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Local Information Database

Local Information Database

Search the Local Information Database 

Kalamazoo Public Library maintains a Local Information Database. Updated daily, this rich resource combines indexing of local newspapers and magazines with information on area businesses, agencies, and organizations. A separate database, KPL's Local Organizations Directory, provides information on social and human service organizations in Kalamazoo County. Kalamazoo Public Library's Local Database won the 1993 Gale Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Services.

The Local Information Database is composed of several related tables, all searchable, either individually or as one compiled resource. Each individual or subject is commonly found in more than one of the databases. Local databases can be searched through the Catalog by selecting Local Information from the horizontal menu bar. Search any or all of the following databases:

Local Newspaper Index 

The Kalamazoo Gazette has been indexed since 1972, with some coverage of personal names before then. The index includes both subject and personal names and covers local, area and state news. Each citation includes the headline, the date of the paper in which the article appears, the section, page, and column, and indicates whether a picture illustrates the article.

Kalamazoo Gazette Index Status (as of February 16, 2010)

Other Newspapers Index Status (as of February 16, 2010)

Local Magazine Index 

Local magazines are a gold mine of information about local people, businesses and organizations.

Local History Room Index 

The Local History Room section of the database captures a wonderful variety of information not indexed in the other databases, including access to the clipping files, scrapbooks, pictures and short sketches in books, etc.

Local Photograph Index

Almost 1200 of our photographs have been scanned and loaded onto our website. There are also about one thousand images from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum collection and another 800 from the WMU Archives and Regional History Collections available on our website. All of these are cataloged. Additional cataloging records are periodically added for unscanned photographs. These images will be scanned and added to the website at a later date. For those photographs in our collection which have not yet been cataloged, please ask the staff for assistance in locating what you need.

The local history room has also recently received a generous donation of more than 4000 photos from the Miller-Davis Company. These photos have been scanned and are currently being cataloged. Many are now available on the website.

Local Organization Index

This separate database will help you find information about more than 1,000 county social and human services, self-help organizations, churches, neighborhood groups, employment services, service clubs, and common-interest clubs. Each entry provides current addresses and phone numbers, contact people, services, goals or mission, client eligibility information, sources of support, and source and date of the information. Over 350 categories, ranging from apnea, autism, and child care, to service clubs, tutors, vocational guidance, and youth are indexed.