Hey library lovers: we want to know how KDL has helped you or your family save money this year. Everyone who shares their story by May 22 by filling out this form will be entered for the chance to win a $25 gift card from Schuler Books & Music. Also, everyone who enters might find their stories shared on our website here.

You love-bomb us, we love-bomb you right back.

aaaaaaaand go!

P.S. – Comments left on this blog post will not be considered for the contest; please fill out the form by clicking here.

On Saturday, May 4, a team of KDL staff, friends and family participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in downtown Grand Rapids.

The KDL team raised over $1,500 to help fight breast cancer!

Thanks to everyone who supported our team!

We provide FREE activities that promote early literacy while putting a smile on your face.

Subscribe to our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

Find great early literacy activities and information on our Play-Grow-Read! website.  After all, books are for babies too!

Join one of our Babytime groups, which will delight and stimulate your baby with songs, a story and playtime. Get to know other families and help your baby develop listening and language skills.

Get out of the house and head to KDLville, early-literacy play spaces in each KDL branch.

Your Happy Pregnancy is a three-part series led by chiropractor Dr. Jessica Avery Karns. And pick up a library card for the little one while you’re there — it’s one of the best things you can do for your new baby.

Prepping Your Body to Make a Superbaby  

• Saturday, May 4, 10:30 AM – KWD
• Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM- EGR

Congratulations, You’re Pregnant!  Let’s Make This a Great Experience!

• Saturday, May 18, 10:30 AM – KWD
  Saturday, May 25, 2:00 PM – EGR

The Bundle of Joy is Here: What to do for Baby and for Momma

• Saturday, June 1, 10:30 AM – KWD
• Saturday, June 1, 2:00 PM – EGR

Our popular Book Club in a Bag program has a new little sibling – Board Books to Go! Parents, teachers, daycare and childcare providers will enjoy this new way to share books with children. Board Books to Go allows patrons to check out a bag full of board books — 20 copies to be exact. The bag can be checked out for three weeks and the books can be used to share a choral reading experience with young children. Currently, the Board Books to Go program is being piloted at the East Grand Rapids branch. Program funding has been provided by Great Start to Quality Kent Resource Center and the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library.

Five titles are currently available:

• Hop a Little, Jump a Little! by Annie Kubler
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
• Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
• Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton

Stop in today to check out a Board Books to Go bag!

Whether you’re a computer novice or looking to update your skills, KDL’s free computer classes can help you learn something new! Registration opens today for our June classes:

• Computer Basics: Mousing and More
• Computer Basics: Where’s My Stuff?
• Digging into Your Past: Online Genealogy Research
  (Bring Your Own Laptop) (pre-registration not required)
• Gadgets: B.Y.O. eReader & Tablet Users Group
  (pre-registration not required)
• Internet: Email Basics
• Internet: Getting Started on Craigslist
• Internet: Internet Basics & More
• Internet: Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia for Everyone!
• Microsoft Excel Basics I, II & III
• Microsoft PowerPoint Basics
• Microsoft Word Basics I & II
• Senior Wireless Workshop (pre-registration not required)
• Speak to a Geek (pre-registration not required)

For class descriptions and schedule, please see our brochure or search our events calendar.

Unless otherwise noted, pre-registration is required and will begin the month before the scheduled classes on the first Monday of each month for KDL cardholders and the second Monday for non-KDL cardholders (if space is still available):

• June classes: Registration begins Monday, May 6 for KDL cardholders
  (Monday, May 13 for non-KDL cardholders)
• July classes: Registration begins Monday, June 3 for KDL cardholders
  (Monday, June 10 for non-KDL cardholders)
• August classes: Registration begins Monday, July 1 for KDL cardholders
  (Monday, July 8 for non-KDL cardholders)

To register, please call 616-784-2007.

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 KDL Director Lance Werner talk about the library’s selection as a Finalist for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce EPIC Award for Excellence in Business.

The EPIC Awards (Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative) recognize those who support the community, demonstrate growth, are innovative and have worked with others as mentors and collaborators. Award recipients will be revealed on May 15.

Enjoy!

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Download WGVU5-2-13.mp3

(photo courtesy of Shelley Irwin)

Exciting news: KDL has been named a finalist for the Excellence in Business EPIC award from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. The EPIC Awards (Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative) recognize those who support community, demonstrate growth, show innovation and have worked as mentors and collaborators. Award recipients will be announced on Wednesday, May 15.

We’re thrilled just to be nominated. Why? We’re committed to making every effort to operate like a well-run business and get the greatest return on investment for our taxpayers. That the Chamber recognizes our efforts is a huge vote of confidence.

We work every day to make our collection and programming valuable and relevant to your lives, have been and will continue to be dedicated to being a vital partner in the community, and – awards or not –will continue to play a significant role in lifting Kent County by making this a better place to live.

Lance Werner, KDL director

Do you have a favorite mystery author or series?  Please share your picks with us below!  And if you want to be a star super sleuth, click on the Top Ten List to find out what the most popular Adult Mystery titles are at KDL this month.

Are you already making plans for summer? Don’t forget about all the FREE programs available at the library! The Summer 2013 issue of the KDL Kaleidoscope program guide is now available online. You’ll find all you need to know about summer events and get some great information on library resources and staff recommendations. (Printed guides will also be available in the branches by mid-May.)

It’s sure to be an exciting summer at KDL, and you don’t want to miss a thing. Check out the KDL Kaleidoscope today!

All 18 Kent District Library branches now offer energy usage monitors available for checkout. The monitors show the energy consumption of household appliances, which can help you cut your electric bill, either by spurring decreased use, unplugging of “vampire” appliances that use energy even when they are turned off and, for example, replacing appliances or their components with energy-efficient models or parts (such as light bulbs).

The monitors were made available in February to patrons of KDL’s Englehardt branch through a partnership with Lowell Light & Power.

Consumers Energy has provided monitors for the other 17 branches in KDL’s service area.

“Libraries are a perfect connector of information and education,” said Michelle Boisvenue­‐Fox, KDL assistant director. “These kinds of partnerships are crucial to strong communities.”

Stop in at a branch today and check one out or place a hold by searching for “Kill A Watt EZ Meter” in the online catalog.