Detroit callers urge more library branches, mobile outreach and use of $46 million

Several Detroit residents used the City Council's budget hearing public-comment period to press for more library branches, expanded outreach and quicker use of money they said is available for mobile library services.

William M. Davis, precinct delegate for Precinct 410, said the city needs another branch in District 7 and complained about current polling- and service-access distances: "I think the library should have, at least 1 more branch over here in District 7." He told the council his area "has more children of school age children than any other district."

The appeals continued across callers. Ronald Foster said he and his family regularly use the Oakman branch and praised its services, adding that literacy and youth programs matter to turnout: "We often utilize as the services there, and are very grateful for that library." Steven Horing urged libraries to develop programs that attract young people and adapt to technology: "the libraries really haven't done any innovative programs to attract youth today." Another caller identified as "We see you" compared branch counts across councilmembers and said District 7 has only one library: "You have 1 in yours. Mr. Williams told you we have the largest number of children, but you don't seem to be concerned that we have no rec center, and we only have 1 library as opposed to all the other districts that might have 4 or 5."

Speakers also urged the council and library commission to address the impact of tax capture and to deploy outreach funding. A caller who identified herself as Rhonda Adams criticized what she called underfunded outreach budgets at branches and told the council there is money available for outreach: "So that's $46,000,000 on the table. Put it to work." Adams asked the council to repurpose funding toward multiple mobile units rather than a single vehicle and to increase outreach budgets that she said were as low as "$150" for some branches.

Another caller, identified as Tahira Ahmad, raised the broader fiscal context and said the library presentation should note that tax capture has harmed both Detroit libraries and Detroit Public Schools.

Why it matters: library access and outreach affect children's literacy, senior access and civic engagement in neighborhoods with few public facilities. Callers tied library services to voter turnout and broader social supports, framing libraries as part of community infrastructure in the city's budget decisions.

Council action and next steps: speakers addressed the council during public comment but no formal motion or vote on library funding or reallocation was taken at the hearing. Callers asked the council to press the library commission and city departments to repurpose funds, to expand mobile units, and to consider adding branches in District 7; the transcript does not record any staff response or pledge of follow-up during this segment.

Background and context: callers referenced past polling locations ("we used to vote at McKinsey, Elementary School") and noted seniors' reduced access where neighborhood polling places were moved. Callers also referenced Edison branch programs and the role of community partnerships. One caller suggested highlighting the contribution of inventor Lewis Latimer in presentations on Thomas Edison to the public, a cultural-context request rather than a budget item.

Ending: commenters asked the council to move available funds into outreach and to examine how tax-capture revenue practices have affected libraries and schools. The budget hearing proceeded to other public comments and then adjourned without recorded votes on the library items.