Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 129

KDL Top Ten – 4/5/2013

Find your next heavenly read at KDL!  To view 10 of the most popular Adult Inspirational Fiction titles at KDL this year, click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

New eBook Site Viewing Options

OverDrive has updated our eBook site once again, this time offering some new options for viewing titles.

In addition to the existing Cover view, you can now select to view titles in a Grid or List, each of which provide more information about each title:

Cover View:

 

Grid View:

 

List View:

 

(Also, note that the option for changing the search results from “My library’s collection” to “Only titles with copies available” or “Additional titles to recommend” has now moved to the top of the left column.)

These updates were made in part due to user feedback — If you have suggestions for OverDrive, please fill out their survey and you could win an iPad!

Happy Downloading!

 

Asteroids, Meteors, Dystopia…Oh My!

These aren’t your typical Hunger Games dystopia titles.  Rather, the thread of commonality involves women dealing with the threat of Earth’s survival during and after catastrophic events.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker imagines the coming-of-age story of young Julia, whose world is thrown into upheaval when it is discovered that the Earth’s rotation has suddenly begun to slow, posing a catastrophic threat to all life.

Life as We Knew It is a teen novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, the first in the . Through journal entries, 16-year-old Miranda describes her family’s struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Melancholia, a film starring Kirsten Dunst, highlights how two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Keira Knightley and Steve Carell.  As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high-school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently throws a wrench in his plan.

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From the Director: So Much More Than Books

Like everyone who works at KDL, I find myself frequently talking about our services when I’m not at work.

I was recently talking with another parent who told me his family loves KDL’s free programs, especially those during the summer and other school breaks. He said he wished, though, that we had more in the way of educational resources to help his kids with school.

Like so many library users, his family was only dipping a toe into the Olympic-sized pool of what KDL offers. I took advantage of that opportunity to share with him the Parents & Kids page on our website, with its recommended reading lists, learning-focused games and online reference resources, where his kids can search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take online practice tests and use test prep eBooks.

Do you know about everything KDL can do for your children? Is there a service you need from your library? We’re always interested to hear your suggestions.

Lance Werner, KDL Director

Fun With Victorian-Era Flowers

Wendy Batchelder from “Lost Arts” will present “Lily of the Valley Is for Happiness,” appearing in full Victorian costume to talk about the meaning of flowers. You don’t have to dress in period costume (though you could), but you will learn to make a simple tussie mussie (also called a “nosegay,” and either term is just plain fun to say, innit?) to give to someone who makes you happy. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. For teens and adults.

Monday, April 22, 2:00 PM – Plainfield Township branch

Monday, April 22, 6:30 PM – Englehardt branch

Thursday, April 25, 6:00 PM – Gaines Township branch

Saturday, April 27, 1:30 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Thursday, May 2, 6:30 PM – Byron Township branch

Thursday, May 16, 6:30 PM – Comstock Park branch

 

ALERT: Power Outage at Kentwood Branch

The Kentwood branch is currently closed due to a power outage. They will reopen when the downed power line has been repaired. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to reopen later this afternoon.

UPDATE: Power has been restored and the Kentwood branch has reopened. Thanks for your patience!

 

KDL Gives Back — Kids Food Basket

Help address childhood hunger in Kent County by supporting Kids’ Food Basket! During the month of April, KDL Gives Back will sponsor juice box collection and bag decorating stations at all 18 branches.

Drop off juice boxes and bring the family in to decorate sacks:

Monday, April 1 – Tuesday, April 30

Kids’ Food Basket is a nonprofit West Michigan organization whose mission is to make sure children in our community do not go to bed hungry. The group began more than nine years ago by serving 125 kids every school day through its Sack Supper program, and now serves nearly 5,000 kids every day.

*photo: Kids’ Food Basket

 

David Sedaris Winner Selected

** UPDATE: Wow, thanks for the library love bombs! We wish we had tickets for each and every one of you. The (random number-generated) winner of the pair of tickets is Shelly, who wrote on March 28 that she enjoys long walks with audiobooks. Have a great time, Shelly!

 

Love David Sedaris? Know anyone who does?

Here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Sedaris, best-selling author and National Public Radio humorist, in person at 7:00 PM on Sunday, April 14 at the DeVos Performance Hall downtown.

All you have to do is sign up for KDL’s monthly eNewsletter and leave a comment on this blog post telling us what you love most about the library. Enter by March 31. Already receive our eNewsletter? Great! Just leave your comment below! And so it will be done. You will be entered.

* Tickets courtesy SMG/Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place & DeVos Performance Hall

 

Bust-a-Rhyme: Teen Poetry Contest

The calendar in April will attest

KDL’s 10th Annual Teen Poetry Contest,

Up to 10 teens a-rhyming

Will earn prizes for poetic timing,

$50 in Schuler Books gift cards

For stanzas o’er which you labored hard,

Rules and entry forms available here

Or at the KDL branch you hold most dear,

Poems better than this one accepted April 1 through 30,

Your mom might read them, so nothing dirty.

Last year more than 200 area teens in grades 6-12 entered our annual  poetry contest. In case you missed it, here are those winning entries. Go forth and compose those cantos.

 

KDL Featured on FOX 17

This morning, KDL Director Lance Werner was interviewed on FOX 17.  Lance promoted all the great programs taking place at our branches over spring break. If you didn’t take a trip to the sunny south, make sure to pay us a visit and enjoy some free family fun!

Spring Break Events from the Kent District Library