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Michigan Press, Michigan Impact. Where are the State's most serious bookworms? A new map answers the question

Michigan Press, Michigan Impact. Where are the State's most serious bookworms? A new map answers the question

Readers across the State of Michigan just love reading University of Michigan Press books! Our interactive map shows where titles on local history, culture, and the environment are consumed, and no corner of the Mitten State remains untouched. Blame the long winters indoors or lazy summer days on the many pristine freshwater beaches, but Michiganders sure love to read - especially university-produced books they know they can trust

University of Michigan Press regional titles are enjoyed and read from Houghton to Tecumseh thanks to a collaboration with the Library of Michigan called "Read Michigan" which will soon celebrate its fifth year. Launched in collaboration with the non-profit incubator Lyrasis, readmichigan.org was created in collaboration with the three university presses in the State and offers over 300 of their most notable titles, providing the best sources for the culture, history, and natural history of the Mitten State. Best of all, the ebook collection is free within the geographical boundaries of the State, and can be accessed in all public library districts.

Michigan is one of the only US states to have three university presses - and all dedicated to the public good (University of Michigan Press, Michigan State University Press, and Wayne State University Press). Each has a very different profile, but all are committed to the highest quality of publication and trusted quality in an age where misinformation is rampant. Alongside regional titles, the presses publish world-leading titles in subjects ranging from political science to African studies, from classics to Jewish studies, and from performing arts to environmental policy.

This interactive map displays a representative sample of usage data collected between 2021 and 2025, totaling over 50,000 reads. While urban centers show the most usage, all of the State's 83 counties feature some use.

So, where are the most readers? Ann Arbor, Traverse City, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Marquette? No, Redford Township, just west of Detroit. Congratulations to the Redford Township District Library for anchoring a community of true "bookavores."

They searched for everything from "whitefish" to "Mormon murders," from "the Battle of the River Raisin" to "Vernors." Here are the top ten University of Michigan Press books loved by residents of the best state in America (OK, we're biased):