Kent District Library

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kent District Library logo

The Kent District Library is a public library system located in Kent County, Michigan. With eighteen branch locations and an annual circulation of more than 4.5 million items (2006 circulation data), the Kent District Library is one of the largest and busiest library systems in all of Michigan.

[edit] History

The history of Kent District Library can be traced to 1927, when the County Federation of Women’s Clubs took on the project of library extension work. Since that time, the library has had many benefactors. Mabel Balyeat, one such supporter, was responsible for spearheading the efforts to:

"Establish and maintain a main library and branch libraries, and to promote the moral,educational and social welfare of the people of Kent County. Aim: Any book to any person anywhere at any time."

In 1936, the Kent County Library Association was formed. The Library was a department of the County of Kent until 1994 when it separated from the County to form the Kent District Library. In 2004, a two-part millage was brought to the voters, who approved 0.88 mills for ten years. Today, the Kent District Library provides library service to over 360,000 customers in 26 municipalities in Kent County, not including the City of Grand Rapids, Cedar Springs, Sparta and Solon Township. Over the years, library branches have been established, renovated, relocated, and enlarged in partnership with the local municipalities that own the buildings. Eighteen branches provide direct customer service. The Service Center, owned by KDL, houses administrative services, including the information technology, human resource, finance, communication, and collection management departments. This “hub and spokes” organization allows for efficient centralized operations, while maintaining “home-town” library service at the branches.