Kent District Library - Information. Ideas. Excitement!

Join KDL this holiday season in bringing cheer to a local child. Once again, KDL is participating in the US Marines’ Toys for Tots program, helping to provide toys to deserving children throughout the community.

Drop off your new, unwrapped toys now through December 14 at any one of these KDL branch locations: Cascade Township, East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Krause Memorial and Wyoming.

Thank you for your donation!

Warm up to a good book with the Kent District Library’s Let it Snow Reading Club for Adults, sponsored by the KDL Alliance of Friends.

This year’s program will run from December 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010.

The more you read, the more great prizes you can win!

Sign up at your local KDL branch starting December 1 and get your Let It Snow bingo card. Play while you read and enter to win exciting prizes like a gift card to Schuler Books & Music or Meijer.

If you get two bingos, you’ll receive a Let it Snow ice scraper to get you through the long winter! All completed bingo cards will be entered in the final drawing on Wednesday, March 31 for a $50 gift card to the Gilmore Group restaurants.

It’s time for another round of our popular KDL Wii Tournament series, and this time we decided to go back to everyone’s favorite tournament game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl.  If you like to brawl please join us on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 12:00-4:00pm  at the Plainfield Twp. Branch (2650 5 Mile Rd. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525).

In an effort to answer a few questions before they are asked, here are a few details of the game play:

• It will be single player, with most battles consisting of 4 players.
• The battles will be 3-minute timed battles.
• There will be a few prelim battles before the top 28 participants are placed in the tournament bracket.
• Wiimotes and nunchucks will be provided, but if you wish to use a classic remote or Gamecube controller you may bring one with you.
• Some but not all of the characters and levels have been unlocked on the systems, but if any are unlocked throughout the tournament game play they may be used.
• Items will be set to random throughout the event.
• There will of course be prizes for the winner and runner-up as well as refreshments for all.

Let’s Brawl!

The Gaines Township branch of KDL is hosting a Book Club Mixer on Saturday, November 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Private book clubs are welcome to join us and learn about some great titles for book groups from KDL librarians and other groups.

Bring your own suggestions and learn from each other!

As part of the A Novel Experience event last week, Paws with a Cause brought several Assistance Dogs to greet guests in the lobby. They also accepted dog-friendly donations from the Marley & Me fans. Earlier this week we received a letter from Paws with a Cause thanking everyone for the generous donations:

“The amount of donations received from attendees was truly impressive! The kindness of these donors allows us to further our vision: To encourage independence for people with disabilities by sustaining and strengthening our position as the nation’s leading provider of quality Assistance Dogs.”

Thank you to everyone who came to A Novel Experience, and a special thanks to those who were able to support Paws with a Cause.

On Thursday evening (October 29), John Grogan, author of Marley & Me, visited the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center for the first annual A Novel Experience event hosted by KDL.

Grogan spoke to an audience of approximately 900 fans, telling tales of his famous dog Marley.

After his talk, Grogan stayed for two hours signing books. The auditorium lobby was full of people waiting to meet the author.

A Novel Experience was a fundraising event through the KDL Fund to support the library’s literacy programs for young children. Thank you to everyone who came out to hear John Grogan and support the library! And a big thank you to our sponsors.

It’s hockey season again! From now through April, use your Kent District Library card to get a great deal on Grand Rapids Griffins hockey tickets. At every Sunday and Wednesday home game, fans who present a local public library card — such as your KDL card — at the Van Andel Arena box office on game day will get a lower bowl ticket for just $10! That’s a savings of $7! Limit four tickets per card.

Sunday and Wednesday home games include:

Wednesday, November 11
Wednesday, December 9
Sunday, December 27
Sundays, January 3 and 17
Wednesday, January 6
Sunday, February 21
Wednesday, February 24
Wednesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 7

Tickets are subject to availability.

Katie L. will be making a special appearance at the game on Wednesday, February 24. Be sure to stop by the KDL information table to say hi!

Sign up for a Kent District Library card at your local KDL branch. And if you already have one, don’t forget to use it!

This is the week!

On Thursday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. John Grogan, author of Marley & Me, will speak at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center (600 Forest Hill Avenue SE) with a book-signing to follow.

Right now tickets are only $10! Buy them online, at any KDL branch or any Schuler Books & Music store in Grand Rapids. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10, as well. Proceeds support KDL’s literacy programs for young children.

Don’t miss your chance to hear Grogan speak about “Life Lessons from Marley & Me” and even have your copy of his book signed!

The Krause Memorial (Rockford) branch is getting a makeover!

The branch will be closed to the public October 26–November 1 in order to install new carpet and tile throughout the branch. The interior will also receive a fresh coat of paint.

During this time:

• All programs will take place as scheduled. Please use the community room entrance.
• Library materials may be returned to the book drop and will be checked in as normal.
• Items on the hold shelf that are not picked up will not expire during the time the library is closed.
• Those with questions about their library accounts can call KDL’s patron services department at
  616-784-2007 for assistance.

Thanks for your patronage and please come see the new and improved
Krause Memorial Branch when it re-opens on Monday, November 2!

Teen vampire fans: join us on Friday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m. at our Cascade branch for plenty of vampire-related games and fun as we celebrate Halloween Twilight-style. Come dressed as your favorite Halloween or Twilight character and enter to win our costume contest.

Or come to our Kentwood branch on Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. for our big Twilight Movie Release Party. It’s sure to bring out the vampire in you!