Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
🏢 Flint Public Library District · Flint, Michigan
Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
Founded in 1851 — two years before Michigan achieved statehood — the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library stands on the Flint Cultural Center campus and holds Michigan's second-largest openly accessible genealogy collection alongside a nationally recognized Automotive History Collection. Renamed in 2023 to honor Gloria Coles, the first African American woman to serve as library director, it now celebrates its 175th year of continuous community service.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 11am–8pm |
| Thursday | 11am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1026 East Kearsley Street, Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 232-7111
Website: fpl.info
Plus Code: 86MR28CC+V4 (Flint, MI)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
The Gloria Coles Flint Public Library traces its roots to 1851, when the Ladies Library Association established a reading collection for Flint residents. In 1885 the collection was donated to Flint Community Schools as a free public library, and in 1905 a Carnegie Foundation grant funded a new building. The current main library on the Flint Cultural Center campus was dedicated in 1958, designed by architect Sulho Alexander Nurmi; a major two-story addition followed in 1990, expanding the genealogy and reference spaces. After a $24 million renovation, the library reopened in 2022 with updated children's and teen areas, gigabit internet, and a Digital Studio. In 2023, following a grassroots resident initiative, the institution was officially renamed the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library to honor the director who led it from 1984 to 2004, guided its transition to an independent district library, and championed services for underserved communities.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1851 — among Michigan's oldest public libraries, now celebrating 175 years of service
- Named in 2023 for Gloria Coles, the first African American woman to serve as library director, who led the library for 20 years
- Houses Michigan's second-largest openly accessible genealogy collection plus a dedicated Local History and Genealogy Room
- Nationally significant Automotive History Collection and Black Life and Literature collection on-site
- Federal Depository Library with microfilm archives of The Flint Journal; hosts the annual Michigan Storytellers Festival since 1981
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Flint cardholders can read, stream, and research free through Michigan's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Local History and Genealogy Room — second-largest openly accessible genealogy collection in Michigan
- Automotive History Collection and Black Life and Literature collection
- Digital Studio with technology equipment and mobile printing
- Michigan Activity Pass — free or discounted admission to 360+ Michigan attractions
- Public computers, Wi-Fi, and gigabit internet access
- Exam proctoring
- Room reservations for meetings and events
- Book an Expert consultations with community specialists
- Accessibility services
- Federal Depository Library documents
🎸 Programs
- Michigan Storytellers Festival (annual, since 1981)
- Julia A. Moore Poetry Contest (annual, since 1994)
- Children's and teen STEAM programming (LEGO Club, Pokémon Club)
- Book clubs for all ages
- Summer reading program
- Homework help for kids and teens
- Community resource and referral assistance
📍 Nearby Libraries in Genesee & Livingston Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the library renamed the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library?
In 2023, following a grassroots resident initiative, the Flint Public Library was officially renamed to honor Gloria Coles, who served as director from 1984 to 2004. She was the first African American woman to hold that role and spent two decades expanding services to underserved communities, leading the library's transition to an independent district in 1999, and securing a permanent 2-mill funding campaign in 2002.
What is special about the library's genealogy collection?
The Local History and Genealogy Room at FPL holds Michigan's second-largest openly accessible genealogy collection, including microfilm archives of The Flint Journal, census records, and local family histories. The library is also a Federal Depository Library, adding federal documents to its research resources.
What is the Michigan Activity Pass, and can I get one here?
Yes. The Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) is a statewide program that lets library cardholders check out passes for free or discounted admission to over 360 Michigan attractions — museums, parks, nature centers, and more. Flint Public Library cardholders can access MAP through the library's website at fpl.info.
What are the library's hours, and is it open on weekends?
The library is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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