Michigan libraries expand beyond books — and walls — by going outdoors

Southeast Michigan libraries are expanding services beyond books and traditional programming
Some libraries are building StoryWalks, outdoor spaces and community-focused services
Libraries are adapting as reading habits and visitation patterns change

Libraries aren’t just places to check out books anymore.

Across Michigan, they’re expanding into community hubs, offering outdoor spaces, programs, tools and other services designed to meet the changing needs of the people who use them — and are reading less.

One trend: StoryWalks, outdoor paths designed for young children and families to read while enjoying nature in a fun and engaging way.

Orion Township Public Library is expected to complete a StoryWalk in November using a $16,650 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. (Editors’ note: The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation is a funder of the Center for Michigan, Bridge’s nonprofit publisher. The foundation had no role in conceiving or reporting this story)

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The organization, which also operates in western New York, is investing $1.5 million over three years in eight libraries across southeast Michigan to improve spaces and services, including outdoor learning and gathering areas, youth and teen programming and career exploration.

“One of the goals that we wanted to work on is increasing the use of the outdoor space and (utilizing) our local trails and parks,” said Chase McMunn, Orion Township’s library director. “We wanted to give people something to do outdoors here.

McMunn said the library’s new StoryWalk will be open year-round and will rotate the books seasonally.

“We’re always looking to … adapt our services to the things people are looking for,” McMunn said.

StoryWalks can provide an important physical element to education, said Steve Bowers, executive director of The Library Network.

The outdoor paths can be found at libraries and parks across the state, from Centennial Park in Fowlerville to Hackley Public Library in Muskegon and Herrick District Library in Holland.

Brandon Township Public Library in Ortonville is building one this fall with a $62,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. It’s an effort to promote literacy and outdoor activity, something the staff has been interested in for the last five years.

The library previously set up a temporary Braille book StoryWalk and “everybody loved it,” said Laura Fromwiller, director of the Brandon Township library. “… Ever since then, we’ve been wanting to install a permanent one.”

The library’s new 300-foot StoryWalk is expected to be completed by Halloween. Books will be rotated every two weeks. “If kids can have fun while they’re reading, it makes them much more interested in reading,” Fromwiller said.

More than books

As e-books and audiobooks become more popular, libraries have had to transform to meet community needs. The shift is playing out in several ways, from youth programming to outdoor spaces where residents gather and learn.

“It’s important to remind everyone that we’re more than just books,” said Bowers of The Library Network. “It’s not that people forget, it’s that they never knew that.”

More than books — A ‘more than books’ collection at the Orion Township Public Library includes tools and cookware for people to check out. (Courtesy of Orion Township Public Library)

Technology has made it easier for people to access books without visiting a library, and fewer people are reading in general. A national survey conducted by the University of Florida found that 16% of Americans older than 15 read for leisure, down from 28% in 2003. And they’re spending less time doing it.

A sharp drop in physical visitors during the pandemic also forced some libraries to reinvent themselves. Nearly 30 million people visited a Michigan library in fiscal year 2025, according to state reports, up from 13 million in 2022 but still less than the nearly 44 million who visited the year before.

“We certainly have books, and those aren’t going anywhere,” said McMunn, the Orion Township director, who said his library has adapted by creating a “thriving” collection of “more than books.”

The rotating section includes tools like a carpet cleaner, power washer, board games and an ice cream maker for members to check out.

“Our big goals are to provide people with services they may not be able to either afford or they just want to try out,” McMunn said. “We also put a big emphasis on creating space for people to gather, meet other people in the community and meet people of different ages and backgrounds.

Teens ages 15 to 19 spend roughly nine minutes a day reading for leisure, compared with 46 minutes among adults 75 and older, according to an annual survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The best thing about libraries is that everything is free,” said Fromwiller of Brandon Township. “No matter what socioeconomic status you are, everyone can enjoy the library and hopefully it stays that way.”