Dexter District Library
🏢 The Library Network (TLN) · Dexter, Michigan
Dexter District Library
Founded in 1927 by Dexter's women's club and housed since 2009 in a 30,000-square-foot building of curved wood and sandstone beside the Farmers Market, the Dexter District Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library with a K–8 drop-in Makerspace and one of Washtenaw County's most eclectic special-lending collections.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–9pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 3255 Alpine Street, Dexter, MI 48130
Phone: (734) 426-4477
Website: dexter.lib.mi.us
Plus Code: 86JR84R6+27 (Dexter, MI)
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📖 About Dexter District Library
The Dexter District Library traces its roots to 1869, when a reading room was noted in a local doctor's office, and was formally founded in 1927 by the Dexter Woman's Study Club. After decades in smaller spaces — including a renovated Methodist Church education building from 1996 to 2009 — the library opened its current 30,000-square-foot home at 3255 Alpine Street in spring 2009. Designed by HBM Architects, the building blends traditional and contemporary forms: curved wood beams, wood ceilings, sandstone and brick masonry, and curved glass walls that flood the interior with natural light, with children's and teen zones overlooking a community park next to the Dexter Farmers Market. The library district — established in 1963 to mirror the Dexter Community Schools boundaries — serves the Village of Dexter and Scio, Webster, and Dexter Townships. As a member of The Library Network (TLN), patrons share a countywide catalog, Michigan eLibrary (MeL) databases, and the Michigan Activity Pass to 400+ cultural venues statewide.
⭐ What makes this library special
- FamilySearch Affiliate Library — in-library Wi-Fi and computers unlock restricted genealogy photos and documents not available to remote FamilySearch users
- Special Collections lending: ukulele kits, radon detectors, VHS/film/cassette converters, Kill-a-watt meters, portable projectors, hotspots, laptops, and more
- Drop-in Makerspace for grades K–8 — open-ended making with all supplies provided, no registration required
- 30,000-square-foot building (opened spring 2009) by HBM Architects with curved wood beams, sandstone masonry, and curved glass walls overlooking the community park
- Michigan Activity Pass (via TLN) gives cardholders discounted or free admission to 400+ Michigan arts and cultural destinations
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Dexter District Library cardholders enjoy free digital access through The Library Network and Michigan's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- FamilySearch Affiliate Library genealogy access (unlocks restricted records in-library)
- Special Collections lending (ukuleles, radon detectors, VHS/film/cassette/slide converters, projectors, hotspot and laptop kits, Kill-a-watt meters, Epson scanners, TI-84 calculators, portable Blu-ray player)
- Drop-in Makerspace (grades K–8, all supplies provided, no registration)
- Group study rooms and meeting rooms available for reservation
- Michigan Activity Pass and Detroit Zoo discount tickets
- One-on-one technology help sessions
- Wi-Fi, public computers, and Wi-Fi printing
- Interlibrary Loan through TLN
🎸 Programs
- Somewhere in Time Book Club and Better Off Read Book Club (adults)
- Tween Book Club and Super Stories Book Club (youth)
- Adult Summer Reading Program (2026 theme: 'Unearth a Story!')
- Chess Club and LEGO Club
- Yoga and wellness classes
- Ancestry.com and family-tree research classes
- Movie screenings and history/travel lectures
📍 Nearby Libraries in Washtenaw County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Dexter District Library move to its current Alpine Street building?
The library opened at 3255 Alpine Street in spring 2009, after three years of planning, land acquisition, and construction. HBM Architects designed the 30,000-square-foot building, which sits adjacent to the Dexter Farmers Market and overlooks a community park. Before this, the library occupied a renovated Methodist Church education building on Fourth Street from 1996 to 2009.
What extra genealogy access does the library's FamilySearch affiliation provide?
Dexter District Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. While you are physically inside the library — using a library computer or the public Wi-Fi — you can access restricted FamilySearch photographs and documents that are not available to remote users. This makes the library a stronger genealogy research destination than a standard at-home FamilySearch account allows.
Can I borrow something other than books at Dexter District Library?
Yes — the Special Collections lending program lets cardholders borrow ukulele kits, chess kits, radon detectors, thermal leak detectors, Kill-a-watt electricity meters, portable projectors and screens, hotspot and laptop kits, Epson photo scanners, slide/negative scanners, VHS-to-MP4 converters, cassette-to-MP3 converters, an 8mm/Super8 film converter, a USB floppy drive, a portable Blu-ray player, and a TI-84 calculator.
Which communities does the Dexter District Library serve?
The library serves a district that mirrors the Dexter Community Schools boundaries: the Village of Dexter plus Scio Township, Webster Township, and Dexter Township in Washtenaw County. The district was formally established in 1963 when those entities voted to join together and create a dedicated public library district.
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