Ferndale Library Expands Local Music Collection to More Than 200 CDs

If you take a stroll through the expansive music collection at the , it won't be long before you start seeing the circular mitten stickers.

The stickers indicate that the CD is by a local artist – and they seem to be popping out of the collection everywhere. The discs aren't placed at the forefront intentionally – there's just that many of them.

Kelly Bennett, a circulation specialist, started collecting local CDs for the library several years ago and says the collection now has more than 200 titles.

"People are pretty excited about it," she said.

Local music collections at libraries are rare, Bennett said. In fact, she will speak at a library conference in March on the topic along with a library in Kalamazoo that also has a local music collection.

"It's a fairly original idea," she said. "It always makes me happy to see people just take the CDs out. Just to be able to spread the word that there is a big music scene in this area and you should listen to it."

For Bennett, bringing local artists' CDs to the library's music collection combines two of her passions.

"It just felt like sort of the perfect combination of things that I care about," said Bennett, who has brought in several local artist CDs from shows she has attended.

The library is making a push to grow the collection and is seeking donations of CDs by local musicians of any genre, from anywhere in Michigan – not just the Detroit area.

"There’s still so much out there that we don’t have. I’d like to add as many as we can," Bennett said.

To donate

To donate CDs, bring them to the library or send to Ferndale Public Library, Attn: Kelly Bennett, 222 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, MI 48220. Donations to the library are tax-deductible and receipts are provided at the request of the donor.

First Stop Friday

The library also hosts , which showcases local musicians. The . Interested artists may email Kelly Bennett at k.d.bennett79@gmail.com or call 248-547-6008.