The new building was 3,800 square feet, had a capacity
for 18,000 books, and included lounge and study areas. The staff was now
headed by Mrs. Mildred Droege, who had been hired as an assistant to Florence
Leach in 1951, and had taken over after Mrs. Leach's retirement in
1959.
The library prospered during the following years, serving the entire
Farmington area, but rumblings began as early as 1960, voicing the need for
at least one branch library to serve the northern township. The tiny library
was understocked and in need of funds, resulting in the request for a .2 mill
increase. The proposal was defeated in April, 1961, but was resubmitted and
passed in July.
By March, 1962, in response to the great population increase in the area and
resulting increased demand on library services, the Library Board of Trustees
authorized a "Need and Site" survey for library development, which was
completed in May. The survey showed that there was a definite need for a
library facility in the Township area. Several sites were considered,
including a spot near Eleven Mile and Orchard Lake Road, where the Township
Offices were located, but it was a five acre site on the south side of Twelve
Mile Road that was finally approved and purchased.
In October, 1963, the Farmington Area Community House association dissolved,
leaving $5,500 to the library building fund, but it was not until April, 1964
that the money was actually received.
With such a contribution as the impetus, and crowded, unsatisfactory
conditions at the library building demanding attention, the Library Board
requested additional millage for library development and expansion. A
proposal for .5 mill for 20 years was placed on the ballot to continue
operations at present levels, plus an additional .75 mill was placed on the
ballot for ten years for the building of a new library. Patronage had
increased from 9,000 to 19,000 users, and the book collection had grown from
9,000 to 21,000 volumes. The collection and use was far more than the small
library could effectively handle; however, the voters turned down the
additional .75 mill proposal, while the .5 mill provision was passed.
Set back, but not defeated, the Board revealed plans for improvements at the
District Library in April, 1965. The plans included repairs to the roof,
repairing the driveway and parking lot, construction of a retaining wall
around part of the parking lot and the installation of a photocopy
machine.
Another boost was given to the library building fund in June, 1965, when the
Farmington Valley Saddle Club dissolved, leaving $958.86 to the
library.
For the next two years, the Library Board considered alternatives aimed at
increasing service to township residents. Such considerations included
establishing a branch library at North Farmington High School, wherein the
school would provide the space, heat and light with the Library Board paying
custodial and cleaning costs and salaries of personnel; but this proposal was
found unsuitable. The Board also considered leasing the Manufacturers Bank
building in the Westbrooke Shopping Center at Thirteen Mile and Orchard Lake
Roads; this idea was also rejected. In April, 1966 the library joined the
Wayne-Oakland Federated Library System to provide added service to Farmington
patrons through access to other area libraries' collections. Though the
library ranked twenty-seventh in size comparison with the other member
libraries, it ranked fourth in circulation, a demonstration of the high rate
of use the tiny library had.
By December, 1966 the library had a collection of 25,000 books; by library
standards it should have had 80,000 volumes. Again the Library Board asked
for a millage increase of one mill for the next ten years, to build a
$814,000 building in the township, and an expanded or new $293,000 south
building; the north building was to be built first. The proposal was passed
on May 22, 1967.
