[citation needed] In the 1950s, a group of citizens began a campaign for a public library in the newly formed City of Southfield.

Their efforts were successful, and on February 3, 1960 the first Southfield Public Library opened its doors in a renovated two-room school house.

To keep pace with the City's expansion, an enlarged and renovated Southfield Public Library was made available to the community in 1980.

[citation needed] On May 3, 2011 Southfield voters approved a millage for police and fire protection, library operations, street maintenance and parks and recreation programming.

[citation needed] During the COVID 19 pandemic the library shifted its focus to online offerings as the building was closed.

[2] Southfield Public Library provides a book collection of over 280,000 volumes and subscribes to numerous print magazines and newspapers.