Hours and Locations

Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library

32777 Five Mile Road

Architect: Kamp-DiComo Associates
Opened: August 1, 1988
Building Area: Approximately 64,000 square feet
Atrium Artwork: “Nebulas Terraqueous” by James Gilbert. Composition: three panels of woven aluminum stripping and rayon thread.

History: When the Livonia Civic Center Library opened in 1988, it was on the cutting edge of technology—launching with computerized catalogs and never using a traditional card catalog. From day one, our collection was fully accessible by computer.
Rededication: On August 28, 2017, the Civic Center Library was renamed The Robert & Janet Bennett Civic Center Library, in honor of the Mayor and his wife who had such a big impact on the Livonia community. They were instrumental in the library’s successful millage campaign and worked tirelessly with the Friends of the Library to raise money for the library. We are proud that the library now bears their names.

In the Library

ABCmouse.com for Libraries: Anyone who visits ABCmouse.com from the library can access the ABCmouse.com online books and curriculum. Feel free to explore ABCmouse.com during your next visit to our library!

Art Gallery: The Livonia Arts Commission maintains a one thousand square foot art gallery on the second floor of the Bennett Civic Center Library. Call Community Resources at (734) 466-2540 for exhibit information.

Awe Stations: The Early Literacy Station™ is designed specifically for our youngest patrons ages 2-8 and features over 4,000 localized learning activities.

Braille Books: Popular children’s books are available in braille thanks to Seedlings Braille Books for Children. The collection includes picture books with both print and braille as well as all-braille books.

Computer Help Desk: On the second floor at Bennett Civic Center Library, experienced staff are ready to help you with questions while you work on our internet computers 12-7 p.m. weekdays and 12-3 p.m. on the weekends.

Copiers/Scanners: There is a scanner available for public use at Civic Center Library. It is near the Print Release station and will scan to a usb/memory stick.

Displays: There are display areas — cases or bulletin boards — at each of the libraries that are available for short-term exhibits. Contact the individual library for availability. See our display policy for guidelines.

Genealogy Station

High School Yearbooks

Internet/Microsoft Office Stations: The Bennett Civic Center Library has 8 internet stations for public use plus one dedicated station for genealogy research. All internet stations also have Microsoft Office software and will accept a usb/memory stick. Cost for printing is .15 per page for black and white and .25 per page for color. In compliance with CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act), all public computers are filtered. Internet filters are not perfect. If you find a site that should be blocked, please inform a librarian and steps will be taken to add it to the filter. If you are blocked from a site that you feel should not be filtered, inform the librarian so we can evaluate it and unblock it if has been blocked in error.

Library of Things

Meeting Rooms

Nature Nook with Braille-Enhanced Storywalk®: Located at the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library, the Nature Nook was designed and completed by Eagle Scout Candidate Matthew Sas and the Storywalk® was funded by the Livonia AM Rotary. Seedlings Braille Books for Children provided the Braille enhancement. Stories will be available in the Nature Nook from about April through October. Check out the Livonia Observer article about the Grand Opening. The Storywalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellog-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

Peripheral Computer Devices: The libraries carry a small supply of usb/memory sticks, headphones and earbuds for purchase.

Seed Library

Wireless Internet Access: Wireless internet access is available at Sandburg and Civic Center Libraries. Wireless service is available throughout the building (including the meeting rooms and auditorium).

Happy 30th Birthday Bennett Civic Center Library

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Carl Sandburg Library

30100 W. Seven Mile Road

Architect: Tarapata-MacMahon Associates
Opened: December 10, 1961
Building Area: 8,600 square feet

History: The name was recommended by the Library Commission as an example of an American author representing the best of literature of the midwest. Carl Sandburg had taught at the University of Michigan for a time.

In the Library

Displays: There are display areas — cases or bulletin boards — at each of the libraries that are available for short-term exhibits. Contact the individual library for availability. See our display policy for guidelines.

Internet/Microsoft Office Stations:  Carl Sandburg has 6 stations for public use. All stations are equipped with MS Office and have internet access. In compliance with CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act), all public computers are filtered. Internet filters are not perfect. If you find a site that should be blocked, please inform a librarian and steps will be taken to add it to the filter. If you are blocked from a site that you feel should not be filtered, inform the librarian so we can evaluate it and unblock it if has been blocked in error.

Library of Things

Meeting Rooms

Peripheral Computer Devices: The libraries carry a small supply of usb/memory sticks, headphones and earbuds for purchase.

Wireless Internet Access: Wireless internet access is available at Noble, Sandburg, and Civic Center Libraries. Wireless service is available throughout the building (including the meeting rooms and auditorium).

Vest Pocket Library

15218 Farmington Road

Circulation (number of items checked out): 4,263 items in 2019
Total number of items the library owns: 2,745

History: Vest Pocket was opened as part of National Library Week on April 17, 1972. The collection at Vest Pocket was geared toward senior citizen’s interests and housed mainly large print books and paperbacks. Vest Pocket Library was located at 15218 Farmington Road in the southeast corner of Farmington and Five Mile Roads inside the Senior Center. A portion of the VestPocket Library’s collection was moved to the Livonia Senior Wellness Center in November 2025.

Alfred Noble Library

32901 Plymouth Road

Architect: Gunnar Birkerts & Associates
Building Area: 12,175 square feet
Opened: April 24, 1967

History: When the Alfred Noble Library opened, it replaced Livonia’s first library ‘The South Branch,’ which had operated out of a storefront on Plymouth Road since 1958. Upon its opening, Alfred Noble was considered Livonia’s main library until the Civic Center Library opened in 1988. The branch was named after Alfred Noble, a Livonia native and accomplished civil engineer whose work included major projects such as the Panama Canal. The library closed in 2019 due to structural concerns and significant water damage.