The Ann Arbor Public Library traces its origins from two strands, public and private: the high school library started in , and the Ladies Library Association founded in But both of these groups had predecessors, the high school library in the township district libraries and the Ladies Library Association in four earlier book lending groups. Records show that Ann Arbor always been a reading town.
In , only three years after the village was founded and 10 years before the University of Michigan moved to Ann Arbor, the first reading group was formed, the Ann Arbor Library Association. Western Emigrant, Oct. The Ann Arbor Library Association was dissolved in and the books divided between the members according to how much they had paid in Michigan Emigrant, Feb.
At first he had mainly reference books, but after the first library dissolved he listed a new selection of general interest books including travel and biography. March 6, They are listed with different officers so it was not one group with different names. In the 's, school libraries also began to exist. Various governmental fines, if not needed for the local poor house, were also earmarked for the libraries Michigan State Journal, Jan.
The superintendent suggested using the Massachusetts School Library List as a guide to select books. I intend to keep enough on hand to supply the State. The Michigan State Journal Mar. None but the most unexceptionable and useful books will be purchased.
In , the Ann Arbor School district's library books were consolidated in the superintendent's office in the first public high school. American Library Association? May 31, , and Hannum in a history she wrote of the library Washtenaw Impressions, May According to Hannum, "Because the school library was open to the public, the date of the founding of the Public Library has always been set as of Hannum admitted in the Impressions article "though the library in the old High School building was open for public use during school hours, very few Ann Arbor people availed themselves of the opportunity to borrow books.
