Staff-recommended reading from the KPL catalog.
Gabriel Coats, his mother, Sewing Annie, his fiancée, Mary, and his sister, Ellen buy their freedom after great suffering, and open a tailor shop and laundry in Washington, DC, just before the Civil War. Not surprisingly, their master tries to regain control of his former property and the family is forced to pay for their “freedom” again and again. ...
Posted by Ann, Nov 16, 2009
Staff-recommended viewing from the KPL catalog.
The recent “balloon boy” hoax that had citizens across the country glued to news outlets late last week brings Billy Wilder’s 1951 film classic Ace in the Hole back to my mind, in a big way. Ignored in its time, the film predicted the modern-day “media circus” that persists around human interest stories - true or otherwise....
Posted by Karl, Oct 20, 2009, 1 Comment
Staff-recommended listening from the KPL catalog.
The current season for “spooky” stuff brings to mind a time honored classic – Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. Oldfield was an unknown English teenager in 1973 when the haunting opening sequence from his highly acclaimed debut gained worldwide attention as the backdrop for Friedkin’s film version of William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist....
Posted by Keith, Nov 13, 2009
Library news and happenings.
Bookmobile service will end by June 30, most likely sometime in the late winter or early spring. Our board reluctantly decided to phase out the service due to budget constraints. Voters supported our millage renewal request in May, but as property tax values drop, our revenues drop while many costs continue to rise. 92% of our revenues come from local property taxes. The bookmobile has been a beloved service. Fortunately most patrons who use the bookmobile also use services at other locations: Central Library and one or more of our four branches. Bookmobile patrons unable to travel elsewhere may find Via Mail or deposit collection services a good alternative. This decision was made after thoughtful consideration. My full report to the board is on our website as well as the fuller announcement and media coverage. I’ll keep all patrons, and especially bookmobile patrons, informed as the service winds down and an end date is determined. Come visit soon – the bookmobile, Central, a branch, or our website. ...
Posted by Ann, Nov 17, 2009
Recent library events, news and more.
During the week of November 23, the barricades will again be erected so workers can begin installing the Checkout Kiosk. The kiosk will be located in the tiled area in front of the circulation desk. Once the kiosk is built and operational patrons will be able to check out their own materials at one of the three stations! ...
Posted by Kevin, Nov 19, 2009
News, comments, resources, and more.
Microsoft sure wants to make things complicated for beginners! They've used the number 7 both in their new operating system as well as in the current version of their productivity tools software. Windows 7 and Office 2007 are two very different things. ...
Posted by Jennifer, Nov 19, 2009
If you enjoy a good mystery, we have a sale for you. Select hard cover mysteries are on sale this week for 50¢ each. But wait, if you want to save even more money and stock up for the winter, you can buy 3 for a dollar! Books include titles by classic and current mystery authors. You’re sure to find many books you will enjoy....
Posted by Carol, Nov 17, 2009
News, events and happenings from the Children's Room.
Do things like mutant animals, villainous scoundrels, a bird-drop artist, and magical inventions spark your reading appetite? Do you think your family is weird? Have you ever wanted to go to a boarding school and never come home?...
Posted by Ann, Oct 1, 2009
Kalamazoo is a great place to live if you are into genealogy or history. Not only do we have numerous places close by for doing research, but there are also many area organizations, societies and commissions devoted to preserving or researching history in various ways. Groups like the Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society and the Oshtemo Historical Society meet monthly and often offer informative and entertaining programs for the public. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Western Michigan University and, of course, the Library all offer events of interest to history buffs. So, wouldn’t it be great if there was one place to look for all the area meetings and programs related to history? Well, now there is! KPL’s Local History Community Events Calendar, which can be accessed from the Local History and Genealogy pages of the website, provides information on events happening locally and even some bigger events taking place a little farther away. Be sure to check it often because new items are added regularly and don’t forget to contact us with information on events you would like included in the calendar. With this new calendar you’ll never have to miss any of the great local history events our community has to offer....
Posted by Beth, Oct 17, 2009
Opportunities for Nonprofit Excellence
I was very fortunate to attend the National Independent Sector/Council of Michigan Foundations Annual Conference in Detroit earlier this month. It was inspiring to be among the 1,100 people from over 30 states who came together to share insights, build collaborative skills through interactive sessions, and delve into issues facing the nonprofit sector today....
Posted by Bobbe, Nov 20, 2009
What a delight to receive this nice note from Rick Bragg. Honestly, he’s the one to be thanked....
Posted by Lisa, Apr 23, 2009
The competition is heating up for the 9th Annual Great Grown-up Spelling Bee! Twenty corporate sponsored teams are poised to participate in the event on Wednesday, November 18, 6-9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel. This wild and wacky event benefits Ready to Read and 100% of the net proceeds will be used to purchase gift books for children aged birth to five in Kalamazoo County. The competition is guaranteed to be fierce as spellers battle it out for the Spelling Award and their cheerleaders compete for 6 team spirit awards – Most Enthusiastic Team, Most Creative Cheer, Best Costumes, Rookie Team of the Year, Judge’s Choice and Best Bribe for Judges! ...
Posted by Jeremy, Nov 16, 2009
Here in the Teen Services department, we are constantly striving to provide the kinds of programs that Kalamazoo's teenagers want. We know that gaming, crafts, and Japanese pop culture are popular. And Galley Group attracts new enthusiastic teen readers almost every month. Besides those, however, are there other programs we could offer that would bring you and your friends to the library? If so, we want to hear from you! Among the ideas that we have recently scheduled that either had to be cancelled due to lack of registrants or had few, if any, attendees include reader's theatre and workshops in the library's computer lab....
Posted by Karen, Nov 20, 2009