About Us

Suburban Library Cooperative

Who We Are

The Suburban Library Cooperative is a network of public libraries, in the Macomb County area, that have joined together to perform services more effectively and economically. Established in 1978 under Michigan Public Act 89 of 1977, the Cooperative provides member libraries with several important services, including automated circulation of library materials as well as access to the Internet. The Suburban Library Cooperative also assists member libraries, in a variety of ways, in their efforts to better serve the public, through continuing education opportunites for staff and access to a variety of digital resources. Libraries in the following communities are members of the Suburban Library Cooperative: Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton Township, Eastpointe, Fraser, Harper Woods, Harrison Township, Macomb Township, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, New Haven (Lenox Township), Ray Township, Richmond, Romeo (Washington, Bruce), Roseville, Shelby Township, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Troy, Utica, and Warren. The Cooperative offices are located at 44750 Delco Blvd., in Sterling Heights, Michigan. For more information, please call (586) 685-5750.

Administrative Services

The Suburban Library Cooperative administers broad, cooperative-wide services and programs, allowing member library directors to attend to library issues at the local community level. Planning and budget preparation are two major activities of the Cooperative. In addition to general administration of its own operations, the Cooperative also writes and administers many grants each year. Monies received from member libraries, state funds, grants and donations must be carefully managed to operate the automation system, delivery system and other ongoing cooperative services. The Cooperative provides centralized bookkeeping and accounting for cooperative programs, supplies financial reports for members of its board of trustees, and prepares statistical reports for the state.

Meet Our Staff

Mallorie DeVilbiss

Director

Chris Frezza

Head of Systems

Amy Shaughnessy

Systems Librarian

Lauren Boggs-Berdy

Cataloger

Vicki Harris

Delivery Coordinator

Ken Valyi-Hax

PC Administrator

Pat Linsday

Bookkeeper

Kim Shearer

Clerical Assistant

Nancy Johnson

Clerical Assistant

Lisa Thomas

Sorter

Emma Harris

Sorter

Our Co-Op Services

The Suburban Library Cooperative manages a Polaris Library shared automation system for its members, which it has been with since September 2022. A shared database of over 1,579,781 items provides close to 340,000 registered patrons with easy access to all sorts of information sources. By being a part of the SLC, libraries can offer their patrons access to the holdings of all the participating libraries, check out items to patrons, place holds on items, process library materials, search online databases, and access the online catalog.

*Please note: Clinton-Macomb Public Library, Harrison Township Public Library, and Troy Public Library are on their own automation systems.

SLC provides daily delivery (Monday-Friday) to all of its member libraries so that materials are available quickly to patrons. Over 1 million items move through the delivery system each year. SLC is also a delivery point for the statewide RIDES delivery system so that patrons are able to borrow materials from libraries all over the state of Michigan.

Buying library materials as a group allows member libraries to receive discounts with book and audiovisual material vendors greater than most of them could manage individually. This enables the local library to purchase more materials with its tax dollars. The Michigan Cooperative Directors Association handles the coordination of the proposals from vendors.

Many member libraries have special collections of books and other materials. Included are St. Clair Shores and Mt. Clemens Public Library’s Michigan Collections, Romeo District Library’s extensive DVD collection, and Sterling Heights Public Library’s  International Language Collection, CD-ROM collections and Troy Public Library’s business collection.

The Suburban Library Cooperative provides access to the Internet through computers at each of the participating libraries through a Comcast Business Connection.

Location

44750 Delco Blvd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Business Hours

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm

Online Support Hours

Monday – Thursday: 7:30am – 7pm
Friday: 7:30am – 5pm

Download Our App

The Suburban Library Cooperative mobile app makes it easy to digitally browse the libraries’ collections, get details on items, make a selection, check out or place a hold for later pickup, and even renew items previously checked out. Try out the our user friendly app today!

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