Detroit schools: a plan to put libraries back in 89 buildings

DETROIT. Detroit Public Schools is proposing to restore libraries in 89 schools using $8.7 million in one time funding, with partial openings targeted for fall 2027. The plan covers books, furniture, staffing for three periods a day, and a new cataloging system. If the board approves in November or December, the district would also build a path for teachers to become certified school librarians.

The district currently has only two certified librarians, and most students have no daytime access to a school library. Michigan has run below the national average for schools with library media centers, and parents and educators have pushed for restoration as part of a broader literacy push.