Story Time!
Growing up, I was one of the two “nerds” in my family (when you have 7 other siblings, there’s bond to be more than one). I was the sibling that would spend every Saturday at the library and every Sunday playing basketball with my brother and his friends (I’m a woman of many talents). But the library has always been and will probably be one of my favorite places to go. The library was the place I got to get away from the madness that was my house and get some peace and quiet (again, 7 siblings… what is silence?). I loved reading and learning and just the overall environment of a library.

I say that to say that my all time favorite place is the Main Library in Downtown Detroit right on Woodward Avenue. In high school, I had a project to work on and by the time I got the the library near my house, it would be closed so I decided to go to the Main Library since it was closer to my school (Cass Tech #1, Second to None ). When I tell you I was amazed by this library, I was AMAZED! It was much larger to any of the other libraries in the city and trust me, I had been to my fair share of libraries. I probably spent a majority of the time of my first visit just looking around and figuring out where I wanted to get settled in to do my work. Needless to say, I didn’t get much work done this first visit so I had to come back again, and again, and you guessed it, again.

I transitioned from being fascinated with the size of the facility to falling in love with book selection options (even though I probably checked the Harry Potter series out a million times). The Main Library is every “nerds”/bookworms’ dream. My love for the Main Library fostered an even greater love and fascination for libraries. When I moved away for college, I knew the campus library would be crucial to my academic success so I was more than ready to use that space. I was fortunate enough to use both the old and new libraries at Grand Valley and again realized my love of such a magnificent learning space. The Mary Idema Pew Library on Grand Valley’s Allendale campus was like a new age AMAZING! The usage of the space (study rooms, presentation labs, multiple computer labs, technology showcase, and an automated book retrieval system), the resources provided (writing consultants, technology access and a café), the design and the interior all contributed to me finding my new safe haven.

Regardless of if I had homework or not, I would go to there because the library has always been the place to calm me and put my mind at ease. But then I moved to downtown Grand Rapids and the library lifestyle was just not the same (I had to stop going to campus after I graduated, no one believed I was actually done with school). Luckily, I got the position with Challenge Detroit and would be moving back to the city right up the street from the Main Library! The joy! Okay, so the library was not initially not the first thing I thought about when I moved back but it was definitely one of the first places I went when I got back. To ensure I had my life together and had everything mapped out for the Challenge Detroit Fellowship and everything else on my plate, I went to the library my first Saturday back. Kendra was back in her happy place. Maybe it was because I was so used to the high-tech campus library, but coming back to the Main Library it all looked so new to me and again I spent the majority of my visit exploring corridors and art pieces in the library that I never even knew existed. And then I discovered the Adam Strohm Hall on the third floor, my new favorite place in the entire space! Between the murals on the walls, the beautiful stained glass windows, and the open space, I’m not sure what I love most about the space (it’s most definitely not the hike up the stairs).

I find myself again going to the library when I feel overwhelmed and need to organized my life or just watch strangers take their engagement or wedding photos in the space (literally every week this has happened, I kid you not). Like me, there’s a lot of people who don’t even know this space exists which is why it will always be my favorite hidden gem. My place in the city that will always remind me of home and serenity. So I ask you, what’s your favorite Detroit Hidden Gem?