The Knapp Branch was named for Elisabeth Knapp, the former chief of the Detroit Public Library's Children's Department. It is the only branch library that is named for a librarian. Knapp opened on October 3, 1950. It is located just south of Conant Gardens, which was one of the first areas in the city that permitted the sale of homes and lots to black families. The branch today serves a diverse population including African-Americans and a large Bangladeshi community.
The library collection includes books, books-on-tape, and CD's for children and adults. The library has an excellent reference collection, popular magazines and several daily and weekly newspapers. There is a rotating collection of foreign language books in Polish, Arabic, Bengali, Russian and Ukrainian. Some of the services offered include reference and reader's advisory services, computers for public use, income tax forms, student financial aid forms, and a copy machine. Tax assistance for low-income residents is provided by appointment on Saturdays during the tax season.
Knapp Branch offers programming for children and adults and the Children's Librarian maintains close ties with the neighborhood schools.
