Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 135

Write Michigan: Celebrate With Us!

You are invited! We would love for you to attend the Write Michigan Awards Ceremony, taking place at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 19 at the Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library St. NE). Come celebrate the Write Michigan short story contest winners.

The free event will feature Saugatuck-based author Wade Rouse, a humorist and memoirist. Copies of the Write Michigan inaugural anthology published by Chapbook Press will be available for purchase. You can also pre-order the book here.

We hope to see you there!

Donate Diapers for Those in Need

Did you know that an adequate supply of disposable diapers can cost up to $75 per month and safety net programs, such as W.I.C. and food stamps, do NOT cover the cost of diapers?  We have teamed up with the Great Start Parent Coalition and local food pantries to help families who cannot afford diapers for their little ones. Eleven KDL branches will be drop off sites for the annual Great Start Diaper Drive taking place through May 1. Unopened packages of disposable diapers in any size can be dropped off at these KDL branch locations:

Alpine Township
Alto
Byron Township
Comstock Park
East Grand Rapids
Gaines Township
Grandville
Kentwood (Richard L. Root)
Sand Lake / Nelson Township
Spencer Township
Wyoming

The next time you are out running errands, consider purchasing a package of diapers and dropping it off in one of our collection boxes. We can all play a part in keeping the babies in our area happy and healthy!

 

KDL Top Ten – 3/1/2013

Time to get silly!  View 10 of the most popular titles in Juvenile Humor at KDL — click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

“Two Sisters from Boston” now on DVD

I’ve been fond of June Allyson’s acting ever since I saw her play Jo in “Little Women”(1949).  That movie was made by MGM, and Allyson made many other movies at that time for that famous studio. “Two Sisters”(released in 1946)  is not exactly a musical—in the way, say “Singin’ in the Rain” is—but music certainly plays a big role in the film.  What makes it interesting is that it’s about two musical worlds in New York City circa 1900—that of the vaudeville theater and that of opera.  Kathryn Grayson, who was also an MGM player at that time, plays a young lady from a very proper Boston family who moves to New York and ends up singing in the less than glamorous world of vaudeville (her stage name is “High ‘C’ Susie”), while hoping to make it in the world of opera. The venue where she works is presided over by the always animated Jimmy Durante, who has taken Grayson under his wing. When Alyson arrives in New York with the family in tow, things become dicey as Grayson schemes her way into an appearance at the opera so her family doesn’t find out where she’s really working. Meanwhile, the opera director’s son, played by another MGM player, Peter Lawford, has eyes for Alyson. Shot in black and white, I liked how this movie showed that in the “low” places like vaudeville,  good people could be found, and that in the “high” venue of the opera the scheming and philandering were just as present as anywhere else. With egos all around, it’s up to the two sisters to find their way with some dignity intact. Great music, great sets, and a lively story add to why I found this a delightful film.

Your Chance to Win Awesome Prizes!

If you have been meaning to sign up yourself or your child  for a library card and haven’t gotten around to it, don’t put it off any longer. If you know someone who lives in the KDL service area who doesn’t have a library card, tell them that now is the perfect time to sign up for one.

Why?

If you sign up for a library card before March 31, you have the chance to win some amazing prizes including an overnight stay at the JW Marriott, a three-month family membership to the YMCA, gift certificates and more! All you have to do is sign up for a KDL card and participate in our Find Your Happiness Scavenger Hunt, which will introduce you to all the amazing free services KDL has to offer. Visit your local branch for more information or to sign up. Happy Hunting!

Check out all the vendors that donated prizes. If you visit any of these businesses, make sure to thank them for their generosity and community involvement.

Don’t forget… KDL is your place for happiness!

 

Rivers and Rain Barrels

Learn how your daily activities affect the water quality of area rivers. Rivers and Rain Barrels will take place at several KDL branches this spring.  The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will discuss what each of us can do to protect our treasured resources. Participants can also construct rain barrels for $20, which can be paid by cash or check. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Please register online or by calling 784-2007.

Schedule:

Saturday, March 9, 10:30 AM – Spencer Township branch

Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 PM – Alpine Township branch

Thursday, April 25, 6:30 PM – Grandville branch

Monday, April 29, 6:30 PM – Plainfield Township branch

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

 

Bored? Build with Bricks!

The library is the place for building fun! Several KDL branches will host a Family Building Bricks Party this spring. It’s your chance to design, build and bond. Bring the whole family and create a towering monument using the library’s building bricks. The best part? There’s no big mess at home to clean up!

Schedule:

Saturdays, March 2, April 6 and May 4, 10:00 AM – Grandville branch

Saturday, March 9, 10:00 AM – East Grand Rapids branch

Saturday, March 9, 2:00 PM – Gaines Township branch

Saturdays, March 9, April 13 and May 11, 2:00 PM – Comstock Park branch

Saturdays, March 9 and April 20, 2:00 PM – Caledonia Township branch

Saturday, March 16, 10:30 AM – Tyrone Township branch

Saturday, March 23, 10:00 AM – Walker branch

Saturdays, March 23, April 20 and May 18, 10:30 AM – Alpine Township branch

Saturdays, March 30 and April 27, 2:00 PM – Plainfield Township branch

Monday, April 1, 1:00 PM – Englehardt branch

Get your creative juices flowing and join us for some creation mania at the library!

 

Turn That Frown Upside Down…

Teen angst, drama… not in these books!  These teen titles are KDL Happiness Project approved… sure to turn those frowns upside down!

 

Guys Read Approved: Soccer Documentary

I recently watched One Night in Turin, an awesome sport documentary that focuses on the English soccer team during the 1990 World Cup.  It is narrated by actor Gary Oldman and includes match action as well as never before seen footage.

The Barclay’s Premier League is now a world-leading soccer league which attracts interest from foreign investors and spectators from all over the globe. But before the Premier League became the shining star that it is today, English football was in a state of shame, scarred by hooliganism and a struggling national team. That is, until Sir Bobby Robson took charge of the English National team and during the 1990 World Cup in Italy managed to restore the hope of the nation and faith in their national game.

KDL has lots of other great documentaries on DVD; be sure to check out your local branch and see what they have.

 

YOUR place for HAPPINESS

This March, KDL is offering fantastic prizes to residents who register for a library card. These rewards are a fun way to encourage new customers to take advantage of the great services and resources available at KDL.

Don’t worry; existing cardholders can also reap worthwhile benefits!

Look for this image at the following vendors and proudly display your KDL card to connect with special discounts. Visit these local businesses and let them know you appreciate all the perks of having a KDL library card!

  Clique Coffee Bar , 1600 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, 10% off all orders
Creekside Garden Center , 4015 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 10% off all merchandise

(not in conjunction with other discounts)
Grand Rapids Griffins , Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, $7 off the price of a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for all Sunday and Wednesday home games
PJ’s Pizza , 3836 52nd St. SE, Kentwood, 10% off all orders
Quaker Steak & Lube , 515 28th St., Kentwood, 15% off all orders

The best part? These deals are good for the whole year!