BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY

ANNOUNCES CELEBRATION OF BUILDING PROJECTS

Bloomfield Township, MI—February 26, 2020

“Libraries are not about books, they’re about people,” said Skye Patrick, director of the Los Angeles County Library system, when asked about the changing role of public libraries. As public libraries continue to evolve to be a meeting place for everyone in the community, as well as a place to find books, DVDs, and countless other items, the staff of Bloomfield Township Public Library have been striving to “provide a flexible space for a variety of users and activities that is accessible and engaging to all in proximity to the rest of the library.” That effort has resulted in the Commons.

In 2018, library staff and trustees started working with an interior designer to solve some space and wayfinding problems identified in the Library’s 2016-2020 strategic plan. It was clear that the Library needed more seating, and needed to support library users of all ages working together in small groups. Through conversations with staff, trustees, and library users, a “big idea” quickly developed:  to relocate the Media collection and re-imagine the resulting space to meet a variety of needs, such as studying alone and in small groups, meeting with other community members, and reading in a cozy spot.

In May 2019, the Media collection was relocated to the Adult and Youth Services collections, and in summer 2019 the space was used to test several different furniture pieces. Library users were encouraged to vote on which furniture best supported the activities identified. Interior Designer Geraldine Drake of AECOM led Library staff and trustees through the design think process to create a vision statement and, ultimately, a layout of the ideal warm and welcoming space. “It was important to library administration and trustees to include library users and the community in this process. Together we developed ways to collect feedback and used it to select the types of furniture you see today. We were very pleased with the way this feedback led to the current design.” 

Community feedback, plus ideas gathered during several design think workshops held with staff and the interior designer, was used to design the new space. The new space, known as the Commons, adds 73 new seats in various configurations, including booths, tables, pods, and a built-in bench. For the convenience of our patrons with electronic devices, dozens of easy-to-access electrical outlets were also installed in this area.

Two other building projects were completed in late 2019. The entire roof was renovated and the lobby floor was replaced. Everyone who visited the Library during these projects gets a special thank you for patiently enduring the noise, dust and inconvenience caused during that time. 

All are invited to celebrate the completion of each of these projects, with brief remarks and simple refreshments, on Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m.

This event is free, open to everyone, and no registration is required. For more information, call the Library at (248) 642-5800 or visit our website www.btpl.org.

The Library is located at 1099 Lone Pine Road (at Telegraph Road), Bloomfield Township, MI 48302.

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Please direct inquiries to

Tera Moon

moontera@btpl.org

(248) 642-5800

Bloomfield Township Public Library

1099 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Township, MI  48302

About the Bloomfield Township Public Library

Bloomfield Township Public Library is “The Place to Discover.”  The Library champions the power of words to spark discovery and imagination.  The Library is open seven days a week to serve the community of Bloomfield Township.  Residents are encouraged to visit the Library and explore their interests through the vast array of available resources.  Learn more at www.btpl.org.