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RHPL Centennial

Celebrating a Century of Community

2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Rochester Hills Public Library. To help celebrate, the staff at RHPL has been hard at work planning programs, installations, and special events and commemorations to share with our community.

  • 100 Stories Project with RHPL Story Exchange - Record your memories and share your thoughts about the library using our Story Exchange phone in the lobby or call 248-650-0400 from home. Strong and silent type? Check out one of our Centennial Journals to add your thoughts in writing.
  • A Necessity of Life by Deborah Larsen - Available for purchase in the Friends store, this comprehensive history details everything RHPL, from the origins of the library to the present day.
  • RHPL Swag - Collect special 2024 RHPL swag at programs and events throughout the year

Share your story Donate to the Library

Centennial Celebration

RHPL Centennial Gala

Saturday, October 12, 2024 @ 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Rochester Hills Public Library cordially invites you to our Centennial Gala celebrating 100 years of service to the community. Celebrating this milestone is a once in a century opportunity, so we hope you’ll join us as we honor the past and celebrate the future of the library. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, music, and library history throughout the evening and participate in the unveiling of renovated library spaces.

Want to be a part of history? Be one of the first 100 guests to purchase a ticket to get your name sealed in our time capsule as a thank you for your support.

Tickets: $100 per person, guests must be 21 or older.
Registration closes Sunday, October 6.


Learn More Purchase Tickets Make a Donation

RHPL Staff Homecoming

Friday, October 11, 2024 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

We’re calling past and present staff and board members home to roost to celebrate, reminisce, and honor 100 years of service. Think of a highschool reunion, but better!

Our community is invaluable to us, but this event is reserved for current and former staff members only.


Register

Family Fun Open House

Sunday, October 13, 2 p.m.

It wouldn’t be a celebration weekend without our patrons. Stop by for light refreshments and explore fun new features of the library! Take the opportunity to rediscover all that the library has to offer. No registration required.

See more info

New & limited library card designs

Exclusive library card designs are now available for a limited time! Choose your favorite while supplies last. Whether you're obtaining a new card, renewing your current one, or simply want your own Stretch the Giraffe card, don't miss this opportunity to pick your limited design.

Get a Library Card

100 Stories Project

Leave a message for the future

We’re asking you to become a part of library history! We’ve added phone in the lobby for you to share your library story. Tell us your library story by picking up the receiver at RHPL, calling 248-650-0400, or checking out a Centennial Journal.

Submit your thoughts before October 11 for them to be included in our time capsule!


Call the Story Exchange Place a Hold on a Journal

A Necessity of Life: The History of RHPL by Deborah Larsen

Available at the Friends Store

What started as a small collection in a rented bank building in Rochester, MI has turned into one of the largest libraries in Oakland County, providing life-long learning opportunities for over 100 years. Local author and historian Deborah J. Larsen tells the history of Rochester Hills Public Library starting with the teenagers who formed the first Rochester Literacy Society. The local history book is available now in the Friends Store.

See the Friends Store Hours

Through the Years

Site of Avon Township Free Public Library (1924)

Site of Avon Township Free Public Library (1924)

Avon Township Public Library Groundbreaking

Avon Township Public Library Extension Groundbreaking

Avon Township Public Library Reading Room

Avon Township Public Library Reading Room

Avon Township Public Library Periodical room 1987

Avon Township Public Library Periodical room 1987

Library Parade marching to new building circa 1992

Library Parade marching to new building circa 1992

Rochester Hills Public Library Opening Dedication circa 1992

Rochester Hills Public Library Opening Dedication circa 1992

New Camperdown Elm 1992

New Camperdown Elm 1992

Catalog Computers 1992-93

Catalog Computers 1992-93

RHPL Bookmobile Introduced

RHPL Bookmobile Introduced

RHPL Front Desk circa 1992

RHPL Front Desk circa 1992

RHPL Youth Room circa 1992

RHPL Youth Room circa 1992

Before and After

Slide (desktop) or tap (mobile) to see how much we’ve changed.

Timeline

Browse RHPL history with our interactive timeline.

Historical Minutes

Read historic board meeting minutes for behind-the-scenes history.


Explore the archive