Dearborn’s Centennial Library Renovation Begins
Henry Ford Centennial Library
A major renovation project has begun at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, with the entire third floor mezzanine-level of the building closed to the public through June.
Nearly all library material is available on the second floor of the building, so access to the collections will not be impacted.
However, the study space, beverage machines, and some stored reference material will not be available until the project is complete and the third floor is re-opened.
The project is expected to be complete by the end of June.
The plans call for the conversion of existing space into three medium-sized study rooms; one large, quiet study room; and one large conference room, which will be available to organizations to book for group meetings.
Restrooms, and a kitchenette that will be available for groups booking the large conference room, will be added to the area to make the space more usable and comfortable.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:33 am
I thought the city didn’t have any money?
March 23rd, 2011 at 2:02 pm
I thought the exact same thing how about this one –
At the last council meeting they approved the Michigan Dept of Nat. Res.& Environ. Trust Fund Grand with a local match of $115,216.00 for construction of the Camp Dearborn Non-Motorized Trail Project!!! Apparently this lets people walk into the camp without paying.
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:16 pm
If we can’t afford to keep all of our libraries open, why are we renovating one of them. The rooms will not even be for additions to the collection. Way to go Dearborn! Do any of those folks know the purpose of a library? Libraries are being used more and more with so many folks out of work or underemployed. Or is the purpose of Dearborn libraries to be impressive in ways other than the books in their collection. Many libraries are making use of the hi tech readers. Has the Dearborn library folks and our city officials given any thought to this? Just asking.
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:34 pm
$189,673.00 must have been found
March 24th, 2011 at 8:28 am
My question is, Will they now be hiring more staff? Particularly librarians? I am a part-time librarian at another city’s library and would love to work in my own home town. Librarians provide not only cultural, educational, and research expertise, but are well-suited to assisting patrons in their employability skills: resume building, searching for positions, and learning computer/networking skills. It seems to me that the city would benefit their constituents by employing more staff who can assist with enhancing the personal, professional and educational lives of the residents here in Dearborn.
March 24th, 2011 at 8:54 am
They cut the other libraries hours and say they can’t afford to staff them, then go dump a bunch of money into that one. I remember the big article about how nobody will be using the libraries in the future because of all the information being available online etc…. Then they go and dump a bunch of money into the library.
But you know what this means guys don’t you? They are going to spend all this money on the Centennial Library and then close the other ones to create more vacant buildings in our city. Just like what would have happened with the pools had they built the splash park. I don’t understand why they are wasting all this money and trying to change what made this city great. Pools, libraries and parks that we could walk to right in our own neighborhood. Do you know how many students could have worked at the libraries for $7 an hour? And the hours could have been extended etc… for $189,673? Obviously they are not listening to what we are saying. Just spending more money on new construction and then crying poor and cutting things that will benefit residents. We’ve seen this pattern before, spend a bunch of money needlessly on something, then cry poor then close or tear down a perfectly good thing that the residents loved. It’s moves like this that would make me consider not supporting a tax hike. STOP THE WASTE!
March 24th, 2011 at 10:41 am
I read in today’s paper (on the front page) a story about the library cutting costs to get rid of a lot of it’s programs.
The two don’t gel. They are cutting programs on the front page and then renovating the building.
What are the renovation benefits?
City – let us know.
March 24th, 2011 at 11:07 am
@Mary Anne: In response to your question “Do any of those folks know the purpose of a library?” I would say that there is growing demand for meeting space at the library, and HFCL is sorely lacking in such space, especially compared to other libraries. Students working on group projects, study groups, adult discussion groups, people who want to conduct interviews, etc. are all legitimate uses and appropriate for modern libraries to provide. It would also do wonders for noise issues at HFCL as groups, etc would have a more private place to work without disturbing others. And with regards to your other comment regarding high-tech readers, the use of the library’s digital downloadable collection is growing tremendously. People are using it quite a bit. Now, is the library on a technological par with other area libraries? I’m not sure, but it’s a far cry from your implication that library / city leaders “haven’t given any thought” to the integration of e-readers.
Does that adequately answer your condescending questions / comments?
March 24th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Anyone know how much Homecoming costs the taxpayers???
March 24th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
I still don’t feel that renovations for meeting spaces – which do exist in this town, is more important than keeping all of our libraries open. If anyone can explain that to me. I will back down. However I am a 67 yr. old who has lived in 4 different states and used libraries all over. I started using them in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Let’s not spend money on less needful items til we can keep all libraries open with adequate collections for the citizens of Dearborn.
By the way, I also will not vote for a tax increase for the city – or tax renewal until officials prove to me that they can manage the money in a reasonable manner.
March 25th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I thought they had meeting rooms downstairs. I haven’t been there for a while, but I remember taking my kids to movies and crafts and such that were held in private rooms downstairs. While I would agree there would be a purpose for the rooms etc… I just don’t think now is a good time to be spending that much money on new construction when the city is in a budget crisis. That would be like me redoing my home (because it really needs it) and then losing it to foreclosure. Sure, my house is old and needs redecorating, kitchen and bath need updating, we could use a family room across the back we don’t have a meeting room for large parties and projects either, there is a HUGE need for those things. BUT WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW. So, we just fix what is broken and make do with what we have until times get better. And that’s what the city should be doing too. I know there are a lot of things that could use upgrading in the city BUT THERE IS NO MONEY so we need to just fix what is unsafe and wait until we have the money to make those upgrades or look for alternative funding. Look at the new street sweepers, city vehicles and the fancy dog catcher vehicles. I remember the dog catcher having the same ol’ truck for years when I was a kid. Do they really need new SUV to pick up a stray cat? We have just been spending too much money on the wrong things in this poor economy and it needs to stop so the money can go towards holding on to what we have.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
ALL discretionary spending should come to a HALT!! The library, with the current meeting rooms, was just fine for us growing up. We had to work in a group and work quietly so as not to disturb others. Let them text each other if they can’t keep quiet and abide by proper library etiquette. This is ridiculous. The whining about the deficit and then big articles about improvements like this really boil my blood.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Donna Hay:
After listening to fireworks in August for two nights in a row, I wondered #1 why the Homecoming couldn’t just have fireworks for one night and #2 how much was the City of Dearborn kicking in for these. I emailed Said and asked him. He said he agreed that two nights were questionable and would get back to me on the taxpayers cost for this. He never did. But then again, he did sponsor a program during the Homecoming so he’s a big supporter of the Homecoming.
I can’t think of Detroit suburb city – other than Allen Park – that has wasted taxpayer money the way Dearborn has. From the downtown parking structure fiasco and totally empty remodeled buildings to the Montgomery Ward site to the White Elephant we call Camp Dearborn. If my house wasn’t worth half the money it was worth ten years ago I would move.
March 25th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Understanding that most businesses target a payback of less than 1/2 year during rough economic times and around 1 year or less during good times for new projects, is this a good return for our Tax money let alone the budget issues?
$189,000 for conference rooms at HFL. Maybe 150 rentals per year at $200 ea equals $30,000 per yr. Payback just over 6 years.
$49,150 for columbus area tree planting. Maybe 200 homes with increasing values adding $50 per year per house to Tax rolls equals $10,000 per yr. Payback at 5 years.
$152,500 to Plante Moran to complete work on Community Task Force. Payback?
$340,000 to Super Products for Sewer and Catch Basin cleaner truck. Checking good condition used equipment at http://www.alasher.com/inventory_detail.php?id=199, $65,000 for 2000 Sterling Diesel and adding $10,000 for used vehicle maintenance cost equals $75,000 total. Payback? Additional hardship to City, $265,000.
$115,261 to suppliment grant funding for bike path at Camp Dearborn. No charge for entry to camp thru path. Payback?
The above payments account for $770,411 plus or 4% of the $20 million shortfall the Mayor advised last year. That’s 11 Police Officers or Firefighters.
The City needs to take the lead of change we’re being told to get used to.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Priotities? – City government isn’t a for-profit organization. There isn’t a direct link between investment and profit. Same for schools. If they were for-profit we’d all need to be paying a direct price for services. Tuition for all schools, tolls for roads, subscription for libraries. Then no tax dollars needed. Those without the money wouldn’t get. Which at some point would include all of us. Better money management is an issue, but you can’t make a direct comparison like yours.
As for some of the other comments…With most organizations the money for personnel comes out of a different part of the budget from building improvements and equipment. This is why the schools can build new athletic fields, but lay off teachers. This is why Ford can improve factories, but layoff the folks that work in them. This is why the city can buy new trucks or build meeting rooms, but layoff people. Also, grant money (either federal, state, or private) cannot be used to pay people. Same thing pretty much goes with money coming from a foundation or friends organization. (You can build a new animal shelter if you raise the money, but you can’t pay anyone who works there.) Equipment and improvements are a one time payment, people are an ongoing cost.
Now, you can argue that maybe the city should have fixed the leaky roof at Centennial or recovered the chairs that have no fabric on them or fixed the wallpaper that is falling down, but you can’t pay for librarians or $7/hour workers or the guy that mops the floor with that money.
wassamattau – how old are your kids? I’m over 40 and there haven’t been meeting rooms downstairs at Centennial in a really long time. Now the first floor is occupied by CDTV and the Health Department, the Friends book sale room and library offices. Now we could get rid of CDTV and the Health Department, but you’d still have to pay to get those spaces renovated to use for crafts and meetings. And would you really want to let kids and other folks loose and unwatched down those first floor corridors? That’s just begging for trouble.
March 27th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
They better not ask for a tax increase if they can waste money like this instead of tightening the belt like the rest of us. Just say NO.
March 28th, 2011 at 8:11 am
i have been told that one of the libraries will be closing. it won’t be the big one, nor the one with the dearborn welcome center. personally, i use the library all the time. it will be sad to see them close.
what is the latest with the lawsuit about the parking structures?
March 29th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Can’tRobPeter, Just because that is what the policy is doesn’t mean that it is right.
They should also make in known when grant money is being used for improvements so taxpayers know exactly what projects they are paying for.
March 29th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@ Can’tRobPetertoPayPaul: Thank you for being the voice of reason. Capital improvements are really a separate thing. You put in requests for projects, you get on the list, and when the money becomes available for your project you take it. Now I will say that the timing isn’t great, it doesn’t look particularly good, but that’s the deal. And I will second the observation that there is no meeting space on the first floor of HFCL, only one room on the second floor that is signed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
March 30th, 2011 at 9:48 am
While there is a need for meeting rooms. I wonder how everyone in the past managed to get their projects done without them? There are lots of unused meeting rooms at the Ford Center right next door.
March 31st, 2011 at 7:01 am
In addition to the meeting rooms at the Ford Center, there are meeting rooms available for rental at MTec (HFCC), Ford’s Conference & Event Center, every major hotel in this and the Detroit area. So, not really a priority to create more in the library.
What there isn’t enough of, I still maintain, are professionals who can assist our community in job searching, computer training skills, educational and professional enhancement, and by this I mean….Librarians. Librarians who have Master’s degrees with expertise in the above!
March 31st, 2011 at 12:38 pm
So some of you are saying if a group of people need to meet for research and work they should go to the civic center? Every time they need a book they need to run over to the library? Or if they need books in the reference section they’re just out of luck I guess.
Libraries are turning into places for meeting and working. It’s just how things are today. The world isn’t the same as 50 years ago and places like libraries need to change with the times and the changes here are just catching up to what’s going on just about everywhere with new library projects.
March 31st, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@Paul. Your point is well taken. But unless the renovations were paid for with a grant we should have held off on them until our budget crisis is over.
April 1st, 2011 at 9:35 pm
The renovation at the Henry Ford Centennial Library is totally unnecessary.
Especially the study rooms. There would not be a need for a quiet place to
study if the rules of library behavior were being enforced. But the library
administration is so afraid of anyone complaning about the library in any way
that they have tied the hands of the staff and the guards.
The results are a noise level that is unbelievable. Police having to be
called every night to remove unruly kids. Cell phones going off constantly and
people talking on their cell phones at the top of their lungs.
As for the meeting rooms and kitchenette, it will be interesting to see how
long it takes to public to trash those rooms.
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:48 am
I agree with Sue Booth, above. One of the most difficult issues libraries face daily is the fact that the respect for an institution is not evident any longer. Many people going to a library treat it like a mall. Eating, loud laughter and talk, cell phones constantly ringing…they no longer treat the resources/staff/their neighbors with the courtesy they deserve.
As a librarian with another city’s library, I constantly have to remind people to move to another spot to conduct a phone call. Or remind them there is no eating allowed in certain locations. Do I want to be the library police? Do I want to reinforce the stereotypical librarian image by asking people to lower their voices? No, I do not. I want to do what I spent years in training to do: assist people with their research needs, help them locate information and assets. However, I spend much of my time trying to control behavior because people have forgotten (or never were told) that a library is an institution of higher learning and should be treated with respect.
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I’ve said it before, but I will say it again. Library Administration only cares about one thing: The Henry Ford Centennial Library. They are putting all their eggs in one basket.
So, instead adding value to the neighborhoods by improving the branches and increasing their vitality, library administration would like to keep the cold, white library running so that they can keep their cushy jobs.
Please note, the ‘Deputy’ Library Director doesn’t even live in Dearborn and even had the audacity to suggest at a budget hearing that the branches be closed. What does she care? She doesn’t even live in Dearborn. All she cares about is her $70K+ per year salary. (The director makes close to 90K, if not more, and is one of the most well-payed library directors in the state of Michigan.)
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:38 pm
And, what about all the meeting rooms at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center? The library does NOT need additional meeting room space or study rooms. The meeting room renovations are just a ploy to get more people to come to the cold, white library on Michigan Avenue. (Library Administration wants to keep the traffic up there so that they can justify their existence.)
Also, as I have said before, Library Administration is trying to kill the branches by canceling all programs at the branches as well as staffing them with all part-time, fresh out of college, could care less, college grads. All of the experienced, dedicated librarians were either transferred to the cold, white library on Michigan Avenue or they retired because they couldn’t take any more of the hypocrisy.
Please note, the library foundation members are appointed by Library Administration and the Library Commission is appointed by the mayor. How convenient. The mayor and library administration get to spoon feed these people their hogwash and the “well-respected” commission and foundation members follow along like ducklings following their mother…
April 5th, 2011 at 9:03 am
@ V: I’ll try to compose a response without the excessive use of profanity. First of all, I’m sure library administration would love to keep all branches open. They are trying like hell to keep the branches open. The reality is that the city’s budget makes that very difficult, especially in terms of staffing when the library system has already lost so many staff members in the past year. And library administrators would maintain their positions whether the main library was closed and the branches stayed open or vice versa. So I’m not following your logic there. Plus, exception must be taken regarding the “cushy” comment, a cliche leveled at public workers everywhere: the library administrators bust their ass. Further exception is taken with regards to the comments made about the Deputy City Librarian; I would hope that you heard the remarks at the budget hearing first-hand and not what some yahoo told you out of context. Because like I said, I’d be surprised if anyone wants to close branches; that option may only have been presented as a worst-case scenario, not something that administration is just itching to do.
Further exception is taken regarding the “non-residency” comment and the Deputy Director; this, too, is a snobbish, pathetic Dearborn cliche trotted out from time to time when people have nothing of any substance to say whatsoever.
More exception to be taken: regarding the “part-time, fresh out of college, could care less, college grads,” I find the young staff that I deal with to be fresh, engaging, knowledgeable and willing to help. But then again, I’d be surprised if you have ever spoken to one of them. Or is it just the case of poor old V, rapidly approaching social security age, bitter and malcontent, unable to abide these young whippersnappers?
You pretend to read peoples’ minds, you cast aspersions about their motives when you have no clue, and you impune the work ethic of hard-working people trying to best they can to serve the public under very trying economic conditions. It’s not right and it’s not helpful or constructive in the least.
April 5th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@ Library Justice
If you are so busy, why are you blogging while at worK? You do not work hard. You come into work late, almost everyday, and you hardly ever put in a 40 hour workweek. (As you are supposed to do.) You spend all your time planning meetings so that you can justify your existence and the mezzanine renovations are another excuse to give you something to do with your time.
Most libraries only have one director and now that the branches have been decimated, the library surely doesn’t need a Director, a Deputy Director, and an Administrator.
April 6th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I am sorry Library Justice but you are greatly mistaken if you think the
library administrators “bust their buts”. Some fall asleep in their offices
and it is not from working so hard. You made the comment that there were
many that left last year. Has anyone asked why they left? What is the
situation like for the staff having to deal with patrons that are abusive and
administrators that do not care about their employees.
As for your comment about V being and old malcontent, I think you must
be a young malcontent who is probably getting paid more than you are worth
and is a little afraid of losing your job.
April 6th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Poor, poor V, trotting out the same old tired assumptions: blogging on the job (not true in that particular instance), lazy city worker who doesn’t work hard (very dedicated to the public and provide rather excellent customer service if I do say so myself), comes into work late (rarely, if ever, am I late, and certainly not “every day”) and does not put in a full week (currently I not only work one full-time job but also hold down one to two additional jobs throughout the year). So basically everything you said is pure fantasy. I’d like to ask you what you do to “justify your existence,” but this is neither the time nor place.
And did you actually do any, you know, research when you say that “Most libraries only have one director,” or is that just another reliable V assumption? And could you link to said research if you did?
April 7th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I think you drink way to much Starbucks in the morning!!!
April 7th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
That was intended for V
April 7th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
What does it matter where a person lives or how much they are making, I am sure when you wre working you were worth every pennyyou made, and to the other , did you see this person sleeping? Or is this just what you were told?
April 8th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
To Robby-bobby – Yes I saw the person sleeping.
April 8th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
@ Sue: First of all, a correction: if you are going to quote something I said then do it properly and use the actual quote instead of including your rather embarassing misspelling of the word “butts.”
Secondly, did you use your powers of omniscience when you claim that administrators “fall asleep in their offices”? How do you claim to know this? Or is this more hyperbole from the V school of thought where you simply throw out tired old cliches about public workers to make your point?
As for being a malcontent: I don’t detect anything in my tone that could be construed as malcontent. I just find it incredibly annoying when I read these off-the-cuff comments from people who have no idea what they’re talking about, especially when it concerns the integrity and work ethic of people who do a hell of a job serving the public under some pretty difficult current conditions.
April 9th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Library Justice- You need to take off your rose colored glasses and see
the world as it really is.
April 12th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Well what do you know and article just came out that they are thinking about closing some of the branch libraries. I figured that would happen when I heard they were spending all that money on the Centennial Library. Maybe they are hoping some people will visit the Ford Center that is draining our budget if they force us to go to the Centennial library.
April 13th, 2011 at 6:52 am
I also heard that sad bit of news. Always disturbing when a library closes: Troy, Romulus, one of ours and I’m sure more to come. It is a sad state of affairs when centers of learning and empowering close.
April 13th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Thanks to the Ford family, the city won’t be able to use the Bryant Library for anything other than a library.