changed its name to 'Public Library'. In 1963, it moved into a 1915 Beaux Arts building that had previously housed the Ypsilanti post office at 229 West Michigan Avenue, which has been in use ever since.
Recent history
In 1981 a new bookmobile was purchased and scheduled to start on April 1, 1981. A year later the library was denied extra funds by the township to help with the operating of the library. On March 25, 1983 the library closed due to lack of funds and waited on a tax proposal to be passed on April 4. On June 15, 1983 the library was mandated to reopen when the new tax was voted in. On April 14, 1984 the deed of the library was signed over from the city to the library, so it owned the building. In 1991 the Superior branch was opened. In 1996 Round Tree branch was opened. Due to financial setback, this branch closed again the same year. In 1998 the community voted to build a new library, renovate the Michigan Avenue facility and purchase a new bookmobile. In 2002 the Whittaker Road branch opened. The following year the Michigan Avenue branch was reopened after extensive renovation. The Ypsilanti District Library received the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award for its second annual Ypsilanti Songwriting Festival.
Administration
Members of the Board of Trustees are elected at large from the library district to serve 4-year terms. Each member is expected to participate in library meetings and the events of the library. The Board of Trustees includes President Angela Moloney, Vice President John Barr, Treasurer Kay Williams, Secretary Brian Steimel, Director Jill Morey and trustees Frances Doe, Suzanne Gray, and Jean Winborn.
Collections
All of these publications can be checked out by the public at no cost.
