Novi Public Library’s 65th Anniversary Celebration

 Did you know NPL was started in 1960 by the Friends of Novi Library with just 150 donated books in a former bank building on Novi Road? That first year, about 7,500 items were checked out. Fast forward 65 years, and the Library has grown beyond imagination with 835,917 items circulating from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024! Now it’s time to celebrate!

Drop in on Sunday, October 26 from 1-5pm for a fun-filled afternoon featuring a live band, cake, a selfie wall, displays of the Library’s fascinating history, a chance to meet amazing Library Staff, Board Members, Friends of the Library and Historical Commission volunteers and more. Whether you’re a lifetime patron or new to the community, this celebration is all about you, our wonderful Novi readers and supporters! Let’s party like it’s 1960! Welcoming remarks begin at 1:15pm.

 

  1. The Friends started the Novi Library in 1960. It opened on September 24th in a small, one-room building on Grand River Avenue with 3000 books donated, purchased and on loan. The building was built by the National Bank of Detroit as a temporary location until its permanent building was completed.
  2. The Novi Library opened 9 years before Novi became a city in 1969.
  3. The library was staffed by volunteers for the first three years.
  4. The first director was Dorothy Flattery (photo of Dorothy on 2nd Floor by Admin office) who was hired in 1963 when Novi Township passed a ½ mil to support the library. She served for 22 years until 1985. Librarians were paid $1.50 per hour.
  5. An addition to the 1960 library was completed in March 1964 and it more than doubled the size of the original library.
  6. The second director was Brenda Lussier who served from 1985 to 2007. (Photo of Brenda on 2nd Floor by Admin).
  7. The 1960 library was replaced by a new library building on Ten Mile Road near Taft which opened in 1976. It was funded by a federal government grant and the money from the ½ mill tax approved in 1963.
  8. Groundbreaking for an expansion to the 1976 library was in 1988 with the dedication of the new "Dorothy Flattery Wing” on April 22, 1989.
  9. One current Friends Board member recalls that children were allowed to display their collections in a glass case in the front lobby of the 1987 library. This case remained at the library until 2010 when the new building opened.
  10. In 2004, Charles and Myrtle Walker donated $1 million to start a building fund.
  11. The third director is our own Julie Farkas who was hired in November 2007.
  12. The current library was designed by two architecture firms, Diamond & Schmitt (Toronto, Ontario) and BEI (Detroit, Michigan). The construction firm was The Dailey Company.  The project was accomplished under budget at $15 million, giving back $1 million to the City of Novi.
  13. The current library building opened on June 1, 2010. Over 3,000 people walked through the new doors that day.
  14. The sculpture of three children at the front door of the Library was designed by Randolph Rose of Yonkers, New York, and donated by the Friends in 2008.
  15. Standing tall at the main entrance drive is "The Librarian". This stunning sculpture was created by Toledo artist, Jim Havens.
  16. Drive up window for service was initiated in 2010 which allows for call ahead service to pick up library materials without getting out of your car.
  17. The Library has 24 fulltime and 39 part-time employees currently.
  18. The current library had 155,180 items that could be checked out at the end of fiscal year 2024/2025.
  19. The Library hosts a voting precinct 18 during elections.
  20. The Library has a cafe which is run by Novi Community School District & Chartwells. Students from the school’s Transition Program have the opportunity to learn life and work skills.
  21. There are just under 1600 ceramic life tiles in the library created and donated by artist Connie Lunski. These have been on display since the library opened in 2010.
  22. The Tree of Life on the wall behind the circulation desk was donated in memory of Myrtle Locke who was a Library Board member 1988-1997 and a Friends member for 30 years.
  23. The art display called Glass Apples is of 16 beautiful hand-blown glass apples at the top of the stairs. They were made by past Novi resident, Richard Ritter.
  24. The statue “I Love My Country” designed by Randolph Rose of Yonkers, New York was dedicated June 28, 2015 and made possible by Hugh and Kathy Crawford.
  25. Novi Library acquired its first van in 1986 and its current van in 2020. Many outreach opportunities are addressed with this service.
  26. The Library has 6 rooms and a patio for rent for private events.
  27. The Library has 10 study rooms that are first come first served.
  28. The Library has sets of books in kits to be loaned to book clubs.
  29. The Novi Historical Commission took ownership of the Local History Room in 2010.
  30. Rae Manela, Adult Services Supervisor, is the library liaison for the Novi Historical Commission.
  31. The Friends operate their used bookstore, Book Nook, in the library selling donated items. Twenty Friends volunteers sell, sort and shelve items for sale in the Book Nook.
  32. Dana VanOast, Communications Manager, is the library liaison for the Friends of the Novi Library.
  33. A longtime Friend, Joyce Cherf, donated the Friends Giving Tree in the library lobby.  It was unveiled in May 2023 and currently has 62 imprinted leaves.
  34. Novi Library operates the Lakeshore Lending Library, which was Michigan's first self-service library kiosk, opened in May 2021.
  35. NPL at your door delivers books and other items to members of the community who are unable to come to the library. It started in March 2022.
  36. The Friends sponsor the Kaleidoscope series at the library with Kathy Mutch providing the programs.
  37. The Friends have sponsored Summer Songfest at Paradise Park since it began in 2020.
  38. The Library has 34 STEAM kits that are a take-home set of something to play with that fits in one of five categories: science, technology, engineering, arts, or math.
  39. The First Read box was introduced at Lakeshore Park in 2013. We now have 5 in 5 Novi community parks.
  40. From 2003 to 2010, the Friends hosted Holiday Galas in various model homes in Novi, then hosted them at the Library from 2011 to 2018.
  41. Tuesday Tunes is a summer series on the library patio that is funded by the Friends with music arranged by Gail Anderson, Programming Coordinator.
  42. During National Library Week, the Friends host a luncheon for the library staff and Friends Board.
  43. In 2025, the Friends purchased a Single User Pod for the library - the first in a local library in Michigan. It can be used by anyone who needs a quiet place to work or study.
  44. English as a Second Language (ESL) is very active at the Novi Library with materials, programs, and a Book Club. Shannon O’Leary is the International Librarian.
  45. During COVID, the library put out a cart full of books daily from the Book Nook to provide reading options to the community when the building was closed.
  46. NPL was one of the first Michigan libraries to reopen after COVID on July 6, 2020. We were determined to get back into the community and connect with our residents.
  47. Community Reads events were started in 2010 as a way to partner with other local libraries and connect readers with amazing authors.
  48. In 2011, the Novi Public Library was awarded The Library of Michigan Foundation's State Librarian's Excellence Award for superior customer service.
  49. In 2017, the Library hired an Early Literacy Specialist position to enhance young readership and literacy in our community.
  50. The Library provides an e-newsletter monthly to keep the community updated on library programs and other happenings.
  51. The Library Board has a Student Representative position incorporated into its practices to gain valuable teen feedback and support teen programming and services.
  52. The Novi Public Library achieved the "Excellent" level of the Library of Michigan's Quality Services Audit Checklist (QSAC) in 2018, becoming one of the first libraries in Michigan to reach this designation by demonstrating superior, cost-effective service to the community.
  53. NPL won the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) Community Collaboration Award in 2022 thanks to our amazing partnership with the Novi Community School District
  54. In 2010, a partnership with Fox Run of Novi began that now supports an annual Author’s Live event, an annual library card sign up campaign and several book club initiatives. 
  55. The Pauline Druschel book club was the longest running afternoon book club in NPL history, spanning over 20 years.
  56. The Library has three rain gardens (bioswales) on the property that allow for rain water disbursement to enrich wild flower habitats.
  57. The Library houses the full collection of the Northville Record, now called the Novi News, on microfilm for residents to access in the Local History Room.
  58. iCube Makerspace was opened on June 22, 2019 to inspire creativity and opportunities for learning a new hobby or tinkering with new technologies (convert VHS, digitize photos, create a 3D print).
  59. In 2012, the collection of Business Resources became more defined at NPL, building a strong connection with the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development for the City of Novi.
  60. NPL was given the Community Builder Award in December 2021 by the Novi Chamber of Commerce.
  61. In 2013, NPL introduced its first mobile library app to the community which allowed for easier access to our collections.
  62. NPL is the driving force behind the Smart Money Kids Read campaign that puts free children’s books about financial literacy into the hands of Librarians across the state of Michigan annually to share with their community members.
  63. The magnifying collection has been a longstanding service for NPL offering many options for those with low vision needs.
  64. The Novi Library serves a diverse community and has books in over 14 different languages and movies in over 40. It sponsors cultural events organized by Gail Anderson, Program Coordinator.
  65. NPL’s motto is: Cultivate Learning. Inspire Creativity. Foster Inclusivity.

Raising $65,000 for Our 65th Anniversary

Join us in our mission to raise $65,000 for future renovations in our Youth Area, ensuring that young readers will enjoy this space for many years to come! 

Renovations will include furniture, expanded program space, shelving, new carpeting and interactive play equipment.​ ​

As of September 16, $34,000 has already been raised! 

 

Donate to the Novi Public Library

Contact Julie Farkas, 248-869-7233,​ ​click the donate button below​ and donate by PayPal or mail a check payable to the Novi Public Library: 45255 W. Ten Mile Rd. Novi, MI 48375​.

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Donate for Your Benefit to the Friends of Novi Library

Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to the Friends of the Novi Public Library from a pre-tax retirement fund and enjoy tax savings.​ Are you 70.5 years or older? Use a pre-tax retirement fund to make a tax free donation to the Friends, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation. Transfer any amount up to the lawful limit directly to a qualified charitable organization, like the Friends, without paying income tax on the donation by reducing your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), if applicable.​ The Friends of the Novi Public Library does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult an attorney or tax advisor.

To donate to the Friends, ​email friends@novilibrary.org,​ click the donate button below​ and donate by PayPal or mail a check payable to the Friends of Novi Library:​ 45255 W. Ten Mile Rd. Novi, MI 48375​.

 

​Donate and Support the Friends of the Novi Public Library

 

Tell Your Library Story

The Novi Public Library is home to more than just stories found in books; it also holds your stories. We would love to hear how the library has made an impact on your life. Click here to submit your Library story!

What Does the Library Mean to You?

Calling all library lovers! Starting Monday, September 8, grab a 12"x12" piece of cardstock from the 2nd Floor Information Desk. Create something that expresses what the library means to you! You can paint, draw, write or collage! ️All ages welcome. Turn it in by Wednesday, October 1 to be part of our display for our 65th Anniversary Celebration!

     

     

Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting our 65th Anniversary!