Join the KDL Fund in celebrating our 75^th Anniversary!

The KDL Service Center will come alive with a showcase of incredible library offerings like eBooks, Freegal, Mango Languages, Early Literacy offerings and so much more. Remember to bring your smartphones, eBook readers or tablets to get a taste of just a few of KDL’s digital offerings and other special activities. 

An eclectic array of authors will highlight the evening.  Featured authors, presented live by Schuler Books & Music include Sarah Kallio, DJ DeSmyter, Wade Rouse, Liesel Litzenburger, Michael Lindley, Sue Stauffacher, Kristina Riggle, Sue Merrell, Tobin Buhk, and Gary Schmidt! Brilliance Audio will present authors Tess Gerritsen and Susan Wiggs live via Skype. 

Enjoy scrumptious noshes, sweets, beverages, and music throughout the evening. 

Tickets for KDL Celebrates are $75 each and may be purchased online.  

Proceeds will support KDL literacy programs for young children as well as preserving quality library services for the next 75 years.

We hope to see you there!

Each month KDL staff join Shelley Irwin on the WGVU Morning Show to talk about what’s going on at the library. This month, listen to Devlopment Coordinator Jan Fonger and KDL Fund Board member Maureen Fitzgerald Penn talk about the KDL Celebrates 75th Anniversary party, coming up on Tuesday, October 18. Enjoy!

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Download WGVU10-6-11.mp3

As you may have heard, the KDL Fund is throwing a party to celebrate KDL’s 75^th Anniversary. We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors. Special thanks to Gold Sponsor Huntington Bank, which has sponsored KDL Fund events for three consecutive years.  

KDL Celebrates will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Tuesday, October 18. The KDL Service Center, located at 814 West River Center NE in Comstock Park, will come alive with a showcase of incredible library offerings like eBooks, Freegal, Mango Languages, Early Literacy offerings and so much more. To truly enjoy KDL Celebrates, guests will be invited to bring their smartphones, eBook readers or tablets to get a taste of just a few of KDL’s digital offerings and other special activities. 

An eclectic array of local and national authors will hightlight the evening’s festivities. The authors will join us in person, live via Skype technology, video greetings, or through their current book releases. Books and audiobooks from the authors will be available for purchase at the party. Thank you to our friends at Brilliance Audio and Schuler Books & Music for this amazing author tour. 

Guests will enjoy scrumptious noshes and beverages provided by Tommy Fitzgerald and Ninth Bridge Market. 

You don’t want to miss out on all the excitement!

Tickets for KDL Celebrates are $75 each. Reservations are required and tickets may be purchased online. Proceeds will support KDL literacy programs for young children as well as preserving quality library services for the next 75 years.

We hope to see you there!

In case you haven’t heard, the KDL Fund is throwing a party to celebrate our 75^th Anniversary! KDL Celebrates will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Tuesday, October 18.  The KDL Service Center, located at 814 West River Center NE in Comstock Park, will come alive with a showcase of incredible library offerings like eBooks, Freegal, Mango Languages, Early Literacy offerings and so much more.  To truly enjoy KDL Celebrates, guests will be invited to bring their smartphones, eBook readers or tablets to get a taste of just a few of KDL’s digital offerings and other special activities. 

An author book tour will highlight the event, and this is a rare opportunity for you to meet a host of your favorite local authors all in one evening. Featured authors, presented by Schuler Books & Music, include Sarah Kallio, DJ DeSmyter, Wade Rouse, Liesel Litzenburger, Michael Lindley, Sue Stauffacher, Kristina Riggle, Sue Merrell, and more! We will also feature Brilliance Audio Authors brought to us via Skype technology and video messages. Books and audio books from the authors will be available for purchase at the party. You don’t want to miss out on all the excitement!

Guests will enjoy scrumptious noshes and beverages throughout the evening. 

Registration is required. Tickets for KDL Celebrates are $75 each and may be purchased online.  Proceeds will support KDL literacy programs for young children as well as preserving quality library services for the next 75 years.

We hope to see you there!

Each month KDL staff join Shelley Irwin on the WGVU Morning Show to talk about what’s going on at the library. This month, listen to Assistant Director of Central Services Cheryl Garrison talk about KDL’s 75 Anniversary. Enjoy!

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Download WGVU9-1-11.mp3

(photo courtesty of Shelley Irwin)

Mark your calendars now for an incredible party! On Tuesday, October 18 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, the KDL Fund will host KDL Celebrates: Dewey to Digital in 75.  This blockbuster party will celebrate 75 years of KDL — from its humble beginnings during the Great Depression to one of Michigan’s most respected and busiest library systems.

At KDL Celebrates, the KDL Service Center will come alive with a showcase of incredible library offerings our founders could not even begin to imagine. From eBooks to downloadable music, online language learning to online databases, KDL will offer a taste of something for every guest.

An author book tour will highlight the evening. KDL Celebrates will feature an eclectic array of local and national authors in person, live via Skype technology, video greetings, or through their current book releases. Our goal is to feature 75 authors during the evening. Schuler Books & Music will be on hand to provide their current releases for sale. 

Guests will enjoy scrumptious food and beverages while engaging in the current and future highlights of KDL. To truly enjoy KDL Celebrates, guests are invited to bring their smartphones, eBook readers or tablets to get a taste of just a few of KDL’s digital offerings and other special activities. 

Tickets for KDL Celebrates are $75 each and will be available online beginning September 8.  Proceeds will support KDL Fund efforts on behalf of early literacy programs and preserving quality library services for the next 75 years.

 Click below to enjoy an audio promotion of the event:

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Download KDLCelebrates.mp3

This year, KDL celebrates its 75th anniversary! As we look forward to a bright future, we also look back to see how far we’ve come. Join us on a small trip down memory lane to the 1980s.

 The Grand Rapids Press, 11/30/1980

Grand Rapids Press, 8/5/1982

The Advance, 9/9/1986

Lowell Ledger, 10/8/1987

For more 75th anniversary photos and archival media, visit KDL’s Flickr page.

This year, KDL celebrates its 75th anniversary! As we look forward to a bright future, we also look back to see how far we’ve come. Join us on a small trip down memory lane to the 1970s.

The Register, December 23, 1971

The Lowell Ledger, October 5, 1972

Grand Rapids Press, March 28, 1976

For more 75th anniversary photos and archival media, visit KDL’s Flickr page.

Thank You again to those who helped us “Stock the Shelves” with your donation to the KDL Fund.  You generously helped us exceed our goal by donating over $9,000 to purchase new books and materials for the youth collection and help us grow our legacy of lifelong learning.  

With your donations KDL was able to purchase:

• 450 Read-Along Storybags (91 different titles).  Read-alongs (books with accompanying CDs) are very popular with young children and families.  Pre-readers can use these to be “read to” whenever THEY want. Read-alongs are often recommended by our staff to parents of reluctant and struggling readers, and can be used to help children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. They are great for children who are learning English as a second language.  They can also be enjoyed by the whole family on car trips.
• 99 Sounds of Phonics Easy Readers (33 different titles).  This is a new set of phonics-based readers, which are ALWAYS in demand, especially during Summer Reading Club.  Many area schools have a phonics-based curriculum, so kids are familiar with this approach to reading.  Each book concentrates on one letter sound, and there are very few simple words on each page.  The pictures are bright and cheery, and they relate to the text providing contextual cues.  Lots of white space makes them attractive to reluctant or struggling readers. 
• 150 Popular Author/Character Picture Books such as  Fancy Nancy, Max & Ruby, Eric Carle, Dora the Explorer, Pete the Cat, Bill Martin Jr., and others.

According to our appreciative KDL staff, “It’s important to have plenty of copies of books with familiar characters, as this inspires a love of books and reading in general. These are items that we can never have enough of!”  KDL is very fortunate to have friends who so generously support children and reading. 

During 2011, KDL’s 75th Anniversary year, we have some exciting activities planned for the KDL Fund.  If you are interested in partnering with KDL in growing our Annual or Endowment Funds during this monumental year, we’d love to have you join us.

Thank you again!

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Kent District Library, and we’re celebrating with a number of events, highlights, and special initiatives all year long to chronicle the journey. Now you can help us acknowledge this achievement by purchasing a special commemorative KDL 75th anniversary tote bag at any of our 18 branch locations. These lovely grocery-size bags are only $1.50 each and are great for books, groceries, beach gear, and so much more. Show your support and purchase one today! This sale is sponsored by the KDL Alliance of Friends.