Writers' Block
Are you a local writer? Share your upcoming book on Writers’ Block! Writers’ Block is where KPL celebrates independently published writers from Kalamazoo County. If that describes you, we encourage…
News
Juneteenth
Please note that all KPL locations will be closed on Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending…
KPL and Texas Township Contract has Been Extended for Another Year
In January 2020, Kalamazoo Public Library and Texas Township agreed to a 2-year service contract (July 1, 2020–June 30, 2022) to provide library services to Texas Township residents who live…
MI Library is Now
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries have been an essential lifeline to communities coping with the unprecedented challenges we’ve all faced. With the expansion of technology and e-Content provided by the…
Kalamazoo Public Library Trustee Vacancy
Kalamazoo Public Library has a Trustee Vacancy and is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on the Library Board of Trustees. This position will serve until December 31, 2022,…
Kick Off Your Summer Fun with KPL on Saturday, June 4th!
This summer is going to be HOT at KPL! Beginning June 1st, you can dive into Oceans of Possibilities with our 2022 Summer Reading Challenge! We invite Kalamazoo youth ages…
KPL Congratulates Local Poet Diane Seuss on winning the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry!
KPL extends our heartfelt congratulations to local poet Diane Seuss for winning the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her work “frank: sonnets.” Seuss was previously a finalist for the 2016…
2022 Summer Reading Challenge Kicks Off June 1!
Did you know that reading for just 20 minutes a day can open up a world of adventure and earn you fabulous prizes? We invite youth from birth up to 12th grade, to…
Idea Lab Reopens Monday, May 9!
Great news! KPL’s maker space and creative studio, Idea Lab (located at the Central Library) is reopening to the public on Monday, May 9! Hours: Monday: 12–5 pm Wednesday: 12–5 pm Friday:…
It's Children's Book Week!
Children’s Book Week is the twice-annual celebration of children’s books and reading. Established in 1919, it is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country, now celebrating its 102nd anniversary…
Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Through USPS.com
Did you know you can receive four free, at-home COVID-19 tests through USPS.com? It’s as simple as clicking this link and placing your order! About the At-Home COVID-19 Tests…
Ronnie Spector Collection
Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of the Ronettes, the 1960s vocal trio that gave a passionate, bad-girl edge to pop’s girl-group sound with hits like “Be My Baby” and “Baby,…
Remembering Award-winning Children’s Author and Illustrator Steve Jenkins
Award-winning children’s author and illustrator Steve Jenkins, widely praised for his distinctive and detailed cut- and torn-paper collages depicting animals and the natural world, has died at age 69. The…
In Honor of Academy Award Winner, Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen and became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance…
All KPL Locations Will Provide Curbside-Only Service Beginning Wednesday, January 5
Due to the rapidly increasing number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Kalamazoo and surrounding Michigan communities, Kalamazoo Public Library is prioritizing the health and safety of our patrons and…
Icon Betty White Passed Away at 99
Icon Betty White passed away on December 31, 2021, she was 99 years old. Betty White began her television career in the late 1930s. She starred on Life with Elizabeth in…
Amanda Green Scholarship Application Opens January 1, 2022
Online applications for the Amanda Green Scholarship Fund will open on Saturday, January 1, with a deadline of March 1, 2022. The scholarship will be awarded for a student expected…
KPL Staff Picks Best of 2021
Each year, KPL staff read, watch and listen to hundreds of titles found in our collections. See what was chosen for the Best of 2021 Staff Picks!
Acclaimed Author and Activist Bell Hooks 1952–2021
Acclaimed author and activist Bell Hooks died on Wednesday, December 15. She was 69. Hooks, whose real name was Gloria Jean Watkins, was born on Sept. 25, 1952, in Hopkinsville,…
Author Anne Rice 1941–2021
Kalamazoo Public Library is mourning the loss of iconic author Anne Rice who passed away at 80 years old on Sunday, December 12. Anne Rice was the author of over 30…
KPL Board of Trustees Appoints Annee Dunn to the Library Board
The KPL Board of Trustees welcomes new member Annee Dunn to the library board—she was appointed at the October 25 meeting. Dunn will serve until December 2022, when the seat is…
Jerry Pinkney: December 22, 1939–October 20, 2021
Kalamazoo Public Library is mourning the loss of acclaimed American illustrator and writer of children’s literature, Jerry Pinkney who passed away at age 81 on October 20. Pinkney was a…
Friends of KPL Bookstore Gift Book Sale!
Beginning November 26! Shop hundreds of gift-quality, like-new books at a fraction of retail cost. Doors open at 10 am. The Friends Bookstore is located in the Lower Level of…
Gary Paulsen (May 17, 1939–October 13, 2021)
We are saddened to learn of the passing of three-time Newbery Honor children’s author Gary Paulsen, who passed on October 13, 2021 at the age of 82. Paulsen was the…
Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week (September 26-October 2, 2021) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts…
The Margin Project
The Margin Project is a special collection offered in the Teen section at the Oshtemo Branch and Central Library. It gives our readers an opportunity to express themselves by writing…
What Do You See in Room 21 C?
As part of their annual Rotary Is For Reading Campaign, Kalamazoo Rotary joins forces with Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo (CIS) to promote literacy and college awareness throughout all second-grade…
It's a David Small World–A Journey Through Life and Art
Join KPL in celebrating Western Michigan University’s acquisition of the David Small and Sarah Stewart Archive with a special month-long exhibit. More than 60 pieces of original art will be…
September is Library Card Sign-up Month
Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been observed each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the American Library Association and libraries unite in…
Metro Bus Transit to Provide Bus Service to Oshtemo Branch Library
Beginning Monday, August 30, Metro Transit will provide bus service to the Oshtemo Branch. Service will include 1 stop per hour, Monday–Friday, between 10 am–6 pm. The new route will…
