Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 21

Library Outreach Extends to Farmers Market with New Summer Series

You can now add library card to your farmers market shopping list! Five area farmers markets will play host to the new Kent District Library outreach efforts aiming to register and educate patrons on digital library services and the Summer Reading Program. By providing hotspots with free WiFi accessible to the public, we are hoping to sign people up who may live far from their KDL branch.

Interns on site will be available to deliver information on eBooks and online courses offered through the library catalog.

 “KDL made a millage promise to increase its community engagement by bringing services outside the library,” said Michelle Boisvenue-Fox, Assistant Director of Kent District Library. “Farmers Markets allow us the ability of setting up a pop up library in a booth.  At the library booth, people can sign up for a library card if they live in our service area.  They can learn about our digital collections–eBooks, eMusic, eAudiobooks, eMovies, eMagazines and eComic books.  And more importantly, people of all ages can sign up for the summer reading program.”

The five farmers markets involved are Ada, Byron Center, Lowell, Rockford and Wyoming. The program will run in Ada on Tuesdays, alternating between Wyoming and Lowell on Thursdays and alternating between Byron Center and Rockford on Saturdays from the first week of June through the end of August.

“What we really want is for people to learn about library services and find something for themselves,” said Boisvenue-Fox. “Our digital collection is ideal for people to use at their convenience. They don’t have to come into a branch for these things.”

 

Animals at the Library? Absolutely!

This summer we are featuring a lot of creatures at our programs. Don’t miss out on all the furry and feathered fun! Below is a list of our animal-related programs. Click each link for more information including dates, times and locations.

Kicking Off Summer With Kentwoodpalooza!

Come join us in celebrating the end of the school year and beginning of summer at the 5th annual Kentwoodpalooza on Wednesday, June 17 from 3:00 to 9:00 PM at Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.

“I am really excited about this year’s lineup. This Kentwoodpalooza will be the most musically eclectic yet, featuring a cross section of genres from rock to country to jazz to Latin,” said event organizer Greg Lewis, a teen librarian at the branch. “The City of Kentwood and area businesses have been very supportive, and since KDL has embraced this, we have people coming from all over.”

The festival-style event supported this year by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and sponsored by the Friends of the Kentwood Library, will have live music from local teen bands, poetry readings, painting and free food.

“Now that we’ve been doing this a few years, Kentwoodpalooza is becoming known as a summer event area teens look forward to – performers too,” Lewis said. “This is a great opportunity for teens to show what they can do and to learn from some of the area’s most well-known performers and artists.”

Schedule:

3:00PM – Luc James Studio Showcase

3:30PM – Plaid Day (Country/Pop)

4:00PM – Uproar (Jazz)

4:45PM – Flight of Niko (Indie)

5:30PM – Every Breaking Wave (Rock/Pop)

6:00PM – Queso Quest (Latin Funky Fusion Jam)

6:30 PM – Poetry Reading and Awards Ceremony 7:30PM – Big Dudee Roo (Grunge Folk Rock)

Summer Reading Starts Today!

Celebrate Heroes! Today is the first day of Summer Reading at KDL, so stop by your local branch and sign up for a summer of reading, programs and prizes! With separate programs for babies, kids, teens and adults, the whole family can get in on the fun.

Don’t forget to check out all the FREE programs and activities listed in the

“Last days in Vietnam”

 

 

The Vietnam war—or “conflict”, as some call it—continues to be one of the most controversial wars this country has fought, and there’s no doubt of its historical resonance when our most recent fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is repeatedly compared to it, for better or worse. The topic of the war divides people still, but a new documentary, “

KDL Librarian Receives Award

Monica Walen, Youth Specialist at the East Grand Rapids Branch, recently accepted the 2015 Golden Apple Award from the Kent Reading Council. Walen was honored for her extraordinary effort and innovation in promoting literacy in Kent County. “I work with such amazing teachers throughout the school district,” said Monica. “I’m just so thankful that they’ve opened up their classrooms to me and allowed me to share my love of literature with their students.”

When not conducting programs and helping patrons at the East Grand Rapids Branch, Monica spends her work hours doing weekly Harry Potter read-alouds at Wealthy Elementary, book-talking in the elementary schools and middle school, and working on the Kent County Teen Film Festival.

Congratulations Monica!

Teen Poetry Contest: 11 Exceptional Entries

KDL’s 12th annual

Saturday KDL Caffeinated Tour

KDL Caffeinated wraps up with an immersive coffee experience Saturday, May 23 at 3 PM.  Experts at

Holiday Closing — Memorial Day

All Kent District Library branches will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume

Plan Your Summer Travels

Summer vacation will be here soon, and many of us will be hitting the road (or the air) for destinations near and far. Did you know that KDL regularly adds updated versions of popular travel guides to its collection? You can check out