Thirty-nine part-time staff have been laid off from the Dearborn Public Library, effective July 1, 2026.
THE FACTS
39/45 part-time employees laid off for 10-12+ months
Council President Sareini and Mayor Hammoud say it’s due to lack of work
Budget documents and Library Commission minutes reveal root cause
Mayor Hammoud promised an Esper renovation the library cannot afford
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY
Reallocation of the staffing budget makes up only 4% of the renovation budget
Only $352,913 in grants confirmed for an ~$11M renovation
Estimated workload for remaining employees is equal to 2.4x their originally contracted duties
Esper Branch has been closed since September 2025—no construction has taken place
Bryant Branch closed for renovations May 30, 2026
2/3 libraries closed, HFCL set to serve 104,000+ residents plus members of The Library Network
