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Take a stroll down gingerbread lane with the Kent District Library. This program is for children of all ages with an adult. Kids will get to make their very own simple gingerbread house and enjoy some tasty stories and rhymes.

Gingerbread Lane can be enjoyed at the following KDL branches:

Comstock Park — Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 p.m.
Kentwood – Monday, December 7, 6:30 p.m.
Englehardt – Tuesday, December 15, 5:45 p.m.
Caledonia Twp. — Thursday, December 17, 10:30 a.m.
Plainfield Twp. — Saturday, December 19, 10:30 a.m.
Gaines Twp. — Saturday, December 19, 2:00 p.m.

Registration may be required.

This year the Kent District Library partnered with the Library of Michigan Foundation, the Michigan Education Savings Program and the Michigan Education Trust to provide parents with the opportunity to win $1,500 toward their children’s educational expenses with a “Get Creative at Saving for College” contest. Statewide, 6 lucky winners were selected, one of which was Lynette Gasper who frequents our Krause Memorial branch.

(Photo courtesy of Alpine Township)

The $1,500 award was presented to Lynette at the Kent District Library’s November KDL Board of Trustees Meeting on Thursday, November 19. For Lynette’s efforts, the Krause Memorial branch will also receive $1,000 to help fund literacy initiatives for young children.

So, thank you, and congratulations to Lynette!

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!

Have you used MeLCat to request library materials not owned by KDL? Or taken advantage of some of the great research databases that the Michigan eLibrary provides to KDL patrons?

If you have (or even if you haven’t!), please respond to this short survey to share your feedback about these resources, as the MeL staff would like to hear from as many library users as possible in order to continue to improve these services and offer the greatest benefit to Michigan residents. 

Thank you for your participation!

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.

Earlier this week, Kristin Meyer, of the Wyoming branch, visited the set of WZZM’s Take Five to share some simple crafts you can do with little ones to develop early literacy skills.

Check out the video of Kristin’s appearance:

You can also read the accompanying article and check out our Play-Grow-Read resources.

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!

KDL held another online patron survey contest in October. As promised, we have selected a winner to receive a Playaway audiobook.

Of 66 respondents, random.org selected number 17 as the winner.

Congratulations to Johanna Martin who frequents the Cascade Twp. branch

Look for more ways to win great prizes from KDL soon!