Canton Public Library brings together community members from within Canton and beyond. Did you know that we are a part of the Library Network Consortium? This means that there is a full list of other libraries in Michigan with which we reciprocate. To check out materials from CPL, bring in your library card from your home library and a picture ID, and in no time, you will be able to check out the many physical materials in our collection.
Many travelers visit libraries when they are vacationing in Michigan. It’s a fun and engaging way to see what other libraries throughout the state have to offer. We asked Michigan libraries to share what makes them special and worth visiting and got lots of great responses. From beautiful and historic architecture to stunning gardens with musical instruments, vibrant children’s departments to amazing historical rooms, Michigan's outstanding libraries are just waiting to be discovered.
If there’s one thing all libraries have in common, it’s how much we love seeing smiling patron faces. If you visit any or all of the fantastic places on this list, be sure and tell them the Canton Public Library said hello.
Ann Arbor Area
Chelsea District Library (CDL) is located in a beautiful building that combines the new and the historic. Twenty years ago, the town voted yes on a bond that allowed them to expand the existing library, located in the historic McKune House, into a two-story structure with room for over 80,000 items.
They have some things you wouldn't expect in a library: tiny fairy houses and barns in their Reading Garden, large sculptures on the lawn that change each year, and even a makerspace. The makerspace room holds equipment that helps you create things: sewing machines, resin and 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC routers, vinyl heat presses and more. It's a place to let your ingenuity shine, so they call it the Ingenuity Engine.
In order to reach all the homes in their large service area, a bookmobile was purchased by the library and affectionately called Mobee. You'll see Mobee at town festivals, at the retirement center, summer camps, after school care programs, bakeries and restaurants, and some neighborhoods. Everyone is welcome at CDL.
Metro Detroit
At Berkley Public Library, they have a large train in the children's room that you can sit inside to read.
Bloomfield Township Public Library
Bloomfield Township Public Library features 13 signature gardens designed by Jim Slezinski, a landscape horticulturist and Vice President of Goldner Walsh Garden and Home. These gardens, which won a Detroit Design Award for Commercial Landscape in 2022, are open year-round for public enjoyment. Jim has been enhancing the library grounds since the 1970s, providing a beautiful space for visitors to read and relax. His favorite space is the Library Terrace: "It's nice to go read a book and sit at the tables, surrounded by the garden. I like to watch the gardens change with the seasons," he says.
The Brighton District Library has an art gallery by local artists (and some art is available for sale, too). They also have a gorgeous garden maintained by a local garden club and there's even a children's playhouse. But that's not all! They have outdoor musical instruments to play and a learning walk with stations to make rubbings of different types of Michigan nature. There's a pavilion and tables outside so you can enjoy the garden and enjoy a picnic in the pavilion if you'd like.
The Center Line Public Library has a wonderful collection of zines. If you're not familiar, zines are short booklets about any subject that are created and produced solely by independent writers and artists with no assistance or input from publishers. Zines allow anyone to put down their thoughts on paper and distribute them to readers in their community and beyond. They're usually obtained by going to zine fairs, indie bookstores, or simply happening upon them by circumstance. Because zines can be hard to come by for people outside of artsy/indie spaces, having them in the library is a great way for these creators to reach a wider audience and spread awareness of the artform.
The Center Line Public Library collection features zines from creators nationwide, but has a focus on local creators, especially those in the indie comics and cartooning scene. A lot of the zines are sourced from artists that are known personally by the librarians, as well as frequent visits to local festivals like A2CAF (The Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival), Detroit Zine Fest, Detroit Art Book Fair, and more.
Located very close to the Detroit River and beautiful Dingell Park, the Ecorse Library offers a number of unique items alongside their well-maintained and updated collection. They offer a care closet and Little Free Pantry for library visitors and also have some cool features in their collection like Family Fun Kits dedicated to different popular characters like Bluey, Curious George, and others. The kits include books, games and toys so the whole family can enjoy materials based on the character their young one loves most. They also offer Life Kits for adults and teens that help with sensitive topics like divorce, co-parenting, and pregnancy (among others). Don't forget to stop in and say hello to their giraffe, Mina.
The Grosse Pointe Public Library’s Central Library branch is truly a work of art, and it was named to the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior in 2021. The building was built in 1953 by the Bauhaus-trained architect, Marcel Breuer, who was born in Hungary in 1902. The Central Library was one of his first major public commissions in the United States and the only one of his buildings in the Detroit area.
Inside the Main Reading Room of the Central Library, they also have a Calder Mobile. The mobile was a gift by W. Hawkins Ferry and was made by artist Alexander Calder in his studio in Roxbury, Connecticut for the library. There are other works of art throughout the library to discover and enjoy as well.
Highland Township Public Library
Highland Township is a small community nestled among many larger communities. It retains a small town "nature" feel and their library was designed to reflect such an atmosphere. If you are a fan of architecture or nature, be sure to visit their library. David Osler designed the library, and he did so with nature in mind. He considered the building to be a viewing point for the environment around it: a lake, pine trees, frogs, turtles, and more. They have tiles with frogs and turtles and a tree house area that makes you feel as though you are in a tree house overlooking the lake. These areas are very peaceful for reading and meant to help the library blend into the natural surroundings. This quiet library, nestled in a pine grove, is certainly worth a visit.
Huntington Woods Public Library
The Huntington Woods Public Library is a very walkable library. Everyone they serve lives less than a mile from the library and their bike rack is often full. They have beautiful stained glass throughout the library and a respected art gallery on the lower level. The library converted a non-functioning fireplace into a fish tank and made it at eye level for kids. Additionally, there is a native plant garden just outside the windows of the children's area.
In addition to a large children’s department, a Library of Things, bookstore and other services, the Civic Center Library in Livonia has a 1,000 square foot art gallery, located on the second floor, which changes every month. Check out the schedule on the Livonia Arts Commission website.
Madonna University is a small, private university in Livonia, but their library is open to the public. They have guest Wi-Fi as well as computers with guest access upon which patrons can access the library’s digital resources. In addition, they have a law library, children's books, and a collection of Polish language books. More information can be found by visiting their website, contacting them at 734-432-5703, or emailing ref@madonna.edu.
The Novi Public Library has an iCube Makerspace available for patrons to discover. Need to laminate something, print photos, make buttons or transfer a photo to a mug? The library is here to help! Check out the availability of the equipment and explore your options.
Additionally, the library offers its Novi patrons library access beachside with their Lakeshore Lending Library kiosk in beautiful Lakeshore Park, located on the shores of Walled Lake. With a browsing collection of 235 adult and youth items for Novi patrons to discover, the kiosk gives the whole family the chance to read while at the beach or playground and allows patrons an opportunity to check out hot new titles without waiting in line for a hold. Lakeshore Lending Library was the first self-service library kiosk available in the state of Michigan and Novi residents love the convenience it offers.
Some standout things at Plymouth District Library include their Lab with tools like a Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut cutter, heat press and mug press, embroidery machine, sewing machines and serger, 3D printers and more; their Library of Things with cool stuff you can borrow like a telescope, GoPro camera, projector and screen, metal detector, bird watching kit, hiking poles and more; plus STEM kits for kids.
Additionally, they have a board game collection with games to borrow for all ages and difficulty levels. For readers, they have an extensive manga collection and a collection of talking Vox picture books and Wonderbook chapter books. Be sure to check out their summer programs in their new outdoor program space, the Wilcox Amphitheater.
The Southfield Public Library is special for two big reasons. Their children's area is a place to learn and explore—it has a castle made out of books including a book throne and features Slumber the Dragon. They have a Reader's Treehouse, Imaginarium Garden, and of course, lots of books. TLN library cardholders can check out up to 25 items at the Southfield Public Library.
The second reason is their artwork. They have permanent artworks on display by Marshall Fredericks, Gary Lee Price Studios, Jerry Pinkney, Dr. Seuss, Arthur Kraft and more. You can see some of the pieces here.
Waterford Township Public Library
Waterford Township Public Library has a beautiful walkable campus and the grounds of the library itself have lovely gardens tended by their own volunteer group, the Library Garden Club.
The grounds of the Township campus include a large pond, Veteran’s Memorial area, and a well-tended cemetery owned by the Township. In addition, if you are lucky while out and about on the campus, you may meet the members of the sandhill crane family that frequent the area. Sometimes they try to get into the library, usually before the building opens. They peer into the windows and doors!
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
The West Bloomfield Township Public Library has a few unique features that make the library an attractive destination for many from out-of-town.
Youth Play Spaces: With a playhouse, kid-sized car, puppet theatre, activity tables and more toys or games available by request, both the Main Library and Westacres Branch in West Bloomfield have plenty to offer visiting families with kids of all ages. Hunt for nursery rhyme tiles around the room and settle into a cozy reading nook for a story. A permanent Storybook Trail outside the Main Library's Youth Terrace is expected to open by fall 2024. Check the calendar on their website to see which library programs are open to non-residents.
Study and Work Spaces: Students and adults appreciate the Main Library's many work environments including study pods, study tables, outdoor terrace tables, cozy fireplace seating, quiet study room and more.
The newly added Reflection Room offers a relaxing space for users to take breaks from their studies, meditate, pray or read quietly—with rocking chairs, cushioned floor seating, and yoga mats facing nearby woods.
Visitors can also walk through the woods on the Civic Center Trail. A Community Commons space with flexible collaborative tables and seating, whiteboards, and cutting-edge technology including a 3D printer, Cricut, and laser cutter is expected to open for limited public use by fall 2024.
Westland Public Library has a seed library that is open to all. With a Westland Library card, you can gain access to their Library of Things, STEM kits, and Storytime Kits. Westland card holders at least 18 years old can check out wireless hotspots, too.
If you enjoy participating in creative and artistic pursuits, you might be interested in submitting to their Tiny Art Show, photography contest, or the Westland Writes program (a great opportunity for attendees of the Adult Writers' Group held at CPL on Tuesday evenings!).
The White Lake Township Library has outdoor patio spaces with all kinds of games for kids, sensory and butterfly gardens, and space to read while enjoying natural beauty. They also have an Idea Lab/Library of Things that includes a 3D printer, garden tools, cake pans and much more, which you can see here. They have a new building that just opened in 2019 and is celebrating its fifth "birthday" this year. And, of course, they have wonderful staff who make the inside just as welcoming as the outside! Take a virtual tour here.
Mid-Michigan
The T.A. Cutler Memorial Library in St. Louis, MI has almost a full block of library grounds which includes a custom-built gazebo that was modeled after a historic well-house from when St. Louis was a destination location for magnetic mineral springs and their healing properties.
Northern Michigan
Traverse Area District Library
The entire Traverse Area District Library network has six unique libraries around Grand Traverse County, a county that abounds in recreational areas, wineries, restaurants, beaches, and many other things that make for a great visit—including the libraries!
- Main Library/Woodmere – Located on the east side of beautiful Boardman Lake, this library is surrounded by gardens, including a neighboring children's garden, and is on the regional TART trails system. They have a busy events calendar and a vibrant collection of local music. This summer they are rolling out a local music streaming service—TADL Waves. Stop by for the great Wi-Fi, stay for the Hi-Fi!
- East Bay Branch Library – This little jewel box of a library is in a charming historic building. It features a houseplant library (take a cutting home!) and a popular Sing & Stomp program twice a week.
- Kingsley Branch Library – This library, located in downtown Kingsley next to a newly renovated park, is a certified monarch butterfly waystation and a destination for many fans of the Wigglers storytimes. It has a large pollinator garden and a beautiful monarch sculpture created by a local artist.
- Fife Lake Public Library – The FLPL is nestled in the wooded area surrounding Fife Lake. This bright and airy library features a lakeside front porch with rocking chairs, where you can enjoy a book.
- Interlochen Public Library – The IPL is a stone's throw from neighboring Interlochen Arts Academy, a world-class school for young artists and musicians. IPL has a creative vibe, popular yoga classes, and a commercial kitchen.
- Peninsula Community Library – The PCL is centrally located on the peninsula's Old Mission Wine Trail. While it can be mistaken for a winery by visitors, you can't judge a book by its cover! The PCL has a beautiful stone fireplace, gardens, and more. One new feature—memory care kits!
This year TADL is celebrating 155 years of library history. They trace their beginning back to the Ladies Library Association (founded in 1869). The LLA founding members joined the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in December 2023.
Southern Michigan
The Homer Public Library offers a perpetual book sale in the library. While you are there, be sure to check out the lighthouse and lightkeeper's house made out of Petoskey stones.
What makes Tecumseh special is that the staff consistently go above and beyond for patrons to make every experience as perfect as possible. Staff are continually trained to put them in the best possible position to serve the public. They also have a "historical room" that houses an extensive collection of artifacts from Tecumseh and Lenawee County. Many of the artifacts are mirrored on their website as well.
The Stair District Library in Morenci, Michigan has 15 outdoor musical instruments from Percussion Play right in front of their library on Main Street. They are beautiful, sound great even if you have zero musical ability, and are such a delight! So, no matter if the library is open or closed, the instruments are available for anyone to play—making it worth the drive.
Inside in their children’s area, they have many building toys, traditional wood blocks, Connectagons, Bristle Blocks, and Squigz. There are games, puzzles and puppets ready for play, no need to ask. They also have an Art Cart with cool supplies like alcohol ink markers, Prismacolor pencils, and Scratch Art.
A community puzzle is usually featured in the main area and Magnetic Poetry in the Teen Area. Their baby/toddler materials (silk and regular scarves, shaker eggs, bells, ribbons, lummi sticks, etc.) are not in the public area, but can be requested for in-library use.
There are other neat features like stuffed felt animal heads hanging on the walls, eight small farming-related stained-glass windows from when the library hosted the Smithsonian Institution’s “Barn Again! Celebrating an American Icon” exhibit in 2004, and a quilt that mirrors a mural in a little pocket park across the street (also a great spot with three picnic tables, art, and sidewalk chalk). There’s a StoryWalk at the park just a few blocks from the library. The park also has fun playground equipment plus newly resurfaced tennis/pickle ball courts.
Thumb Area
This little one-room library housed in a former church turns 100 years old this year—and they pack a lot into their little space! Deckerville Public Library has books, of course, including a rather large collection of Amish romances that are popular with their patrons. They have a couple of big comfy chairs in front of a bay window with a device charging station, and everyone is welcome to a hot beverage or some water. They also have public computers and printing over their open Wi-Fi network that includes an extension for better service outside of the building when they're not open.
The library offers a homeschooling collection of books, flashcards, and other items kindly donated by one of their patrons. Their Library of Things has puzzles, a metal detector, a volleyball net, children's toys, and themed memory kits with activities to engage all senses.
Upper Peninsula
The St. Ignace Public Library is a true community library, which means they're a little loud (but that's really okay with them!). The library sits on top of a hill at the southern edge of town with a marvelous view of Lake Huron—the Straits of Mackinac just below them. The library has a small community garden at both the front and back of the building. Their seed library is open for business for most of the summer, free to all.
The library itself is a wonderful place to discover the latest titles and upcoming community events—and stay for the great conversation. Their Local History Room contains digitized local newspapers, local history titles and family histories. The Michigan Collection is housed in the library proper along with the library's Native/Tribal collection. And, as if that weren't enough, the Children's Area is full of toys and games for early literacy fun.
Western Michigan
The Allegan District Library is a Carnegie library that opened in 1914. Though they have had two expansions since then, they kept the original building and have worked to keep and reconstruct the original shelving, lighting, and other details. The library also overlooks the Kalamazoo River, Allegan's historic iron bridge, and the beautiful riverfront boardwalk.
Muskegon Area District Library
Be sure to visit the Muskegon Area District Library—anyone visiting one of their libraries will have access to borrow camping equipment, color blind glasses, yard games, translation pens, bikes, metal detectors, laptops, iPads, and Wi-Fi hotspots. Keep an eye out for their beach bookmobile visits on Lake Michigan as well as zoo visits; and enjoy Farmers Market storytimes, bilingual programming, euchre tournaments, murder mysteries, Bluey parties and a number of other cool things that are all free to the public. You can also learn how to make goat ice cream!
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