For more than 75 years, public library service has been available to the citizens of Dearborn. It started in 1921 when books were checked out of a room in the Village Hall.
Today, library service is available from four libraries located throughout the city.
Books are still checked out, along with material in other formats such as videotape, audiocassette, and compact disc.There are over 300,000 items in the Dearborn Libraries, and the annual circulation figure is over one million. Around 700,000 people walked through the doors last year, making the Dearborn Public Libraries the fourth busiest public library system in the state.
Henry Ford Centennial Library (pictured above) is the main library, and it houses the largest collection of material of the four libraries. It has an extensive Reference Collection, a Foundation Collection, and a 240-seat auditorium.
The three branch libraries are in locations convenient to citizens throughout the city. All of them have material that is tailored to the interests of the people in the surrounding neighborhoods. There is daily messenger service between all four libraries, so material can be obtained from or returned to any location.
Programs for young people are offered at all the libraries. Last year over 30,000 children participated. Programs include the Preschool Storytime, Tot Time, the Reading Buddy Program, the Summer Reading Program, Teen Read, bookmark contests, craft workshops, and more.
Membership in the Dearborn Public Libraries is free for all Dearborn residents, and is free to many people who work or go to school in Dearborn.
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