The Kent District Library would like to wish you and your family the best during this holiday season. As our gift to you, please stop by any one of our 18 branch locations and pick up your free Culture Pass coupon book, featuring discounts on tickets to local museums, theatres, and more, sponsored by the Grand Rapids Art Council and participating organizations.

Thank you for making the Kent District Library your holiday destination for Information, Ideas, and Excitement! 

It’s Lego mania at the Kent District Library

The Byron Twp. branch is having a Lego Celebration! Contact the branch for details on how to enter your Lego creation before December 28, then join us for the Celebration on Wednesday, December 30 at 11:00 a.m.

Enter your Lego creations in the 2nd Annual Lego contest at the Walker branch by Monday, January 25. Judging will take place the first week of February.

On Sunday, January 3 at 2:00 p.m. the East Grand Rapids branch will host a Lego Party as part of the Family Sundays series. Stop by the branch for details on how to participate.

You can also drop in at several KDL branches to make your own special Lego or Duplo creations with materials provided by the library. These Lego Family Block Parties will be held:

Saturday, January 16, 10:00 AM – Tyrone Twp. Branch
Saturday, January 30, 1:00 PM – Grandville Branch
Saturday, February 13, 10:00 AM – Alpine Twp. Branch
Saturday, February 27, 2:00 PM – Walker Branch

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to check out the Best of Year lists that start popping up.  Time Magazine has the 50 Best Websites of the year as well as the 25 Best Blogs of 2009.  The New York Times puts out the 100 Notable Books of 2009 list.  Publishers Weekly also has a list for the Best Books.  Don’t forget the teenager with ALA/YALSA’s Top Ten Teen Books from 2009.  Spin puts out the 40 Best Albums of 2009.  And don’t forget movies with the Ten Best Movies of 2009 from VideoHound.  Last but not least is Parenting with the Best Toys of the Year.

Now if you are feeling guilty about checking out these lists instead of doing your Christmas shopping, stop it right now!  Think of it as research.  Do you have someone who loves reading?  Well, look at the book lists to see what might work for them.  Someone else loves music?  No problem!  There seems to be a list for pretty much everything, so if you have a favorite list that I missed, please let everyone know about it by adding it to the comments.

All Kent District Library branches have returned to normal operating hours.

We appreciate your patience during the recent severe weather. Please call our Patron Services Department at 616-784-2007 if you have any questions about items on your account.

Due to the severe weather, all KDL branches will be closing at 5:00 p.m. today (December 10, 2009). We will resume normal business hours as the weather permits.

Thank you for your patronage and we hope to see you soon.

All Kent District Library branches have returned to normal operating hours.

Please call our Patron Services Department at 616-784-2007 if you have any questions about items on your account.

The Early Childhood Essentials program scheduled at our Byron Township Branch tonight (12-10-09) has been cancelled due to the weather. It will be re-scheduled for a later date.

At this point, all other library programs are being held as scheduled.

Update (4:00 p.m.): All KDL branches are now closing at 5:00 p.m. due to the severe weather. All evening programs are cancelled.

Due to severe weather conditions, the Kent District Library will be closed today, December 9. We will resume normal business hours as the weather permits. Fines on items due today will be waived.

 Thank you for your patronage and we hope to see you soon.

All Kent County teens, grades 6-12, are invited to enter films in KDL’s 4th Annual Teen Filmmaking Contest. Films selected from the contest will be screened at the KDL Film Festival at Celebration! Cinema North from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2010. Over $200 in prize money will be awarded for the best films in various categories. For additional information, see the contest rules and entry form. All submissions must be in by January 16, 2010, so grab your camera for “take 1″!

Whether you’re a computer novice or looking to update your skills, KDL’s free Computer Confidence classes can help you learn something new! Our winter schedule begins soon, offering the following classes:

• Keyboarding
• Computer Basics I & II
• Internet Basics
• Email Workshop
• Microsoft Word I, II, & III
• Microsoft Excel I & II
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Online Photo Sharing

For class descriptions and schedule, please see our brochure or search our events calendar. Registration is required and begins December 7 for KDL cardholders and December 14 for non-KDL cardholders (if space is still available).

To register, please call 616-784-2007.