Kent District Library has been recognized as one of America’s Star Libraries, as rated by the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service, a national rating of public libraries. KDL was one of only two libraries in Michigan to receive this honor.

Library Journal ranked 7,407 public libraries, and identified 258 star performers. Libraries were ranked and given scores based on their circulation, visits, program attendance and public internet terminal use. The top libraries in each category, organized by ranges of operating expenditures, are recognized as a Star Library.

We are thrilled that Kent District Library is included in the 2010 Library Journal America’s Star Library Index and appreciate the support that our patrons and communities have shown over the years. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this wonderful achievment.   

Thank you for helping make KDL a Star Library!

The Kent District Library invites you to meet the candidates running to serve as the next KDL Library Director. This is your opportunity to hear what each candidate has to say and get answers to the questions and concerns you may have regarding the future leadership of our library system. 

The two candidates include Cheryl Garrison, Assistant Director of the Kent District Library (Comstock Park, MI) and Dan Siebersma, State Librarian of the South Dakota State Library (Pierre, SD).

Join us on Thursday, October 14, at 7:00pm to meet the candidates and submit your questions. This event will be held at KDL’s Wyoming branch.

October is a great month to start finding out about your family history!  First, start with writing down what you know and then work backwards from yourself.  There are many resources online to help you get started.  And don’t forget to share what you find out with your family over the holidays and to ask questions.

For Michigan resources, be sure to look at the Seeking Michigan site.  There is a ton of historical documents and information available.  My favorite is looking up Michigan Death Records from 1897-1920.  You can do this by clicking on the Advanced Search button from the main page.

Share your favorite Genealogy site in the comments below!

Support the Kent District Library at Schuler Book Days! Stop by any Schuler Books & Music store in Grand Rapids between Sunday, October 10 and Saturday, October 16 and mention KDL. The store will donate 20 percent of the sale to the KDL Alliance of Friends.

You can also support the library throughout the year by making an online purchase from Schuler using our website link.

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

Join us Saturday, October 16, from 11:00AM to 4:00PM for another round of KDL’s game tournament series featuring Mario Kart.  This time you will have to pit your racing skills against opponents from all over Kent County to see who will be crowned the Mario Kart Champion.  There will be snacks, prizes, and lots of Mario Kart.  Open to teens in grades 6 through 12. Pre-registration is encouraged.

The tournament will be hosted in the Community Room of the brand new Kentwood Branch Library at  4950 Breton SE.  Click here for directions or call the Kentwood Branch for more information.

For those of you wanting more details, here are a few.  If you have more questions, leave a comment and we will answer you.

• Some but not all characters, courses, or vehicles have been unlocked.  However, if they are unlocked during the course of the tournament you may use them.
• It will be a single player tournament, with 4 people playing during each race, with the exception of the final two rounds, which will just have two people playing.
• Everyone will compete in a few preliminary rounds to narrow down the field to a 28-man Tournament.  The scores from the prelims will be recorded and that will determine which 28 participants advance. From there it will be single elimination races, with two of the four players advancing each round until we narrow it down to the end.
• The amount of preliminary rounds and the amount of races in each round will be dependent on time and the amount of challengers who show, but it will likely be 2 or 3 in both cases.
• All controller schemes will be allowed.  We will provide Wii Remotes, Nunchucks, and some Wheels; if you wish to use a classic controller or GameCube controller, or be guaranteed a wheel for each race you must bring your own.

LET’S RACE!!!

We are pleased to announce that Liz Guarino-Kozlowicz  has been hired as the new Branch Manager of the Caledonia Township branch. She will be responsible for day-to-day operations, programs and services, supervision of support staff, selection and maintenance of the collection, and implementation of policy and procedural changes.

Liz received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University.  She has worked for KDL for the past five years as an adult librarian at the Grandville branch.  She loves helping people find books they will enjoy, and started an online reader’s advisory service for KDL.

“I am looking forward to joining the Caledonia community as we celebrate the upcoming opening of the new Caledonia Branch library.  I feel very privileged to be a part of this wonderful transition,” Liz said. 

Liz will be taking over for Jane Heiss, who retired in September.

Please join us in congratulating Liz on her new position!

Kent District Library presents an Early Childhood Essentials Day of Learning. Parents, childcare providers, teachers and librarians are invited to get new ideas and network with other parents and childcare workers. This program will count for five hours of professional development.

Sessions include:

• Developing Wholesome Peer Relationships Among Children
• Introducing Cultural Awareness Naturally
• Sounds Abound: Building Reading Skills Through Word Play
• Autism: Common Characteristics, Early Indicators, and Tips

This full-day workshop will take place from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 9 at the Plainfield Township branch. Snacks will be provided, and attendees can bring a lunch or go out.

Registration is required, and participation is limited. Please call 784-2007 for more information or to register.

Fairy tales have always been popular, so it is not surprising that there are books that take that familiar story and add a new twist.  This year there are a few new books to add to your reading list.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (who has written a few other great retold fairy tales) is a retelling of Cinderella, without the wicked stepsisters.  Actually the main character is Poppy, from George’s Princess of the Midnight Ball, who already had to suffer through an evil curse.  This means Poppy sees the magic touching a young girl and how that might be dangerous to everyone in the kingdom.

Another retelling out this year is Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson.  Set in colonial India, two stepsisters receive gifts from their goddess, one speaks gems and flowers while the other, snakes and toads.  Each stepsister sets out on separate paths to find the purpose of their gifts and how it is both a curse and a blessing for each of them

Be sure to check out Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Scarlet and Rose learned at an early age the danger of Werewolves, called Fenris, when their grandmother was killed.  Now the Fenris seem to be searching for something or someone, and Scarlet and Rose need to find out the truth before they lose someone they love.

Leave a comment below with titles or authors of other great retold fairy tales!

Hundreds of people came and helped us celebrate the grand opening of KDLville this week at our East Grand Rapids, Walker, and Wyoming branches. Those in attendance enjoyed cake, crafts, games, balloon animals, face painting and even dancing!

KDLville is an interactive early literacy learning center where young children and their caregivers can play, grow, and read. These spaces contain a variety of fun, developmentally appropriate activities that focus on different skills that will help children get ready to read.  Some examples might include a puppet theater, a play grocery store, a train table, pre-writing games, etc.  The activities at each KDLville location will rotate so visitors will have a new experience every couple of months.

If you weren’t able to make it to one of the KDLville parties, you can still stop in the East Grand Rapids, Walker, or Wyoming branch and enjoy all the excitement of KDLville! If you went to a KDLville party or visit KDLville in the near future, leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

Having fun with the train table

Kids enjoy a craft

Library mascot Katie L. gives a high five to a new friend

 Hand-print banner displayed at KDLville

To stay up on the latest early literacy and KDLville-related happenings, sign up for our free Early Lit Bits eNewsletter.

At KDL, we are committed to providing the popular materials that you want to read, listen to, or view.  Look what’s new this month:

• The Reversal by Michael Connelly
• The Confession by John Grisham
• Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen
• The Karate Kid (DVD)
• How to Train Your Dragon (DVD)
• The Girl Who Played With Fire (DVD)

Check one out today. Enjoy!