We all know that using the library is a great way to save money — from free Internet access to a huge assortment of books, movies, music and more. But there are certainly other resources out there to help you make the most of your hard-earned dollars.  Here are a few of the best online resources we’ve discovered:

Grand Rapids Tightwad
A native Grand Rapidian and mom shares her stories and advice on how to live frugally — and well. Be sure to check out her other blog, Saved From Waste (and take a look at this cool Grand Rapids Press article).

The Frugalist
A blog featuring tips on hundreds of ways to save money, from washing your clothes in cold water to… using the library?

The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal Living
A list of 50 ways to save money from ZenHabits, a popular self-improvement website.

SearchAllDeals.com
A handy site for finding the best deals on the Internet. Search for electronics, groceries, coupons and more.

And if you’re looking for a great (and free) way to keep track of your budget, check out Mint.com, an easy to use online system that syncs with data from a number of financial institutions.

Have fun — on a budget.

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15th–October 15th and discover the rich history of the Hispanic community. Hispanic Heritage Month begins each September on the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.  For more information, check out these Hispanic Heritage Month resources:

• Famous Firsts by Hispanic Americans
• The Smithsonian’s Hispanic Heritage page
• The Library of Congress Hispanic Heritage resource page
• Hispanic Heritage Resources for Teachers
• Kent District Library’s Recommeded Reading List
• Recommended Reading Lists (Florida Dept. of Education)

Also, be sure to check out some of KDL’s Hispanic Heritage resources, including a variety of books, movies, and music, as well as our Spanish language programs and resources.

Jay Hakes, author of A Declaration of Energy Independence, will visit the Cascade Township branch of KDL on Friday, October 17 at 10:00 a.m. for an intriguing look into U.S. energy policy. As former head of the Energy Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy, Hakes has taken a nonpartisan, honest look at the fundamental questions of energy independence, obliterating the political and economic myths of both conservatives and liberals.

A Declaration of Energy Independence combines real facts and solid science with historical context to ask the right questions and propose the best answers. Hakes also offers a plan for breaking free from the costly energy trap and enhancing American influence abroad.

Join us for this special inside look at America’s energy problems. This free program will be held in the Cascade Township library’s Wisner Center. No registration is required.

The following DVDs are on order and ready for holds.

 After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, the curious and lovable WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. Join them and a hilarious cast of characters on a fantastic journey across the universe. Transport yourself to a fascinating new world with Disney-Pixar’s latest adventure, now even more astonishing on DVD and loaded with bonus features, including the exclusive animated short film BURN-E. 
Street date – November 18.

 Kit Kittredge, based on the American Girl book series,  is a touchingly believable story about a smart 10-year-old girl, and how her family survives the Great Depression.   Kit’s father is forced to look for work in Chicago, and her comfortable home is turned into a boarding house.  Kit’s dream to become a reporter takes off when she rights about her situation.  Kit determinedly submits her articles to the local Cincinnati Register paper, regardless of the chief editor’s stern ways and obvious lack of interest.   American Girl fans will love this movie.
Street date – October 28.

For something more on the silly side, try Space Chimps.  When a NASA probe disappears into a intergalatic wormhole, the agency recruites Ham III, grandson of the first chimpanzee in space, to help retrieve the wayward craft. However, the simian slacker becomes a reluctant hero and learns the true meaning of courage as he and his fearless Lieutenant Luna and thier uptight commander, Titan, risk everything in an effort to save the peaceful inhabiatants of a distance planet from the evil dictator Zartog. 

Street date – November 25.

Do you want to recieve updates on teen programs from Kent District Library?    Would you like to join our online community?  Are you a big fan of KDL already?  Are you reading this blog?  If you have answered yes to any of these, join us on our new Facebook page.  Become a “fan” of Kent District Library to see what is happening for teens at our libraries.

WXMI (Fox 17) recently ran a really cool special on the Kent District Library, each segment focusing on a different aspect of library service. Each video is about 60 seconds. Check them out:

 Introduction:

The KDL Service Center:

KDL Resources:

KDL Programming:

Recap:

Again, we thank you so much for your support as we know none of this would be possible without you!

This summer’s reading club just ended, but we are busy planning for next year.  We have a list of ideas for programs and would love to hear what you think.  The theme for ’09 is Express Yourself @ Your Library. 

 Here is a list of ideas:

Altered Books

Artist Trading Cards

Bleached T-Shirts

Coffee Tasting/Coffee House program

Cooking Class

Crafts

Duct Tape Crafts

Geocaching

Graffiti Art

Hip-hip Dance

Ice Cream Social

Lawn Games

Pizza Tasting and Creation

Stained Glass Art

Teen Summer Carnival

Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Vote on your favorites or give us some new ideas by commenting to this post.  Thanks everyone!

Support the Kent District Library at Schuler Book Days! Stop by any Schuler Books & Music store in Grand Rapids between Sunday, September 21 and Saturday, September 27 and mention KDL. The store will donate a portion of the sale to the KDL Alliance of Friends.

Do your shopping and support your local library at the same time!

The Spencer Township branch of the Kent District Library is 10 years old this month! To celebrate and say thanks, we’re inviting everyone to a birthday open house on Saturday, September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bring your picnic lunch and enjoy free hot dogs, birthday cake and live music on us!

Happy Birthday!

Fans of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon and Eldest are invited to celebrate the release of Brisingr with awesome games and crafts!  Try your hand at making soap, braiding leather bracelets and creating some dragons. Also join us for a chance to win a copy of the new book!  The event will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 20 at the Cascade Township Branch at 2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI.