State guide
Michigan
Michigan’s statewide library agency is the Library of Michigan, an agency of the Michigan Department of Education. For statewide sharing, Michigan residents use MeL and MeLCat; the state also has Library of Michigan circulating kits for libraries and cultural memory organizations, with Great Michigan Reads Discussion Kits listed as coming soon.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State library agency
- Library of Michigan
- Statewide book club kit program
- Library of Michigan's official statewide kits page says circulating kits may be reserved by public and academic libraries and cultural memory organizations through the LM Circulating Kits site; it lists Great Michigan Reads Discussion Kits as coming soon.
- Statewide kit catalog
- Official page →
- Interlibrary loan
- Michigan uses MeLCat as a statewide catalog and resource-sharing service; searching is open to everyone, but only eligible patrons from participating libraries may request delivery to their home libraries.
Official resources in Michigan
Explains who can get a Library of Michigan card and what access it provides.
Official statewide page for MeL, including MeLCat and eResources.
Official statewide kits page describing eligible borrowers and the reservation site.
Public-facing Library of Michigan page with MeLCat borrowing notes and other services.
Key facts for Michigan
- All Michigan residents are eligible for Library of Michigan library cards.
- Library of Michigan cards can provide access to MeLCat materials delivered to the Library of Michigan.
- MeLCat is a centralized statewide catalog and resource-sharing service for participating Michigan libraries.
- Everyone can search MeLCat, but only eligible patrons from participating libraries can request delivery to home libraries.
- Library of Michigan circulating kits are for public and academic libraries and cultural memory organizations.
- The statewide kits page lists Great Michigan Reads Discussion Kits as coming soon.
Libraries that lend book club kits in Michigan
| Library | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Public Library Book Clubs | Detroit | Not published* | Book Club in a Bag lets users host a club; bags check out for 8 weeks and require a Book Club Library Card application at a local branch. |
| Waterford Township Public Library Book Club Kits | Waterford | Not published* | Each kit includes six books and discussion questions; kits check out for six weeks. |
| Royal Oak Public Library Book Club Kits | Royal Oak | Not published* | Official page says ready-to-go kits contain about 6-12 copies; circulation parameters list a 9-week loan. |
| Wixom Public Library Book Club Kits | Wixom | (248) 624-2512 | Kits contain 6 copies and a reading guide; users can search the catalog and place holds. |
| Lenawee District Library Book Talks Lenawee County | Adrian | (517) 263-1011 | Monthly LDL Book Talk page also links to several other branch book clubs in the district. |
| Branch District Library Book Club Kits Branch County | Coldwater | Not published* | Kits can be reserved in the catalog or by calling any branch; standard loan is 28 days with one renewal if no holds exist. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use your local public library card first for MeLCat requests, because MeLCat delivery depends on participating libraries and eligible patrons.
- If you need multiple copies for a club, check local public library kit pages before buying copies yourself.
- If you are arranging programming as a library or cultural organization, reserve Library of Michigan kits through the LM Circulating Kits site.
Not seeing your library or county?
We list a library only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Michigan, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Michigan's population center, for comparison only):
- Evanston Public Library Book Clubs, Illinois · about 184 miles
- Chicago Public Library The Reading Set, Illinois · about 189 miles
- Manitowoc Public Library - Book Discussion Kits, Wisconsin · about 190 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Library of Michigan Circulating Kits
Website →Phone: (517) 335-1477 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Michigan page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What is a library book club kit?
- How to borrow a book club kit from your library
- How to start a book club at your library
- Using interlibrary loan for your book club