I just moved to Clawson a few months ago, and one of the first things I always do when I move is get a library card. I was living in Troy previously, which has a decent library, and I used to work at the WB library a while back, so I'm a bit of a library "snob," to preface this review. The Blair/Clawson library is small but nice. The hours are a bit crazy (they're only open certain days, and I believe in the summer they're actually closed the entire weekend) but they're open Saturdays, which is fine for me. I've been here two or three times now and each time, service was fast (picking up a book on hold, and checking it out). The library is small but it seems to have a decent collection of books. I did see DVDs were $1 per week, I believe, so I'll stick to my own collection + Netflix for that. Overall, cute little library. I appreciate the easy parking situation, as well (they have their own lot). read more

Wonderful library. Even though it's small it has a diverse inventory and wonderful programs for all ages. They also have MelCat system so if they don't have your book you can try any of the libraries in the network and they'll deliver to the library for you to checkout locally. The staff are super helpful and friendly. read more

Edit and a star removed- This library is really starting to get on my nerves. Their hours are HORRENDOUS! The only nights they are even open until 8pm is Monday and Wednesday. They are closed Friday and Sunday. And the rest of the days of the week they are only open until 6pm. REALLY? I don't have any clue how they ever get anyone to come in at all with hours like that. I have tried twice now to go in and pick up some books I unfortunately choose to put on hold at my own home library and pay off a small fine. But every time I go they are either locking the doors or closed already. At times that I haven't had books on hold (and I no longer think I'll have my books held here) I've gone and they were closed and ended up at other area libraries. I'm a pretty heavy library user and this is just ridiculous! And I also tend to find the staff to be much friendlier at other area libraries. Much of the time the people working here will not even say a word to you and look at you like you're bothering them if you dare to ask a question. Why put money into renovating a library when clearly the money would've been used at finding a way to keep the library open a bit later at night so the average working person can actually make it there to check out books? Being closed on Friday is a pain but I could live with that if they stayed open later like seemingly every other area library does. I'm so frustrated! This library recently reopened after a major renovation. I first have to say I only moved to Clawson about 6 months ago and the library has been closed for renovation almost the entire time so I can't even tell you what it looked like before. I understand it's been expanded and meeting rooms have been added however I wasn't exactly impressed. I understand that Clawson itself is a tiny little city and it's wonderful we even have a library here but honestly I don't know if I've ever been in such a small library anywhere! They boast having a great new children's and young adult section.... However it's hard to even call them "sections". The whole book part of the library is one big room. The kids and YA books are off in sort of separated areas on the left side when you come in. It seemed like the fiction and non-fiction just sort of flowed together which was sort of confusing. It's a small enough library it shouldn't be hard to find whatever you are looking for but things aren't separated besides the Children and YA books. They did seem to have a nice collection of audio books at the end of the shelves. Their movie collection is also impressive and they seem to have a TON of recent releases. Movies apart from "special interest" are a dollar a week which is sort of disappointing. One bright side is that TV seasons are FREE! I haven't had time to browse and see what shows they have but they seemed to have quite a few and you really can't beat FREE when most of the libraries nearby charge for TV seasons. Definitely something to check out! Overall, I am glad to have a home library. Their selection of books, movies, and audio books really was quite current and surprising for a library so small. The building is nice and new. If you live nearby, definitely come check it out. Otherwise, stick with your local library as it's almost certainly larger. read more

Blair Memorial Library - Libraries Near Me - Clawson, Michigan

I have been a member of the Clawson Library for the past 30 year. I started taking my son to the library when he was 2 years old. He loved picking out books and attending the special programs designed for children. This past summer , the same son was home working on his dissertation . On an almost daily basis I was at the library picking up obscure texts from MeLCat. I have never had a bad experience at the library. The staff have ALWAYS gone out if their way to be helpful. The library is small and sometimes does not have the books I am looking for; however, they are always ready to pick up a day or two after being requested. The former head librarian gave me great reading suggestions when she saw the genre I checked out the most. Great small town library with the resources to get anything you may need from books for children to university texts. read more

Well maintained and the staff has always been friendly and helpful. The later evening hours throughout the week are a great help

Best Library EVER! Staff friendly and extremely helpful. Very knowledgeable and willing to help all patrons. Great programs and events. Easy order of books shared within the network. read more

I have always found Clawson library staff to be extremely helpful and friendly. They have gone out of their way helping me find things before for my kids' reports. I happened to check out just as a shipment of books from other libraries was delivered. The lady at the desk saw I had a book on hold from another library & went back to go through the shipment for me & couldn't have been friendlier. They have a pretty nice selection, and what I don't find there I request it & it is delivered there pretty quickly. Then I can just zoom in to the front desk & it is ready for me. A previous reviewer complained about showing up several occasions when they were closed or about to close. I recommend checking the hours BEFORE you go and PLAN. It'd be nice if they were open more, but libraries are losing money due to decreasing property values and I consider ourselves very lucky we aren't looking at losing our library as Troy is. read more

This library must not want people to read because they are never open. Closed all weekend and only open a few hours a week when people aren't at work. Not convenient for residents or even students who are in school all day. read more

I feel like the previous review was quite unfair. Clawson is a 2 square mile town, the fact that we have a library at all is wonderful. Personally, I prefer to use the library network, ibistro, ( http://catalog.tln.lib.mi.us/ )so that I can hold books online & if my library doesn't have it, or just doesn't have it in stock, neighboring network libraries will send it there for me to pick up. Clawson library will then call me to let me know it is in & hold it for a week. I work full-time and have two small kids that are both in sports, so I don't really have time to browse the library. I get off work at 5, head up to the library & my books are ready & waiting. I've never found any of the librarians to be rude, quite the opposite, actually. Because Clawson is very small, people tend to recognize each other. I go to the library a lot & the librarians always stop to say hi to me & my children when we stop in. As for the renovations, you really can't comment unless you saw the "before". The library was very outdated. The new renovations offer meeting rooms for the community and hopefully for more special library events. There was a special mileage that passed to allow funds for the new renovations of the library. It is my understanding that the money was specifically for renovations and could not be used to extend library hours. The library hours....well, frankly, people don't go to libraries all that much anymore. I have never been there when it was busy and I really don't think that a small community can justify late or extended hours 5 or 6 days a week. Its free. You get books for free. You also have the wonderful convenience of using the online library network so that you have access to THOUSANDS of books that our small library couldn't possibly afford to stock. Considering the fact that much, much larger neighboring communities (Troy, for instance) have closed their libraries due to lack of funding, I am very happy that we have our new, more updated library that is available to residents. I'm a little unclear as to what a "home library" is compared to a "local library" in the previous review. I think that comparing a small, small town library to the library of a larger city with a larger business district (to support taxes) is unfair. read more

Absolutely love this place! Staff are incredibly knowledgeable and super friendly. Though it has a modern small town feel to it, they go above and beyond with offering kid friendly programs and provide superb library resources. My family and I go there several times a week and never leave without several staff members offering to help us (which seems like a rarity these days). I cannot tell you how many times I walk in to other local libraries to see clerks sitting behind the desk, not offering to help until you approach the desk (and even then they seem upset at the prospect of helping patrons). These employees don't even have chairs behind the desk to sit in! Even though it would be nice if they had longer hours of operation (which is a funding issue and not by choice I am sure), It certainly seems like they try and maximize their available hours to be accessible for patrons. My family will be loyal patrons for many years to come. Outstanding work from the entire staff! read more

I totally disagree with the previous review - this is the best library in the Detroit Metro Area - the staff is EXTREMELY friendly and helpful. They always have the books or DVD's I'm looking for - this is my favorite library. I give it an A+++ rating. read more

I LOVE this library! Staff is incredibly patient and helpful! Can't count the number of hours I've spent in the place over the years, but it is a true gem within the City of Clawson. Staff changes haven't impacted the quality or ambience of the place. So glad Blair Memorial Library is there to serve the community! read more

This is one fine neighborhood library with caring and helpful staff members. They are diligent about letting me know online and by phone when books I have reserved are ready for pick up. At times when I need a few more days with a book I can phone and they are usually able to extend my due date. Though I am a resident in Royal Oak I always choose to come to this library and not the one in my resident city because it is smaller and safer and meets my needs as a senior. I have encountered only friendly staff always willing to answer questions and help with information. I read many books each week and when I reserve them online it makes the pick up and return so easy because of the non traffic location and drop box and easy access in a safe location. If the hours were better it would be perfect in my opinion BUT I understand that limits on hours are due to financial concerns and they cannot be opened all the time because there are no funds for such extended hours. Nice programs for the young children as storytimes as well. if you need the convenience of a cozy conprehensive library you want to come to this one. The improvements recently made add to the pleasure of using this public library. I only kept one star off the rating because the hours are a bit odd but they really do try very hard to make times so every age can access the library at least one day a week. This is a gem and I am rather glad more do not know about it ( up until now) because that keeps it small but efficient and very personal. read more