From the Director
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.
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Bookmobile
bookmobile-1767-160
/bookmobile/ 
I admit – I can’t resist scanning “best of” lists, especially books and movies. If I have a pen nearby, I find myself checking off those I have read or seen.
I just read my first “best of” list for 2009: “Best Books of 2009” in the Nov/Dec issue of Bookmarks magazine. I had two immediate thoughts: how can they publish this list yet – there might be even better books published yet this year AND how can it be that there so many books on this list that sound great and I’ve never even heard of them.
It seems a little early to ask you to share your favorite book of 2009, but begin thinking about it. My favorite nonfiction might be Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon or The Hemingses of Monticello. Then again there are still seven weeks left in the year and I might yet read one I like even more than either of these two.
I’ve read more fiction than nonfiction so it’s a little harder to pick a favorite. I might have to do my own “best of” list.
To quote Thomas Jefferson, “so many books, so little time.”
We have many good ones, come visit soon.
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“Best Books of 2009”
43-Nov-Dec-2009-160
http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/43-nov-dec-2009
“National Bookstore Day” is Saturday, November 7. It is a day to celebrate bookselling and the vibrant culture of bookstores.
Kalamazoo is fortunate to have a bookstore, operated by the Friends of KPL, located on the lower level of the central library. The gently used books they sell are donations from the community and some discards from the library collections.
Proceeds from the store support many library programs and services. This past summer the Friends funded our summer reading games for all ages. They also support Reading Together, Prime Time Family Reading, and author visits.
Books are modestly priced – it’s a good place to build a home library. Even library users like to own some books! Watch their website for even better bargains during their sales.
Happy National Bookstore Day to our good Friends.
Come visit the library – and the bookstore!
(originally posted 11/5/2009)
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National Bookstore Day
national-bookstore-day-logo-160
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6696364.html
Listening to the school closings on the radio this morning leaves no doubt—the flu has hit Kalamazoo. Like other organizations that serve the public, KPL is trying to limit the spread of the H1N1 as well as seasonal flu.
We’ve posted signs throughout our buildings promoting hand-washing to limit the spread of the flu virus. We’re setting up hand sanitizer stations for library visitors and providing tissues, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes to staff.
A new topic guide on our website compiles information and web links on both the seasonal and H1N1 flu. Although not a substitute for professional health care, you’ll find helpful information on this guide.
Our excellent Facilities Management crew will continue to keep our buildings clean and disinfected; we’ll clean keyboards and public work surfaces even more frequently, too.
We sent a staff member to an informational meeting at the Health Department and will continue to follow Kalamazoo County government’s recommendations regarding the pandemic.
Take care, be well.
Flu Information topic guide »
(Kalamazoo Gazette photo by Tyler Tjomsland)
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WMU student with the flu (Gazette photo)
flu-gazette-photo-160
http://photos.mlive.com/kalamazoogazette/2009/10/shes_got_the_flu.html
Besides directing the library, I use the library; I consider myself a “power user” – one who uses many services and is here frequently, every day in my case!
I just read Telex from Cuba, this year’s freshman book for K College; I browsed Not So Big Remodeling, even though there is no home remodeling in my near future; I loved Leisure Seeker and regret I missed the author’s visit here a few weeks ago. I’m getting ready for a driving vacation and have checked out Admission and The Invisible Mountain. I think I’ll like both, given the reviews. I have How to Raise the Perfect Dog for my husband to read….hint, hint! Of course I have a few travel books for the backseat of the car.
Earlier this month, I attended a poetry reading by Lori Wilson. I don’t read poetry, but I enjoy hearing it. I heard local author Michelle Miller-Adams speak about her book on the Kalamazoo Promise and Bob Downes share his backpacking experiences around the world; I heard banned books read during Art Hop.
I could go on and on….suffice it to say, I’m proud of our staff and the materials and services we provide. I appreciate them as a library user too.
Come visit soon.
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The Leisure Seeker
9780061671784
Last week the Friends of KPL celebrated their 50th anniversary with a wonderful reception. They recognized past presidents and long time volunteers, reviewed their history, celebrated their strong support and advocacy of the library, shared the success of their bookstore, and gave the library a generous $50,000 gift!
The Friends financial support has supported many of our programs: Ready to Read, Reading Together, Youth Literature Seminars, Prime Time, programming for all ages. This past summer they funded our summer reading games for all ages – preschoolers to adults – as well as the end-of-summer reading party, attended by 1,014!
This gift came from bookstore proceeds. Just imagine how many books they sold for 10¢ to $2.00! Our community is generous in donating books to the Friends and our Friends are generous to the library.
Thank you and congratulations, good Friends; best wishes for the next 50 years!
Come visit the library AND the bookstore soon.
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Friends 2009 Board
Friends909-005-160
/friends/
Beginning this week, you will see many changes in the circulation area at the central library – changes that will help us be more efficient and serve you better.
A generous anonymous bequest allowed us to install a modern inventory system that will enable patrons to quickly and easily check out their own items. We will be creating three new, smaller checkout stations for patron use; the old checkout desk will be replaced with a smaller desk for two staff members and an open shelving area for patrons to pick up their own holds.
These changes will help us manage our ever-growing circulation – an increase of 14% last year.
Work will begin this week and be done in stages. We are aiming for completion in late December.
We’ll keep you informed of the progress by way of a page on our website.
Come visit and watch the changes.
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Renovation at Central Library
central-2009-013-160
/renovation/
Banned Books Week (BBW), which celebrates the freedom to read, will be observed September 26 – October 3. This annual event reminds us not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.
Each year, some books are targets for attempted banning. Thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, and booksellers most are maintained in collections. BBW reminds us annually of the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and draws attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.
KPL and American Civil Liberties Union of MI, SW Branch, are sponsoring a BBW Art Contest, and at Art Hop on October 2, local celebrities will be reading from banned books.
Come visit soon; exercise and celebrate your freedom to read whatever you want to read!
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Banned Books Week poster (American Library Association)
bbw-mockingbird-160
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/bbw_mockingbird_lg.JPG
September is noteworthy for libraries; it is National Literacy Month and Library Card Sign-Up Month.
KPL is pleased that the Kalamazoo City Commission will acknowledge these September designations with a proclamation to “encourage citizens of Kalamazoo to sign up for a library card, to read, and to use the wealth of resources available for free at KPL.”
This is an opportunity to remind us all that reading is one of the greatest tools a child can receive---reading opens the door to a world of imagination, enrichment, and economic development and that reading and writing is fundamental to leading a full and productive life.
Be sure the children in your life have and use their library card; use yours too! A card is free to residents of our library district.
Come visit soon.
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Use your library card!
first-card-32809-023-160
http://www.kpl.gov/account/card.aspx
Generally librarians don’t encourage patrons to buy books… we want you to check them out from the library! We know, however, that readers also want to own books and that having a home library is important, especially for children.
So, here’s my book buying advice: shop the Friends of KPL Fall Book Sale, this Saturday, September 19, from 9 am – 3:30 pm in the third floor auditorium of the central library. Books are $.10 each or $2.00 a bag! Books are arranged on tables by category: fiction, nonfiction, romance, children’s.
And for additional shopping or just browsing, the Friends Bookstore on the lower level will also be open.
The books are donated to the Friends and the proceeds from the sale and bookstore benefit the library.
KPL is fortunate to have very good Friends! Come visit the library AND shop the fall book sale and bookstore.
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Friends Book Sale
friends-sale-60609-102-2-160
http://www.kpl.gov/friends/bookstore/sidewalk-sale.aspx