Thanks Kalamazoo!

Many thanks to all of you who voted "yes" to renew the Kalamazoo Public Library's operating millage for the next 20 years! Your vote is a sign that you appreciate the library's programs and services and want them to continue at an award-winning level.

The final numbers were 9043 "yes" votes and 3050 "no" votes.

Spirits are high at Election Headquarters!

Close to 100 have gathering together to celebrate a well organized campaign and watch results.

Don't forget to VOTE YES!

Today is the day to vote YES to renew KPL's operating millage! Click here for complete voting info.

Borgess supports library millage!

In a recent blog post Borgess Health President and CEO, Paul Spaude, urged employees to support the renewal of the library millage. He states that "Kalamazoo takes great pride in its public library," and that people should continue to support their high level of service.

Click to read the entire post.

Former KPL blogs about the library!

Leah White decided she wanted to be a librarian while working at KPL. In a recent post on her blog, she speaks beautifully about the connection between the library and Kalamazoo. Thanks Leah!

Click to read the complete post.

Positive story from WWMT!

Kalamazoo's WWMT Channel 3 aired a positive news story about the millage last night. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/cfsayp.

KPL is tightening the belt.

KPL Director, Ann Rohrbaugh, reports in her most recent blog post that like many other organizations the library's budget is shrinking. Threats to state aid, flat property taxes, and almost zero interest income means the library will need to make cuts EVEN IF THE MILLAGE PASSES. This means it is even more important that everyone votes "yes" to renewal the millage.

Read the entire blog post.

DKI - A vote for KPL, is a vote for Downtown.

Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated (DKI) has voiced their support for KPL! President Kenneth Nacci states, "As downtown Kalamazoo’s highest traffic generator, binging in nearly 1,000,000 visits annually, we look to the KPL as a major stimulant to the local economy and a central gathering place for the community." Read the entire letter.

Volunteers Needed on April 25th!

We need volunteers to help pass out literature about the millage renewal tomorrow at the Winchell neighborhood yard sale. If you are available please meet at the rear of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ at 7:30 for an 8:00 to 10:00 shift or 9:30 for a 10:00 to 12:00 shift.

Volunteers will be canvassing the area passing out literature and distributing yard signs.

Endorsed by the Kalamazoo Gazette!

The Kalamazoo Gazette encouraged all Kalamazoo residents to vote "yes" in the May 5th renewal election. The Gazette that if Kalamazoo wants to be an "Education City" a strong public library is vital.

Click here to read the entire editorial.

Follow us on Twitter!

You can now get all the news regarding the May 5th millage renewal election via Twitter! Click here to follow the Citizens for KPL Twitter feed.

Tell all your friends that you support the Kalamazoo Public Library!

Pick up a Yard Sign at the County Dems Office

Still need a VOTE YES yard sign? In addition to picking one up at Sarkozy Bakery, you can now stop by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party Office and get a sign.

The office is located at 3254 South Westendge Ave, Kalamazoo.

Office hours are:
Wed: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thu: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Fri: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - noon

If you already have a sign, grab and extra and give it to someone else who supports KPL!

Get your vote "YES" yard sign today!

Show your support of KPL by placing a sign in your yard. Signs can be picked up Sarkozy Bakery or you can click here to request one delivered. Tell a friend and put your sign in a high traffic area!

Building Traditions at KPL

A recent blog post by KPL Director Ann Rohrbaugh, mentioned a recent article from Kalamazoo Gazette columnist Linda Mah regarding children growing up at the library. Mah wrote about how her twins have always had a wonderful experience using the resources and attending the programs at the library. Most importantly, she mentioned the excellent staff that have helped guide her girls to the Teen Area of the library. KPL excels at providing services for all ages.

Yard Signs are available!

Show your support of the Kalamazoo Public Library by placing a vote YES sign in your yard. Email contact@vote4kpl.org or click here to request a sign. Remind your neighbors that a YES vote for KPL is a sound investment in our community.

Bookbug Champions KPL!

Kalamazoo's very own bookstore for kids, Bookbug has declared their support for renewal of the millage! In a recent email newsletter they stated that KPL has, "the ability to shape our lives and our community, and since Bookbug never shies away from a cause we care about, we can't overlook this opportunity to remind you of a certain Day approaching on which you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of one of Kalmazoo's most defining institutions. On Tuesday, May 5th, please consider casting your vote (at your regular polling place) to renew the Kalamazoo Public Library's operating millage."

Please support the local businesses that value KPL.

Library offers Opportunities for Nonprofit Excellence

The city of Kalamazoo has always supported the nonprofit sector and now the Kalamazoo Public Library is offering these organizations the help they need to be successful. On March 3rd the ONEplace @ kpl open its doors for business. What an amazing opportunity for new and established organizations to make an impact in our community.

Click here for the article in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

CNN reports: Hard Economic times a boon for libraries

"In times of recession, people take advantage of free services, and going to the library is among the most popular," reports CNN. KPL is no exception. In recent reports, library director Ann Rohrbaugh has stated that circulation is up from last year. Rohrbaugh has also mention the increased attendance in library programs related to finances and employment. Your public library is stepping up to help Kalamazoo citizens during the hard economic times.

Click to read the entire CNN report.

KPL serves Kalamazoo Teens

KPL's nationally recognized Teen Services department has been planning programs and building collections for thousands of teens over the past decade. The staff is outstanding. Check out this article about Stewart Fritz, librarian.

The Kalamazoo Gazette highlights KPL's vast array of services.

Julie Mack of the Kalamazoo Gazette recently wrote a great article about the excellent support the citizens of Kalamazoo give KPL and the nationally recognized services they provide. The Citizens for KPL agree that there could be no better way to "kick off" the campaign to renew the millage.

Click to read the entire article.

"A cost saving resource for thousands of struggling families is right in thier own backyard."

Kalamazoo's WWMT News Channel 3 reports on how families can save money by using KPL. Click here to watch the story.

Patrons all over the country are using the Library Value Calculator

Barry Osborne, a research librarian at The Denver Post, recently wrote about the Library Value Calculator on the Denver Public Library's website (denver library.org/about) and how he saved over $700 in one year by using his public library. He goes on to write about the savings he gains each month, "The seven books amounted to a monthly return on investment of $27.66 for every one of my tax dollars that went toward the library's budget, a return that would make even Bernie Madoff envious.."

Take a moment to use our Library Value Calculator and discover what you save each month. You will find that your monthly return on investment is just as impressive considering you pay around $.50 a day on a home valued around $120,000.

We're on Facebook!

Join the Citizens for KPL Facebook group to share stories and learn about how you can get the millage passed on May 5th!

Free movies @ KPL!

Did you know that you can check out many of the newest DVDs the day they are released? According to a recent blog post from KPL director Ann Rohrbaugh, circulation of DVDs and CDs has increased almost 50% in the past year. Patrons are noticing because in a recent Letter to the Kalamazoo Gazette, Michael Reed commented "I've now come to the point where I rely on getting videos 95 percent of the time from the library." He went on to conclude that, "It's about time Americans gave up the fancy, expensive consumer goods and returned to the good old public library. Andrew Carnegie would be proud."

How much is your library worth to you?

To illustrate how much the Kalamazoo Public Library is worth to you we have added a program at the bottom of the home page to calculate how much you save each month by using the services they offer. Try it out for yourself and post the results on our blog.

Libraries are ready to help during the tough economic times

The president of the American Library Association, Jim Rettig recently contributed an opinion piece to The Huffington Post raising awareness of how libraries can assist individuals during the current economic crisis.

Rettig writes, "As one South Florida man discovered, canceling his home Internet access and taking advantage of the free Internet service offered at his local public library could save his family over $700 a year." KPL offers FREE Internet at all library locations!

Check out the entire story - http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/librariesintougheconomictimes/rettighuffingtonpost.cfm.

Libraries are offering things for FREE when times are tough

A recent article in the Washington Post reports that libraries in the area are doing brisk business in these dreary economic times.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/01/AR2009020102331.html?nav=hcmodule

Libraries Making Headlines

Ann Rohrbaugh, director at KPL, recently posted on her own blog this interesting piece about libraries in the National News - http://www.kpl.gov/director/blog/?id=15956.