Connecting Michigan Libraries: The Importance of MeL, MeLCat, and RIDES

The Library of Michigan in Lansing, Michigan (photo courtesy of LoM)

Why are books written, collected, read, and re-read? Since the world’s first library, the Library of Ashurbanipal (Iraq, 600’s BC), humans have been collecting their thoughts and impressions into books, thereby helping each other achieve breakthrough insights, peak experiences, and unleashed imaginations.

Fast forward some 2,600 years and hundreds of millions of books later. Libraries are still important, still relevant, and still changing lives.

I wanted to write this article as a reminder to the good people of Michigan how good we have it in terms of easy access to great libraries.

Michigan eLibrary MeL

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Library of Michigan and the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) and a vast array of other partners, we have resources like MeL, MeLCat, and RIDES.

Serving over 10 million Michigan residents statewide is no easy feat. The basis of this network is a statewide interlibrary loan service. The Library of Michigan’s eLibrary (MeL) has two components: the eResources and MeLCat (the catalog), supported by the Regional Interlibrary Delivery Service (RIDES).

What this means is that your local library card is also an all-access pass to borrowing books for free from hundreds of participating libraries.

In this article, we’re going to hear from Randy Riley (State Librarian), Tara Kanon (MeLCat Support Specialist & Statewide Delivery Coordinator), and Scott Garrison (MCLS Executive Director). Each of these individuals occupies a pivotal role at a critical juncture in this constantly moving mandala of books.

Randy Riley

I’m sitting inside Randy’s office on the 5th floor of the Library of Michigan in Lansing. This five-story, 250,000-square foot building houses several treasures, including the Rare Book Room and State Archives.

Randy has been a librarian since 1989. He is THE Librarian for the entire state, and he has kindly taken time out of his exceedingly busy schedule to chat with me.

Randy Riley, State Librarian at the Library of Michigan in Lansing, Michigan (photo courtesy of LoM)

Let’s hear from Randy:

“I grew up in mid-Michigan, graduated Ionia High School, then University of Michigan. Started my career in education as a history-government teacher at the Valley School (Grand Blanc). After a few years, I transitioned into the library field, working in Special Collections (the genealogy and family history center), and became State Librarian in 2014. Fortunately, I’ve worked with some phenomenal people over the years and have had many great experiences.”

“As the main library for the State of Michigan, our development policy is we primarily collect the printed history of Michigan and build collections that serve our great state. Mostly donations, occasional acquisitions. We are also a central resource for the many topics of state government. And we oversee aid payments to libraries, along with training and consulting for librarians.”

“The Library of Michigan has three core units: Special Collections, Library Development, and Technical & Access Services. Special Collections are the books and other materials. Library Development is how we help other Michigan Libraries, and Technical & Access Services is the cataloging and processing side of the business.”

“The Michigan e-Library (MeL) is the premier program of the Library Development office. MeL contains over 80 e-resources and is a big part of what we do. MeLCat is the union catalog where you can request items.”

The Library of Michigan in Lansing, Michigan (photo courtesy of LoM)

“Around one million items circulate annually among 420+ libraries statewide. When I started, the famed $100 reference book was a big deal. MeL has helped level the playing field in terms of easy on-demand access.”

“The inception of MeL can be traced to the early 1990’s. There was the Go-M link at the University of Michigan, then it came to the Library of Michigan in the mid-90’s and took shape as an actual database in 1998 when Access Michigan was created. This morphed into MeL and in 2005, MeLCat was added thanks to our wonderful partnership with MCLS.”

“For the majority of libraries in Michigan, MeL is their main database content. You can also access it online right now from anywhere. MeL completes about 20-30 million data retrievals annually, meaning that specific information was successfully located for 94% of these requests.”

“MeL presents the user with high-quality information from subject matter experts. For example, some of the most popular of the 80 databases are: Opposing Viewpoints (Gale Cengage database used heavily by schools), NoveList Plus (book discussion group; guides to almost 30,000 books of fiction), and the A to Z database (general business info).”

“We receive $1.75 million dollars per year from the state to run MeL, along with $4.5 million dollars from IMLS grants, thanks to the LSTA Act.”

“The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent agency in federal government and they help us with funding. When calculated for ROI, for every dollar spent, the general public gets $26 in return, which is significant. We also use some federal funds for sub-grants to libraries, meaning that a few dozen libraries can each receive up to $25,000 per year.”

“Overall, MeL is a tremendous resource featuring a wealth of options for anyone to explore. Libraries from Monroe to Escanaba use it heavily. MeLCat allows you to borrow from libraries that are 500 miles away!”

“Libraries are community centers, not just book warehouses. A healthy library has many facets, including being a place of refuge for everyone from kids to adults of any economic status.”

“In my 35 years as a librarian, I’ve witnessed constant unstoppable change, driven by technology. For example, generative AI is coming so fast, that librarians who embrace and understand it will have an advantage over those who balk at it and ignore it, hoping it’ll go away. There is a working group called State Libraries and AI Technologies (SLAAIT) figuring out how to best handle AI.”

“Books and getting them into people’s hands is still vitally important to society. Working in libraries, you see firsthand the transformational power of the written word. Libraries exist to provide opportunities to people and make their lives better and I’m thrilled every single day to be a part of this.”

Tara Kanon

Tara Kanon is the statewide delivery coordinator for RIDES. She has graciously allowed me a rare peek into the process. I’m walking through a cavernous warehouse with her and some staff from RIDES courier ProMed Delivery, Inc.

We are witnessing an amazing feat of logistics and boots-on-the-ground hard work from dedicated people ferrying shrink-wrapped pallets of books.

Tara Kanon and team at RIDES hub warehouse in Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)

Let’s hear from Tara:

“The Regional Interlibrary Delivery Service (RIDES) is a statewide courier service for Michigan libraries. Some 300-400 couriers physically drive the books around the state to and from the various libraries. ProMed Delivery, Inc. provides delivery service to the Lower Peninsula, and they coordinate with another courier to provide delivery service in the Upper Peninsula.”

“There are six main regional warehouses statewide, and a transfer site for materials moving between the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. The central Detroit hub is our largest. When someone requests a book or other item, it goes from the library to the closest warehouse hub where it gets sorted, sub-sorted, then routed to the requesters library via courier.”

RIDES hub warehouse in Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)

“Each library has its own 3-digit RIDES code identifier. Any library can choose to participate in the RIDES program. However, there is a small cost for libraries to join. Libraries can also choose to be a no-pack library (no packaging) if they want. We work with libraries of all sizes. Certain algorithms are in place to ensure request balancing, so that lending and borrowing doesn’t fall on any one library.”

“Materials are manually sorted by hub into green RIDES totes. There are three different sizes: large, medium, and very small. The max weight is 40 pounds per tote. An estimated 15,000 MeLCat materials move through the RIDES system daily. Audio visual material is double bubble wrapped.”

“MCLS manages the RIDES label maker. There are over 740 library names on the RIDES label maker. MCLS contracts with ProMed Delivery, Inc. to provide delivery. Many drivers themselves are independent contractors.”

Scott Garrison

Scott is the Executive Director of the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS). He is kindly chatting on the phone with me.

Let’s hear from Scott:

“The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (known as MCLS) operates in Michigan and Indiana.”

“MCLS exists to help support libraries. We promote collaboration, engagement, innovation, learning, and more for libraries. We work with a variety of other organizations across the library landscape by offering collective e-licensing, consulting, training programs, and much more.”

“We’re very proud of our strong relationship with the Library of Michigan, with whom we contract to support MeL for millions of citizens across Michigan. . Our staff take the trust that the Library of Michigan and hundreds of libraries across the state have placed in us very, very seriously, and we take pride in serving libraries the best we possibly can. The MeLCat and other servers we maintain are at an IT co-location facility in Lansing, and are currently undergoing significant upgrades to bring them more up to date. MCLS serves and supports libraries of all sizes and types, from smaller academic to larger academic, school, public, special (i.e., hospitals and law firms), and the state libraries in Indiana and Michigan.”

“MCLS created and administers RIDES, which enables over 400 libraries to move over 1 million items back and forth to the Upper Peninsula and all around the state on a constant basis. Since we have two peninsulas, each with its own courier, Michigan is one of the most complex, multi-type resource sharing environments for libraries in the entire country.”

Final Thoughts

Michigan library card

I hope looking through this small window into an enormously vast network and what it takes to run it, has increased your appreciation for not only your local library but for libraries in general.

Many thanks to Randy, Scott, and Tara for taking the time to help us understand and appreciate the intricacies of the Michigan library system.

If you are a Michigan resident and don’t have a membership card to your local library, make it a priority to go there this week and get one. Use the Michigan Library Directory to locate the nearest public library to you. If you are a Michigan library, make sure you look into joining MeLCat.

Fun Bonus:

Cool items from the Library of Michigan’s Griffiths Rare Book Room (4th floor)

Library of Michigan’s Griffiths Rare Book Room (photo courtesy of Googchives)

According to Adam Oster, Community Engagement Librarian at the Library of Michigan, here are some cool items:

“The oldest item is from 1490. It’s called “Statham’s abridgement of the law” and it’s a collection of English law translated into French.

When it comes to other unique items in the Rare collection, we have a fairly complete set of the “The Michigan Suffragist” newsletter of the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association. A great feature within most issues of the newsletter is the County Reports section where the work be performed for the suffrage movement within individual Michigan counties is highlighted, including where individual people are listed.

Statham’s Abridgement of the Law circa 1490 book @ Library of Michigan’s Griffiths Rare Book Room (photo courtesy of Googchives)

Some other interesting items, according to Matt Pacer, Reference Librarian at the Library of Michigan:

The American woods : exhibited by actual specimens and with copious explanatory text / by Romeyn B. Hough. Published in 1892. Most of the pages are cross sections of the varying woods of North America. You can see the color and grain.

Mapping my world : buildings + bridges / Laura Davidson. Published 2002. A pop-up book. One can think of it as more of an art piece with pop-ups of Michigan bridges and buildings.

Addresses of Abraham Lincoln. (miniature book). Published 1929. It is about 2cm. So, about the size of the knuckle to top of thumb. A representative sample of a book that would have been purchased as a memento/keepsake. One needs at least a magnifying glass to read it.

Hough’s Woods book circa 1892 @ Library of Michigan’s Griffiths Rare Book Room (photo courtesy of Googchives)

As for acquisitions/donations, there are several reasons we would add a book to our rare collection. For the above three books, we want to ensure that many future generations of Michigan residents and researchers have access to these items. If you have other questions, please ask.

Make a Gift

www.Michigan.gov/LibraryGift

Temperature-controlled closed-stacks room which houses the rare book collection at Library of Michigan (photo by Library of Michigan)

Donate rare Michigan yearbooks to the Library of Michigan

“The Michigan Suffragist” newsletter of the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, which is housed in the Rare Book Room at the Library of Michigan (photo courtesy of Library of Michigan)

Photos from the 7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books 2024 @ Eastern Market

7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books 2024 @ Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan (photo by: Debbie Maciolek, aka: Debography) Detroit Bookfest

The 7th annual Detroit Festival of Books (aka: Detroit Bookfest) took place on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Eastern Market in Detroit.

These photos are courtesy of Detroit photographer Debbie Maciolek and her company DEBOGRAPHY .

Debbie says:

“I had an absolute blast at Detroit Bookfest! Really enjoyed it, especially meeting the book dealers and authors and listening to all the great conversations. Thank you to all the people who interacted with me and helped me get great shots. It was a very diverse crowd of vendors and attendees and I loved seeing all the books, smiles, great food, records, hearing the funk music and I look forward to going next year!”

Debography Email

[email protected]

Debography Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/debographyphotography/

Debography Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DebographyPics/

Debography Twitter

https://twitter.com/debography

7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books 2024 @ Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan (photo by: Debbie Maciolek, aka: Debography) Detroit Bookfest

Melanie Slank at 7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books 2024 @ Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan (photo by: Debbie Maciolek, aka: Debography) Detroit Bookfest

7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books 2024 @ Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan (photo by: Debbie Maciolek, aka: Debography) Detroit Bookfest

Detroit Bookfest 2024 Festival Guide

Detroit Bookfest 2019 (photo by Ryan M. Place)

The Detroit Festival of Books, aka: Detroit Bookfest, is a FREE annual in-person event at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan.

Eastern Market

Shed 5 (also Shed 4, DTE Plaza, and the Russell Lot)

2934 Russell Street

Detroit, MI 48207

Sunday, July 21, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DetroitBookfest

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/detbookfest/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/64706023

Photos from 2023 Bookfest

https://detroitbookfest.com/6th-annual-detroit-bookfest-photos-2023/

Eastern Market Detroit map

The phrase “Eastern Market” refers to both the large district/neighborhood and also the series of Sheds owned by the city of Detroit and run by the Eastern Market Partnership non-profit organization.

Opened in 1891, Eastern Market is the largest historic public market in the United States.

Featuring 43 acres of space, Eastern Market is comprised of a series of indoor and outdoor sheds which function as thriving year-round consumer markets.

This year, Detroit Bookfest will be located inside Shed 5 where vendors will be selling all sorts of books (ie: used, rare, antiquarian, authors, children’s, new, unusual, ephemera, etc), comic books, vinyl LP records, creative arts, and more.

Detroit Festival of Books (photo by Debography)

DJ Seven Whales will be providing the vibes.

Debbie Maciolek will be documenting the experience with her keen and perceptive eye.

Food trucks such as Sonny’s Hamburgers and Tacos Hernandez will be located south of Shed 5.

Char’latte Coffee Company: Two Metro Detroit sisters are bringing their Mobile Coffee Cart to Detroit Bookfest

Brilliant Detroit will be in the DTE Plaza on the westside of Shed 5, along Russell Street

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s D-Rover van will be outside Shed 5.

Pong Detroit, the ping-pong social club, will be wheeling some ping-pong tables over to Bookfest!

Deon Forrest (aka: Greektown Hotbox) Detroit’s own world-famous street performer will be live on Russell Street (at Alfred Street) outside Detroit Bookfest.

Detroit’s own Arts & Scraps is bringing the ScrapMobile to Bookfest! Kids will be able to build their own books here!

Birdie’s Bookmobile will be in the DTE Plaza outside Shed 5.

826michigan will be in the DTE Plaza outside Shed 5.

Detroit artist Rachel Quinlan created an exclusive painting for Detroit Bookfest

And more!

Health and safety is our #1 concern.

Whatever safety protocols are in place on Bookfest Day, we will be following them 100%.

We ultimately have no idea what to expect this year but we will do our absolute best to make it fun and safe.

JR Jones and Lonni Thomas, two of Eastern Market’s finest and also members of the Detroit Bookfest Committee (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Our festival footprint has grown to include:

The Official Bookfest Afterparty down the street at Eastern Market Brewing Company (runs 10am-6pm)

https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/

Please explore the Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide below.

We also encourage you to make a day of it and explore the entire Eastern Market district, which is packed with hundreds of fun shops, restaurants, and experiences.

Eastern Market’s Shed 5 Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Here’s our totally professional graphic designer-approved not flawed in any way screenshot MAP of the Bookfest Festival Footprint

Detroit Bookfest festival map

Eastern Market Brewing Company

2515 Riopelle Street

Located three blocks southeast of Shed 5, Eastern Market Brewing Company (EMBC) is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Market.

Currently, the street they’re on, Riopelle, is closed to vehicle traffic. It is pedestrian-only and they have tables in the street, food tent, live DJ Sam Morykwas, and of course beer, glorious beer.

Some of their most popular beers are:

Elephant Juice, Market Day IPA, Mae Blanc, Wonderboy, and White Coffee Stout

Bookfest Afterparty

https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/

Beer list

https://easternmarket.beer/beers/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/easternmarketbrewing/

Special thanks to Dayne Bartscht (owner) and his team

Eastern Market Brewing Company Detroit (photo courtesy of EMBC)

EMBC Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Pong Detroit

This afterhours ping-pong social club is located inside Bert’s Warehouse (2739 Russell Street)

Pong Detroit

The brainchild of former Honolulu-based radio DJ and pong enthusiast Mal Lang, their slogan is “unplug and play.”

Mal says, “Soccer is # 1 and table tennis is the # 2 participant sport in world. Table tennis is huge in China, India, Europe (especially Sweden & Germany).”

Bert’s Warehouse also features a comedy club, kitchen, and bar, so you can drink and pong all night long.

Lessons are available and they will be doing wheelchair table tennis soon.

Their other slogan is “Food, drinks, music and pong.”

Hours

Tuesday-Thursday

5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Cost

$10/hr from 5-7pm, then $15/hr 7pm-11pm

Homepage

http://pongdetroit.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pongdetroit/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/pongdetroit/

Thanks to Mal Lang (owner)

Pong Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Pong Detroit

Pong Detroit inside Bert’s Warehouse (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Michigan shaped ping pong paddle (courtesy of Pong Detroit)

Bert’s Warehouse Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

The Dequindre Cut

Closest entrance located at 3017 Orleans Street.

“The Cut,” as it’s called is a lovely greenway/urban recreational pathway for walking, biking, jogging.

It is 2-miles long and runs from the Detroit Riverfront to the northern tip of Eastern Market.

Near the Wilkins/Orleans entrance, you can find the Freight Yard Bar, this is an outdoor bar made out of shipping containers.

To get to the bar:

Enter at Orleans St & Wilkins St, walk down to the Cut, make a right, then it’s down on your left.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DequindreCutFreightYard

Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Dequindre Cut Map

Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Dequindre Cut Freight Yard bar (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert @ Dequindre Cut Freightyard Bar (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Detroit City Distillery

2462 Riopelle Street

The Riopelle taproom of DCD is down the street from Eastern Market Brewing Company.

Here you will find a lively outdoor vibe, including music, cocktails and food from Midnight Temple, the Indian gastropub located above DCD. (hint: try the tandoori wings and gobi rollup).

Homepage

https://www.detroitcitydistillery.com/

Midnight Temple

https://www.midnighttemple.com/

Special thanks to JP Jerome (co-founder), Mike Forsyth (co-founder), Akash Sudhakara (Midnight Temple)

Detroit City Distillery (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Midnight Temple Indian food Detroit (photo courtesy of Yelp)

The Eastern (event venue)

3434 Russell Street

The Eastern is a lovely 5,000-square foot industrial space you can rent out for special events.

Built in 1888, this is the old Hook and Ladder # 5 fire station. The Eastern has capacity for 300 seated or 600+ strolling and a 3,000 square foot outdoor patio.

Note: The entrance is not directly on Russell St, rather the main entrance is located on the north side of the building next to Wasserman Art Gallery.

Homepage

http://www.theeasterndetroit.com/

Virtual Tour

http://www.theeasterndetroit.com/virtual-tour

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/theeastern

The Eastern event space Detroit (courtesy The Eastern)

Elsewhere in the Eastern Market district….

Eastern Market sculpture at Orleans and Erskine (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Erskine (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Winder (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Alfred (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Dyno Indoor Climbing Gym

3500 Orleans Street

This place is really cool! Inside you will find 12-15 foot tall boulders and a 49 foot tall rope section.

You can get a day pass, punch pass, or membership.

Climbers must be over 4 years old and you have to be over 16 years old to belay.

Homepage

https://www.dynodetroit.com/

Special thanks to Dino Ruggeri (owner)

Dyno indoor climbing gym (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

Dyno indoor climbing gym (photo courtesy of Dyno)

Dorais Park Velodrome

601 Mack Avenue

Located on the NW edge of the Eastern Market district, this is also another really cool place!

Inside the 64,000 square foot dome you will find an indoor wooden bicycle track.

Bicyclists beware, you can actually go up to 50mph on your bicycle inside here!

Homepage

https://lexusvelodrome.com/

Special thanks to Dale Hughes (owner)

Dorais Park Velodrome (photo courtesy of the Velodrome)

Dorais Park Velodrome (photo by: Ryan M. Place)

That’s not everything in Eastern Market.

Merely a small sampling of some of the fun and exciting things you can do.

Be sure to explore the entire district and enjoy your experience in Detroit!

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!

The annual Detroit Festival of Books (aka: Detroit Bookfest) will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Eastern Market’s Shed 5.

FREE ENTRY for attendees!

Detroit Bookfest is a glorious day of BOOKS, records, comics, creative arts, food, drinks, funk music and exploring Detroit’s incredible Eastern Market District.

The district is anchored by the actual Eastern Market itself, which is a series of large consumer sheds.

Be sure to check out our Official Detroit Bookfest Afterparty from 10am-8pm, which is located a few blocks Southeast at Eastern Market Brewing Company

https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/

We encourage everyone to check out the Official Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide

https://detroitbookfest.com/detroit-bookfest-festival-guide/

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees

1.) Every vendor is on their own in terms of cash flow and providing change. There is no centralized market bank. Please help the vendors out by bringing small bills, if you can. $1’s, $5’s, $10’s will be needed. Yes, there are two nearby ATM’s (ie: Shed 5 northern exterior wall and also the Chase Bank across the street). Several vendors should have the ability to accept credit card payments on their smartphones, however, we are not sure that all of them will have this ability.

2.) There will be vendors inside Shed 5, Shed 4, and outside both sheds. And there will be the Community Activities area outside Shed 5 along Russell Street. Please check out both! There will also be music, food trucks, ping-pong, and more!

3.) Wear a pair of good, comfortable walking shoes. We encourage you to make a day of it and check out the fabulous Eastern Market District, which is packed with a ton of great eateries, bars and stores of all sorts. If you haven’t already, please read our Official Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide.

https://detroitbookfest.com/detroit-bookfest-festival-guide/

4.) This event is all-weather, so dress accordingly. Dress comfortably and casually. Watch the weather forecast and if you think you may need an umbrella, please bring one.

5.) Make sure you check out our food vendors on Alfred Street on the south side of Shed 5.

Bookfest Food Vendors

https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-food-trucks/

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!

6.) Parking is plentiful, however, it is scattered around the Eastern Market district. Make sure you plan accordingly. You can drop people off, park, then get the car and pick them up, if you need to. Eastern Market oftentimes handles even larger events which get 150,000+ people at them, so there are places to park, just be prepared to walk a little bit.

7.) Public restrooms are located inside Shed 5 and spread throughout Eastern Market. If there are long lines at one, walk over to another bathroom.

8.) This event is all-ages. The love of books can start at any age, so parents, bring your family and always remember to keep an eye on your children. There will be several children’s activities going on in the Community Activities area outside Shed 5, including a book donation drive. If you have any kids books to donate, please bring them!

9.) Warning: grooveilicious FUNK MUSIC might make you feel the unexpected urge to boogie. If you feel like dancing, then dance!

10.) We are tremendously excited about this event and feel it is an important and positive happening for Detroit and Michigan and the world of books and many other things. Please help us spread the word on your favorite social media websites by posting photos and telling people about your experience.

THANK YOU! We love you all and hope everyone has a great time!

And pull out your calendars…

The 8th Annual Detroit Festival of Books will be on Sunday, July 20th, 2025.

Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!

Official Detroit Bookfest Blockparty Afterparty at Eastern Mkt Brewing Co. (July 21, 2024)

BEER!

Official Detroit Bookfest Afterparty at Eastern Mkt Brewing Co.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

No cover charge!

https://www.facebook.com/events/730159429008889/

In celebration of the annual Detroit Festival of Books (aka Detroit Bookfest), EMBC will be opening early on Sunday, July 16th for the Official Detroit Bookfest Afterparty!

Located three blocks southeast of Shed 5, Eastern Market Brewing Company (EMBC) is one of the most popular destinations in the Eastern Market district.

Currently, the street they’re on, Riopelle, is closed to vehicle traffic. It is pedestrian-only and they will have tables in the street, food, live DJ, and of course beer.

Shed 5 to EMBC Detroit

Some of their most popular beers are:

Wunderboi (kolsch), Elephant Juice (hazy IPA), Pineapple Market Day (fruited session IPA). And they now offer pepperoni pizza slices inside!

https://easternmarket.beer/beers/