Dearborn, Dearborn Heights Share Libraries
Dearborn residents will soon be able to use Dearborn Heights’ libraries as part of a year-long pilot reciprocal borrowing program that begins March 1.
The reciprocal borrowing agreement will give Dearborn residents access to Dearborn Heights’ John F. Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy libraries and Dearborn Heights residents will have access to the Henry Ford Centennial Library, as well as the Snow, Bryant and Esper branch libraries.
It isn’t clear yet what, if any, type of financial savings might be realized by each city through such a program but residents will certainly benefit with greater choice.
The new system will give Dearborn residents access to 146,000 volumes from Dearborn Heights Public Library, and limited access to their network shared system, which contains even more resources.
It will also allow residents a greater geographic proximity to libraries, and access to 70 more public computers.
Extended library access also means additional library hours on nights and weekends, as well as in the summer. Dearborn residents will also be able to participate in library programs at both Dearborn Heights libraries.
Dearborn Heights residents will reap many rewards similar to those listed above as they will have access to all libraries in the Dearborn Public Library system. Benefits to Dearborn Heights residents include access to more than 290,000 items, including a large DVD collection and an International Cinema Collection, as well as 104 public computers with internet access and standard software programs. In addition, Dearborn Public offers a wide variety of online databases that include Mango Languages, Ancestry Library Edition, AllDataPro Automotive Repair and Biography Resource Center as well as access to downloadable audio books and e-books.
The reciprocal exchange applies to residents, property owners, or taxpayers in the City of Dearborn or the City of Dearborn Heights.
February 12th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
This makes NO sense. Sharing the libraries will add to the cost in Dearborn. Our Dearborn libraries will see a big increase in use which in turn the City will be asking for more of Dearborn tax money to support additional computers to accomidate the Dearborn Heights people. Increase in staff too. Is anyone in Dearborn going to drive out of their way to use the DH library? I think NOT. We lose in this deal. Is this another of the Big O’s plans? Time for him to GO.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
What’s next? Sharing the Inkster library (if that city has one…)?
February 14th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Have either of you been into a DH Library? The city is some features that supasses our Libraries. In addition their not really out of the way. In fact their closer to some residents. I sit a read everyone bash this that and everything else. I could understand if we were opening our facilities to a city that had no facilities of their own having all of this mush. Justy my 2 cents take it or leave it.
February 15th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
If there is a way to consolidate services and administration to save money, go for it. If no dollars saved, why?
February 20th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Wake up and smell the coffee! City administration is offering reciprocal borrowing privileges with Dearborn Heights because they want to close Snow Branch Library. The writing is on the wall. In this year’s budget, library administration canceled all of the programming at the branches to kill the traffic so that they can justify their next move. Library administrators are not going to close Esper because of the strong Arab lobby and they are not going to close Bryant because they can’t afford to have another vacant building on Michigan Ave. If you live in the neighborhood adjacent to Snow Branch or the neighborhood on the west side of Telegraph (that is directly across from Snow Branch), get ready to have your house values depreciate even further. City administration as well as library administration does not care about the value that Snow Branch Library adds to your neighborhood because they live in the ‘better’ parts of Dearborn. They would rather support the big white elephant on Michigan Avenue, the Henry Ford Centennial Library, even though the number of non-residents that use the main library now outnumber the number of residents. If you don’t believe me, visit the main library and see for yourself.
February 21st, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Right on V
February 22nd, 2011 at 8:07 am
yeah, right. I bought my house in Dearborn because it has neighborhood libraries and pools. Those were the things that I looked for in buying a house. NOT. Most cities have one main library.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Hey qwerty, what did you look for in such a dynamic and progressive city such as Dearborn? A larger lot for your RV and junk cars? You sound like a newbie to this town. The Dearborn political and business establishment has successfully hoodwinked all the residents into thinking that Dearborn is a Michigan mecca of progressive planning and citizen-centered policies. The current mayor O’Reilly is, through his state of the city address, sidestepping his and his city hall cronies’ real plan of closing a true and valuable asset Snow Library. The pools are under assault as well. His daddy tried that trick in the ’80s and we all know how that went down. The Guido and O’Reilly administrations have maintained a subversive backroom strategy of union busting and good old boy strong arming. Saint Hubbard had Ford Motor Company money to perpetuate his largess and he was a racist to boot. Mike and Jack had to be more subtle in their designs. Jack stomped on any opposition to metered parking. How has that been loading up the treasury? Is Dearborn a thriving business destination? Qwerty, a city is about people. Maybe you don’t read and therefore a library is not essential to you but just watch the rapid sapping of a city’s life blood when libraries and parks close.
February 27th, 2011 at 11:29 am
JM how right you are. I don’t remember hearing a thing about paid parking and how great it is for this city in his ‘address’. In fact, since Doug left no one really discusses it at all.
There are services that will be cut and we will not agree with his choices (if he ever decides to make them) some people want leaves picked up others want to keep the pools, etc. I think that closing the pools, parks and libraries would be a big mistake. It might be nice to know exactly what some off these services are costing us and which ones make a profit if any e.i., Camp Dearborn, both golf courses, Performing Arts. I am not looking for some big spreadsheet with dozens of figures I would just like to see something that says – Performing Arts cost the city $XXX to operate in 2010 and made/or lost $XX. Something that most of us just look at and say OK that’s where the money is.
February 28th, 2011 at 6:38 am
Hey JM, I’ve lived in Dearborn for over 20 years and unlike you, I don’t own an RV nor a junk car. I don’t care for the current administration and am active in a service club in Dearborn. I don’t think we need all the libraries that we have. Just my opinion and I like how you have to personally attack someone who doesn’t agree with you.