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The Leanna Hicks Public Library in Inkster will officially open its doors to the public on Monday, March 22, 2021. Originally planned for last March but delayed due to COVID-19, the library's opening is a celebration of its new location at 2500 Hamlin Drive. A grand opening gala celebration will be held at a later date.

The library's previous location at 2005 Inkster was permanently closed due to severe building problems in 2018. The Inkster Library Board had worked to find a new home for the library, eventually purchasing the property on Hamlin Drive. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in July 2019 and the process of renovation and expansion on the new library building began.

Library Director Betty Adams says a library within a community is a valuable asset which promotes literacy, learning, and a love of reading. "There is a very strong part of the community that supports and is very excited for the library to open and we're going to harness that energy and hopefully have it to where every community member recognizes that they are a patron of the library no matter if they come visit us in person, online, or over the phone, we're here for every individual," she says.

Adams and her staff are eagerly planning events and programming geared toward all ages. A Writer's Lounge Program will begin this month, and other offerings including book clubs, story hours, and a summer reading program are all in the works. In addition, the library will be gauging community members' opinions about programming they would like to see at the library in the future.

The new library building will also have 20 computers available for patron use, with eight being used in the library's Career Center, where programs on job hunting, resume building, and job interview skills will be held for job seekers.

Adams says the only factor throwing uncertainty into planning events and programs is COVID-19 and the indoor capacity restrictions that come with it. But library programs will go on, she says, while the platform may change whether events are held virtually, as a hybrid method, or if the library is fully open to visitors. "We want everybody to be safe," she says. "We're trying to be proactive about COVID in planning all of our events and programs."

Library hours each week will be Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m .; Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m .; the library will be closed on Fridays and Sundays. Adams says she and the library staff are excited to welcome the public in to see their new building. She adds, "Involving the community and understanding what learning is happening through a program will succeed in having a love for the library be borne out of just the joy of being here rather than feeling like it's just another government entity."

The Leanna Hicks Public Library is located at 2500 Hamlin Drive, south of Michigan Avenue. To find out more or sign up for the library's newsletter, go to http://www.inkster.lib.mi.us. The Leanna Hicks Library is also currently hiring a part-time library aide.