The first decade of the new millennium has brought even more changes to the Library. As computers become more and more a part of the fabric of everyday life, the Library has kept pace, adding a computer training center, offering instructional classes and access to databases and adding programming to incorporate new technology. It’s not uncommon to walk by the Multi-Purpose Room and see dozens of teenagers wielding Wii controllers or a lecture being recorded for broadcast. With a stunning redesign in July of 2005 the website also entered the 21st century, winning the “Best Library Website” award from the American Library Association for a Library with a budget of $6 million or more.

With the opening of the Malletts Creek Branch in 2004, the Pittsfield Branch in 2006, and a new Northeast Branch coming in 2008, the Library has further expanded its service to the Ann Arbor community, offering green building technology, state of the art facilities and an extensive collections of books, music and DVDs at locations throughout Ann Arbor.

The library continues to grow—during the fiscal year of 2005-06, annual circulation surpassed 5 million, and the collection size now numbers nearly 550,000 items throughout the Library’s five locations. As the community’s needs have changed, so too have the Library’s; in the spring of 2006, a study was commissioned to examine the use of the current building and determine a plan for its future.

2007 also brings the 100th anniversary of the Downtown Library’s predecessor, the historic Carnegie building on Huron Street. Though the adjoining high school building has been torn down, the University plans to incorporate the façade of the historic library into the University’s new North Quad complex.