@ Your Library
Recent library events, news and more.
Looking for something fun to do during Spring Break? There are a variety of programs at library branches.
It’s all at your library. Have a wonderful Spring Break!
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Spring Break Programs at KPL!
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http://www.kpl.gov/events/western-dance/
Because of my move into a new job at the library, last night was the final Storytime with Mr. Steve & Friends.
We had a great time reading books, singing songs about a man made out of food, and playing with the parachute.
The adrenaline of the evening helped me hold up well last night, but now I am feeling the effects of closing a very happy chapter in my life.
I would like to thank all the families in the community for your wonderful support during my years as a children’s librarian and for allowing me to be a part of your children’s lives.
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Storytime with Mr. Steve and Friends
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http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/mr-steve.aspx
The 2010 Winter Olympics begin this Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia and I for one can’t wait. Although the summer games include my favorite sport by far, there is just something about the winter Olympics that feels somehow more pure and true to the spirit of the Olympics (not too many Skeleton racers are being offered million dollar sponsorship deals).
KPL wishes to help keep the Olympic flame stoked with a display of Olympics related books in the rotunda at the central library, along with links to all things sports (including the Olympics) in our Sports Topic Guide. Citius, Altius, Fortius!
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Topic Guide: Sports
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/guides/sports/
At KPL, we get lots of questions about tax issues. Here are answers to some of the more common concerns.
Tax Forms: Though more and more people prefer to e-file for faster return on their tax refund, many others still ask us about paper tax forms. This year, all library locations will distribute basic paper tax forms and instructions, free of charge, while they last. Look for the federal forms to be available by the middle of January; state forms will be available in early February.
Tax Preparation Help: The Central and Oshtemo locations will again be hosting tax preparation in 2010 for people with household incomes under $49,000, starting January 30. You will need an appointment; to sign up, call 211, as of January 15, 2010.
Bookmark our Tax Information topic guide for regular access to more tax-related details. During tax season, you can also use the “Tax Forms/Free Tax Help” icon from our home page. Be sure to scroll down to the websites for forms, instructions and much more.
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Tax Information
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/guides/tax/
The next phase in the redo of the circulation desk area at Central Library is underway. The barricade is up around the circ desk and it is being removed to make way for a smaller one.
A temporary circulation desk has been set up by the curving stairs to the second floor. Materials being held for patrons are available for self pick-up on the magazine shelving.
There are three check out units available for patrons to use, identical to the ones in the children’s room and at Oshtemo Branch. During this transition, staff are stationed by the check out units to help patrons as needed.
Another change is online registration for a library card from any computer, at home or in the library, or from the dedicated one at the end of the temporary circulation desk.
The target completion date is the end of January. Look at the progress as you visit Central Library and we’ll continue to post updates on our website.
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Renovation at Central Library
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/renovation/
Linda Mah’s December 9 column in the Gazette highlighted the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP). This is an intensive home-intervention program that supports young, vulnerable, first time mom’s and their babies from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. I’m proud to say Kalamazoo Public Library is a stakeholder in this valuable program.
NFP is federally funded but requires a local/MI match, and for months the future of Kalamazoo County’s NFP has been in jeopardy. Thanks to some money released from a reserve held by Kalamazoo County and a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, the NFP is secure for another year. Through the library’s Ready to Read early childhood literacy program, we provide books for the nearly 200 babies and moms served by the NFP. The NFP nurses deliver the books and promote family reading during their frequent home visits. Thanks to the Nurse Family Partnership and its dedicated staff, KPL has found another important way to extend its reach into the community.
We’re glad to have this opportunity to help young mothers get started reading aloud to their children early and often!
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Peek-a-Boo, You!
0439339618
As an added service to our patrons, the Reference Desk at Central Library now has headphones and flash drives available for purchase.
Headphones are available for sale to the public at a cost of $2.75 each. The Reference Desk also has 256MB flash drives available at a cost of just $5.00 per drive.
A “public” flash drive is available at the desk for assisting with temporary storage or transfer issues, but this will give our patrons the option of purchasing a drive for their personal use at a reasonable price.
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Flash Drives
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/reference/
Nostalgia, recession-induced frugality, and a desire to have more control over what goes into food are reasons why many cooks are trying homemade versions of their favorite condiments.
Julie Stanley, owner of Food Dance Café, demonstrated how easy it is to make your own ketchup, ranch dressing, chutney and butterscotch sauce. All four were made in less than one hour without causing a load of dirty dishes.
All of these condiments are made with ingredients readily found at the supermarket. And, while many ketchup recipes call for long, slow cooking of tomatoes, Julie showed us a shortcut involving canned tomato paste.
And what about taste? We sampled these creations and confirmed that homemade does indeed taste better. For instance, there’s no comparison between ranch dressing from a bottle and one you whisk up from scratch with sour cream, buttermilk and fresh herbs.
Download and print Julie’s recipes from the program PDF
Use the season’s cooler weather and longer nights to rediscover the kitchen. Homemade foods make special gifts or memorable accents to any family gathering. For some ideas, browse KPL’s vast collection of cookery books.
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Julie Stanley
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/4090153820/in/set-72157622644368235/
Installation of the kiosk across from the circulation desk at central is behind schedule. There are several reasons, but a major one is a delay in approval of the shop drawings because of a reconsideration of the aluminum corner detail. Once that was settled, shop drawings were completed and approved, and the corner element ordered only to find it is out of stock; it’s typically available and in stock, we were told.
We had built in about six weeks of “overlap”, that is, time when we would have the checkout kiosk up and running AND the current circ desk still in operation. We will shorten that time to one to two weeks and still be close to the target completion date of the end of December.
We have decided to take down the wooden partitions in the meantime and they are being taken down this morning. We had previously planned for the first floor desk staffing to end tomorrow, Oct 31, expecting the checkout units would be in place. We will hold to that timing and the first floor desk will be removed next week; we just have a delay on the checkout units.
With the wooden partitions down but the kiosk not yet in place, there are some electrical plates on the floor where the kiosk will be that could become a trip hazard in the meantime. To avoid that happening, we’ll move some furniture there. This means you may see some furniture, plants, whatever, sitting there that looks a bit out of place. We’ll do our best to prevent a trip hazard and make it look at least OK! That seems better than bright orange cones for several weeks!
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Central Library Renovation
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http://www.kpl.gov/renovation/
Those who packed Van Deusen Room were very privileged to hear David Small discuss the story and process behind his National Book Award nominated graphic memoir, Stitches, in a world premiere event on September 10, 2009.
The interview was set-up to resemble the popular television show Inside the Actor’s Studio, which provided David with a casual atmosphere to discuss Stitches. He answered a variety of questions about his life growing up in 1950’s Detroit with a family that could hardly be described as tightly knit.
The presentation also included some fabulous animated videos of the books, shots of sketches, and panel by panel storyboards. David was candid about both the physical and emotional wounds which took years to finally stitch together into a memoir that will touch many lives.
A second David Small visit is being planned for 2010, so please check the website often for more details.
David Small’s Presentation
Listen to David Small’s presentation (44:52)
Download David Small’s presentation as a podcast(MP3 audio file)
Watch David’s complete presentation in the series of videos below.
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David Small
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/sets/72157622367213312/