Parking Lot Construction: As part of our ongoing work to maintain and improve Central Library, the parking lot will be closed for construction from Tuesday, July 28, to Saturday, August 1. Visit the Central Library page for more details. 

CLOSURE: Central Library will be closed Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25, while emergency repairs are made to the building’s cooling system. We expect to reopen Monday, July 27.

Notice of Public Meeting: Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees | July 27 | 5:30 pm | Central Library/Van Deusen Room. The packet of information for the meeting can be found on the library’s website. 

Friends of KPL

Friends of Kalamazoo Public Library Volunteer Application

Complete this online form, or print and complete the Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library Volunteer Application Form and bring it to the store or mail it to:

Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library
315 S. Rose St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Please call (269) 553-7820 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

  • (See Bookstore Volunteer jobs below)

BOOKSTORE VOLUNTEER JOBS

Front Shop

Greet and assist patrons, operate cash register, bag or box purchases, answer telephone, refill easels.

Fiction Sorting

Sort new fiction donations into genres (romance, mystery, science fiction, etc). Separate into store
quality, bag sale, or recycling. Performed every Monday.

Nonfiction Sorting

Sort new donations into categories (biography, science, poetry, etc). Check value of books believed
possibly eligible for listing on the online site Abebooks.com and segregate those that qualify. Follow
category-specific guidelines to separate the remainder into store, bag sale, free, or recycling. Conducted
by small teams of volunteers every Monday and Friday morning.

Tuesday Backroom Activities

Price, shelve, and weed unassigned fiction and nonfiction books. Suggest and help implement spotlights
and other features.

Adopt a Category

Select one or more currently unassigned fiction or nonfiction categories and assume responsibility for
keeping the bookstore shelves in that section full. This includes pricing and shelving books you select
from among those waiting in the sorting room as well as semi-annual weeding of books in the store that
haven’t sold. Evaluation and pricing can be done at the volunteer’s convenience, and shelving in the store
can be at any time the store is not open. Generally a once-a-week commitment.

Bag Sale Books and Recycling

Categorize and shelve or box books designated for Bags of Books sales. Recycle designated hardcover
books by cutting off the covers.

Gift Book Prep

Check for defects and clean books, if necessary.

Display Case

Arrange pre-collected materials once a month, including price cards and signage, to coincide with sales
and promotions in the Bookstore.

AV Sorter

Sort and classify CDs, Audio Books, DVDs, Blu Ray discs. Make sure discs are in the correct covers.

GARAGE VOLUNTEERS

Accepting/Sorting Donations

Greet donors, put books in Bookstore containers. Sort books by categories onto carts for the store.
Deliver carts to bookstore.