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Viewpoint: Renew the Kalamazoo Public Library to maintain access to information for all citizens

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette opinion By MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette opinion The Kalamazoo Gazette
on May 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated May 01, 2014 at 7:25 AM
Banned books read at Kalamazoo Public LibraryKalamazoo Public Library holds many programs and offers countless services to library users, in addition to offering books and other media.
 The following is a letter to the editor that was sent to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

By Mary and Bob Doud

On May 6, Kalamazoo Public Library is seeking support from voters in its district to renew for 20 years a 1.1801 mill property tax to continue to fund operations. This renewal means no new tax.

The stately entrance to Kalamazoo Public Library’s original Romanesque building appears on a historic bookplate, along with the caption: “Kalamazoo’s Busiest Doorway.” One hundred twenty-one years and several buildings later, much has changed, but the bookplate’s early claim remains sound. Two-thirds of area residents are registered borrowers of Kalamazoo Public Library, card-carrying members of what may be the community’s largest club — of readers, viewers, listeners, and online users. Last year, more than 1.7 million items left library shelves in the hands of local borrowers. People walked through library doorways nearly 784,000 times. In more than 144,000 computer sessions, citizens looked for jobs, did research or kept up with family and friends via e-mail or social media. In recent years, remote online access and a breadth of digital services have increased the diversity of library users.

While the central library serves as a downtown hub, four branch libraries bring resources to Kalamazoo neighborhoods: Edison/Milwood, the Northside, Eastwood/Eastside, and Oshtemo/Westside. These library satellites create focal points for learning for families throughout the library district.

In direct response to input from constituents, a few years ago Kalamazoo Public Library established service priorities: early childhood literacy; pleasure reading, listening and viewing for children, teens and adults; online connectivity; and local history preservation. To strengthen each of these areas, the library developed a broad array of collaborative programs, including Ready to Read, Family Place, First Saturday@KPL, Reading Together, the Kalamazoo County Law Library and ONEplace@kpl. The library stays relevant to its users and linked to the community’s pulse through many strategic partnerships

This month, the American Library Association asks libraries and local communities to celebrate National Library Week, with its 2014 theme: “Lives change @ your library.” Isaac Asimov bolstered this notion when he wrote in 1971: “It isn’t just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you --- and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life.”

We urge you to join us in voting YES on May 6 — to maintain the same level of support —to make sure the doors to Kalamazoo Public Library, at all five locations, will endure as busy gateways for our community…..into the far future.

Mary Doud is the former deputy director of the Kalamazoo Public Library. Bob Doud is the retired Vice President for Public Affairs and Development at Bronson Health. They reside in Kalamazoo. 

For more Kalamazoo Gazette opinion pieces and letters visit http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/.



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