geek the libraryKalamazoo Public Library launched its Geek the Library campaign on June 2 at Kalamazoo's famous Do-Dah Parade. Since 1984, the venerable Do-Dah Parade has challenged participants to create a parody—a spoof or satire of a person, place, event, or thing. What better venue for a troop of geeks to get their geek on!

To geek, used as a verb in the campaign, means:

1. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for. 2. To express interest in. 3. To possess a large amount of knowledge in. 4. To promote.

Whatever you geek, your the public library supports you. Everyone is passionate about something—everyone geeks something. As we develop KPL’s Geek the Library campaign, you’ll learn what KPL staff geek. And you’ll get a chance to share what you geek, too! Learn more, see KPL’s photos and video, tell us what you geek at www.kpl.gov/geek.

contents books & more 2-3news 4tween/teen 5kids 6-7director’s note 8

Summer reading games for all ages started on June 13, but there’s still plenty of time to play and earn rewards! Sign up today at your neighborhood library and keep reading.

Celebrate summer at KPL with a concert Saturday, August 25, 3 pm , Bronson Park, featuring the high-energy band Milkshake!

Their mission is to create great rock music for kids. They’ve released four award-winning CDs of original music, been nominated for a Grammy Award, and performed for PBS Kids and Discovery. “A fizzy contemporary band that really rocks without losing sight of its target audience [kids],” according to The Los Angeles Times.

summer @ kpl

November 9, 9 am-3:30 pm

Kalamazoo Public Library’s 35th annual fall event, the Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar, will feature leading pop-up book artist and paper engineer Robert Sabuda.

Sabuda’s fascination with the world of movable books started in his dentist’s waiting room where he first discovered The Adventures of Super Pickle. He’ll give a brief history of pop-up and movable books, discuss how he creates his work, plus lead a pop-up workshop.

To learn more, call 553-7804 or contact online at www.kpl.gov/youth-lit. Registration required.

Arrangements for the appearance of Robert Sabuda made through Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau, New York, NY.

Robert Sabuda's Beauty & the Beast, Little Simon Publishing.

save the date!

July-August 2012LIBRARY LINK

movies, musicUrban RootsJuly 12, 4 pm, WSQAugust 14, 6 pm, POWThis inspiring documentary about Detroit’s urban farmers and community gardeners speaks to a nation grappling with collapsed industrial towns and the need to forge a sustainable future.

The RelationsJuly 18, 7 pm, CENThe Relations’ soulful harmonies and musicality shine in songs from Bill Caskey’s new recording Dymaxion Mothership. Enjoy this unique musical playground. Photo by Andre Venter.

Movies Under the StarsJuly 19, dusk, It Happened One NightAugust 16, dusk, A Dolphin TaleOshtemo Township ParkEnjoy classic and family movies al fresco! Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Cosponsored by Friends of the Oshtemo Township Park. Weather permitting.

foodGrill Like a ProJuly 10, 6 pm, OSHWant to know how to grill the perfect burger? Learn the best techniques for grilling everything from chicken to veggies from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet’s grillmaster. Weather permitting.

Shop the Market July 21, 9:30 am, WSQMeet at the library to tour Bank Street Market with Rosie Florian, People's Food Co-op produce manager. After shopping, learn simple recipes using your fresh veggies. Registration required.

Healthful Soul FoodJuly 24, 6:30 pm, POWZee Ford and Chris Broadbent, People’s Food Co-op, will show how to cook soul food the healthy way, with a few surprising twists.

Healthy Salads and SidesAugust 21, 6:30 pm, EASKama Mitchell and Chris Broadbent, People’s Food Co-op, will prepare fresh salads and healthy side dishes for deliciously memorable meals.

events

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What People Are Saying About Urban Roots

Alice Waters:“Detroit’s farmers are building a new and powerful urban economy, and providing an invaluable service to their community. We need empowering films like Urban Roots to keep us moving in the right direction.”

Leonardo DiCaprio: “Urban Roots is an inspiring film about the emergence of urban farming in Detroit; it shows what’s possible after the collapse of the industrial era and how we begin building a sustainable future for all.”

Kid Rock: "Urban Roots is a very uplifting documentary about a much needed 'thinking outside the box' approach to helping save our city of Detroit. It shines a light on a grassroots movement that is helping to solve several major problems in our city—literally, from the ground up.”

books Urban Fiction

July 24, 5:30 pm, POWCelebrate Leah’s last book discussion with an urban fiction masquerade featuring Supreme Clientele by Ashley & JaQuavis. Pick up the book starting July 2.

Alice ReneeAugust 28, 6:30 pm, POWIn Renee’s Recollections of a Fugitive, the third novel in the family saga Walker's Web, Garth Walker shares his life story from his birth as a slave in 1847 to his impending death in 1922.

local historyMade in the Mitten July 24, 7 pm, CEN Savor Michigan’s rich foodie and agricultural history with Dianna Stampfler. Hear how the state’s food manufacturers help shape Michigan’s culture. Sample a few products!

This Old BuildingAugust 8, 6:30 pm, CENKalamazoo Historic Preservation coordinator Sharon Ferraro will share a brief history of the 100 block of East Michigan. We'll take a walking tour after the presentation.

& moreAsk a LawyerJuly 11, 6-8 pm, CENAugust 7, 6-8 pm, POWFree legal clinic with Bar Association lawyers. Call 553-7820 for a 20-minute appointment.

Yoga Basics for BoomersAugust 2, 2 pm, OSH Yoga can support our bodies and minds as they change and mature. Learn techniques to become more alert, vibrant, and insightful. Taught by Ann Beattie, RYT.

Registration required. Call location listed or register online starting 30 days before event.

Stars in Your EyesStarts July 17, OSHCheck out a telescope to gaze at the night sky! The easy-to-use kit features an Orion StarBlast 4.5” Astro telescope, simple instructions, and star maps. Thanks to Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, kasonline.org.

starsStellar ReadsJune 13-August 24Time for summer days and dreamin’ at the library. Sign up for the summer reading game, earn rewards while you relax with a good book!.

Anatomy of a TelescopeJuly 16, 6 pm, OSHLearn how to explore the night sky. Kalamazoo Astronomical Society members demonstrate a variety of telescopes.

Stargazing with KASAugust 8, 9 pm, OSHJoin members of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society for outdoor observation of the night skies. Weather permitting.

The new KPL Mobile app offers anytime, anywhere access to KPL’s catalog and user accounts, plus new fiction, nonfiction, music, and DVD lists every week.

Features include KPL’s email and phone Ask Us service, event calendar, social media networks, and staff blogs of books, movies, and music.

KPL Mobile’s one-click access to emedia makes it incredibly easy to download ebooks and eaudio to your mobile device.

See a book you want to read at a bookstore or somewhere other than KPL? Scan the barcode with KPL Mobile to learn if KPL owns the book then put it on hold. So convenient, it just takes seconds!

Download KPL Mobile for FREE from Apple App Store, Amazon Appstore or Google Play for Android, or at kalamazoo.boopsie.com.

new kpl app!

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Pearl's PicksRecommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason from rock star librarian, Nancy Pearl.

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newsWhat to Read?Now Read ThisLooking for summer reading ideas? Try this new service from KPL for personal fiction and nonfiction recommendations.

Fill out the simple form on this page, kpl.gov/books/now-read-this. Tell us about books or authors you love, titles that you have enjoyed or hated, genres you read or those you avoid. The more you tell us, the better!

We'll help you find titles that match your unique reading interests. Submit the form to receive a list of five titles within seven working days.

"Best of" ListsAnother resource to check for book, movie and music ideas —KPL staff members' favorites from 2011 and 2010. Scroll through the list at kpl.gov/books/best-of-2011. If you see something you like, items link to the catalog. If someone's "best of" list really speaks to you, click the link to his or her blog posts for more recent recommendations.

Free Audiobook DownloadsEach week from June 14-August 22, SYNC will offer two free audiobook downloads! Seeking to reach teens, SYNC, a partnership of 15 audiobook publishers, will pair a popular teen title with a classic that often shows up on student summer reading lists. Week 1 featured The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch. Learn more at kpl.gov/teens/sync.

TumbleBook LibraryKids can listen to or read along at their own speed to animated, talking picture books, read-alongs, and ebooks through Tumblebooks at kpl.gov/kids, then click the Highlight image. Tumble also features a variety of puzzles, games, and Tumble TV episodes.

TumbleReadablesTweens, too, can listen or read along to books ranging from early readers to chapter books, teen fiction, and graphic novels. Suggested grade levels are listed for each book. Visit the tween page, kpl.gov/tweens, click the Highlight image.

Learn more about resources for readers at kpl.gov/books.

Who Is This? Help us find out! About 1,200 of KPL's local history photos have been scanned and loaded on our website. Of those, about 200 aren't fully identified. This spring, the local history librarian began to blog about "unidentified" photos hoping viewers would recognize unknown subjects and share their knowledge.

This amazing image came with just about everything but a name! His weathered face, neckerchief, hat, and the far horizon evoke the Wild West. But notes with the photo suggest he was a former schoolteacher, living rough in a shack on KL Avenue, just west of Drake Road around 1942. Who is this?

Tell us what you know or learn more at kpl.gov/local-history.

tween/teenTeen Advisory Board (T.A.B.)August 1, 3:30 pm, CENPlan programs and service projects, discuss books, movies, music, and web sites, eat snacks, play games, and have fun! Gr 7-12.

Gamers’ Arena: AnalogAugust 4, 3 pm, CENPut down the controller and pick up your wits for board, card, role-playing, and other non-digital games. Join us for old classics and new favorites, bring your own to share. All levels welcome. Gr 5-12.

Hunger Games: ArcheryAugust 9, 2 pm, OSHWonder what it takes to shoot like Katniss? Mark from Kruzinga Archery shares archery history, techniques, and demonstrations! Gr 5-12.

Art Attack: Back to SchoolAugust 8, 2 pm, POWAugust 16, 2 pm, EASTMake cool projects for a stylish return to school! Locker mirrors, bandanas, folders, and more. We supply the materials, you provide the creativity. Gr 5-12.

J-Pop ClubAugust 20, 3:30 pm, CENEnjoy Japanese Anime, manga, Pocky and food. Drop in any time during the event! Gr 7-12.

Hunger Games: SurvivalAugust 23, 2 pm, EASOutside the District 12 fence, Katniss read animal tracks to hunt food for her hungry family. What would you grab from the cornucopia and why? Explore survival and outdoor skills with Dan Keto, Kalamazoo Nature Center. Gr 5-12.

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Gamers’ ArenaJuly 7, 2 pm, CEN From the newest favorites to old classics, it’s an afternoon of strategy, skill and fun. Choose from one of our many board, card or video games, or bring one of your own! Gr 5-12.

Tie-DyeJuly 10, 2 pm, WSQJuly 11, 2 pm, POWJuly 12, 2 pm, EASTJuly 13, 2 pm, OSHWe supply t-shirts, bandanas and all the supplies to make a colorful piece of clothing. Registration required, call 553-7807. Gr 5-12.

EXTREME J-PopJuly 16, 2 pm, CENJ-Pop taken to the extreme level with even more of your favorite Japanese fun and food. Special activities and snacks! Gr 7-12.

Teen Open Mic NightJuly 24, August 28, 6:30 pm, OSHCalling teen performers! Sing, read, act, or just hang out. Enjoy snacks and network. Gr 7-12.

LEGO GamingJuly 26, 2 pm, EASTake your LEGO skills to a game level! LEGO games for Wii, DS and board games provided. All skill levels welcome, snacks, too. Gr 5-8.

Get Your Act TogetherJuly 31, 2 pm, EASFrom stage fright to stage fight, join local acting coach Clare Sobotta. Learn how we express emotions with our bodies and how physicality helps create a character on stage. Become a character from your imagination or a book. Gr 4-8.

summer reading gamesJune 13 - August 24

Hey, what are those cool graphics at the top and bottom of this column? They’re for the teen and tween summer reading games. It’s not too late for you to play! Join Dream Warriors for teens, Monster Hunt for tweens.

Start reading anything with pages this week. You still have time to earn two prizes and be entered in the end-of-summer prize drawing. It’s easy—just read 20 minutes for 20 days for each prize. Join today!

LEGO contest

Show off your LEGO building skills! Enter your original LEGO creations in the KPL contest. Open to all by age bracket: 0-5 years, 6-11, 11-14, 15-18, 18+. Entries accepted August 13-18 in the Central or Oshtemo Children’s Room.

LEGO creations will be displayed August 20-25. Judges will include library staff and community leaders. Winners will be announced on KPL's website Monday, August 27, 10 am.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories for each age bracket: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and People’s Choice. Prizes will include LEGO kits and books.

kidsStuffed Animal SleepoversJuly 12, 4:30 pm, CENAugust 16, 4:30 pm, WSQBring a stuffed friend to spend the night. Enjoy a bedtime story and snack then kiss your friend goodnight. Pick up your friend the next day.

The Parrot PosseJuly 13, 2 pm, POWDenise Heath’s colorful parrots and fine feathered friends will entertain, educate, and amaze. Meet Leo, Ruby and other members of her avian gang.

Stroller WalkJuly 16, 10:30 am, OSHMeet at the library. We’ll walk around the new Oshtemo Township Park then return for a short storytime and snack.

Mother Goose and MoreJuly 16, 2 pm, POWJuly 17, 2 pm, EASEnjoy the magic of costumes, music, and nursery rhymes with professional storyteller Nancy Snell.

Movie and PopcornJuly 17, 6:30 pm, CEN, Up July 31, 6:30 pm, POW, HugoAugust 7, 6:30 pm, EAS, Adventures of Tin-TinAugust 14, 6:30 pm, WSQ, How to Train Your DragonBeat the heat! Enjoy a cool movie and popcorn. Adult must accompany young children.

Story ArtJuly 19, 2 pm, CEN, Happy CampersAugust 2, 10 am, CEN, Starry NightsAugust 16, 10 am, CEN, Outer SpaceAugust 30, 2 pm, CEN, Dream Big Hear stories and create art based on a theme. For Gr K-2. Registration required.

Read with BaileyWednesdays, 2-4 pm, CENJuly 11, 18, 25August 1, 8, 15Enjoy a “pawsitive” reading experience. Read to Bailey the loveable Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle mix). Registration required, call 553-7804.

LEGO at the LibraryJuly 7, August 4, 10:30-11:30 am, OSHJuly 21, August 18, 10:30-11:30 am, CENJuly 24, 2 pm, EAS July 25, 2 pm, POW Build, create, race, inspire, and imagine with other Lego fans. Bricks provided, from Duplo to expert builder. All ages.

First Saturday @ kplJuly 7, August 4, 2-4 pm, CENTake your family to the library the first Saturday of every month! Enjoy stories, games, crafts, and LEGOs. Door prizes include gift cards and books. In August, special musical guest Kevin Kammeraad will present his “Can you think it, can you dream it?” show. Puppets, music, and stories.

Birds of PreyJuly 9, 2 pm, POWMeet a hawk, owl, and other avian predators from Kalamazoo Nature Center. Learn why they live at KNC and how they survive in the wild.

Toddler TalkJuly 11, 18, 25, 10 am-12 pm, OSHAugust 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 10 am-12 pm, OSHToddlers play while adults share joys, challenges of parenting the 1-3 year old. Connie Koning, RN, facilitator.

Baby TalkJuly 11, 18, 25, 1:30–3:30 pm, OSHAugust 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 1:30–3:30 pm, OSHTalk about care of babies up to one year with other parents. Connie Koning, RN, facilitator.

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Registration required. Call location listed or register online starting 30 days before event.

Space limited; ticket required. Pick up FREE ticket at host location starting one week before event; one ticket per person. Call location with any questions.

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Family StorytimeJuly 19, 10:30 am, EASAugust 15, 10:30 am, POWSpecial guest Robin Nott will entertain with stories and songs on dates shown above. Family storytime featuring stories and activities designed for children from birth to age five continues at most locations this summer. Check with your librarian for dates and times.

BubblemanJuly 26, 10:30 am, EASBubbleman Ron Loyd amazes with shows full of flying bubble spaceships, tightrope walking bubbles, and bubbles inside bubbles.

Tales on the TrailJuly 27, August 17, 10:30 am, POWStart your summer walk on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail with an outdoor storytime.

Summer CraftsJuly 30-Aug 3, 1-5 pm, CENMake a summer-themed craft. Materials provided.

Going Batty! August 6, 2:30 pm, POWMeet live bats from Africa, Central and South America. Learn how bats use sound waves to navigate, their role in the food chain, and how we can protect their ecosystem.

storytimesLibrarians consider developmental stages when planning stories, songs, fingerplays, and crafts. Adult caregiver must accompany babies and toddlers. Siblings may attend as guests.

Baby Lapsit StorytimeTuesdays, 9:30 am, CENJuly 3, 10, 17, 24, 31August 7, 14, 21, 28For babies from birth through walking.

Baby Steps StorytimeTuesdays, 10:30 am, CENJuly 3, 10, 17, 24, 31August 7, 14, 21, 28For walking babies up to two years.

Preschool StorytimeMondays, 1:30 pm, CENJuly 2, 9, 16, 23, 30August 6, 13, 20, 27Stories, songs, simple crafts for 2-3 ½ year olds.

Musical StorytimeMonday, July 9, 6:30 pm, CENMonday, August 6, 6:30 pm, CENFavorite singalong songs and special guests make storytime fun for the whole family.

Binder Park Zoomobile August 9, 1 pm and 2:30 pm, WSQLearn about and meet some creatures of the night. Uncover the secrets to their lives in the dark, how they’ve adapted and thrive.

Reindeer ReignAugust 9, 10:30 am, EASCarol Borton’s family has raised reindeer since 1999. Meet Borton’s reindeer friends. She’ll tell us how she cares for these antlered animals.

While You Dream, Who’s Awake?August 10, 1 pm and 2:30 pm, OSHDiscover the amazing lives of nocturnal animals as they awaken under the stars and moon with Dan Keto of Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Pig of My Heart, I Love You!August 14, 2 pm, EASMeet Beth Timmerman and Pipsqueak, her very smart pet porker. Listen to a porcine story and learn some fun facts on pig health and care.

Meet the Llamas!August 20, 2 pm, POWLlamas carry packs in the Andes. People cure their hides for leather and spin their wool into yarn. Meet breeder Ron Zechlinski’s llamas.

Dream Day CelebrationAugust 28, 2 pm, CENMartin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” on August 28, 1963. Celebrate with highlights from the speech and dreamworthy stories and activities.

Dances of IndiaAugust 29, 1 pm, POWEnjoy a performance of vibrant, Bollywood-style dances, featuring Susan Iervolina’s students in beautiful traditional costumes.

KPL staff members send me stories about people using the library. They know I enjoy sharing them with our board

of trustees. Your stories affirm the choices we made when we crafted our 2010-2013 Strategic Plan, kpl.gov/strategic-plan. These stories unfolded earlier this year.

A KPL patron traveled out west to work in disaster relief. He visited a local library hoping to check out audiobooks, but didn’t qualify because he wasn’t a resident. That’s when he remembered KPL’s digital book service. He laughed that it took being so far from home to start downloading audiobooks with OverDrive. kpl.gov/ebooks

A patron brought in his new digital camera full of photos. We went through the whole download process until photos of his baby finally popped up on screen. He was so touched that he got a little teary. Sometimes the little things we do—like show someone how to get photos from a camera to a computer—mean so much.

During a teen Hunger Game program, kids made a variety of Paracord creations and first aid kits from Altoids tins. One young man asked if he could make an extra first aid kit for his little brother. He told us his brother had been having trouble sleeping since their house burned down the previous week. He was sure that having his own survival kit would help him feel better.

One of our staff members shared this on-the-street conversation. A young man waved him down while he was walking to work. “Hey, I have to ask you something,” he said. “Are you the one with the book review on Plato? I have to know, why did Plato ban the poets from the city?” They had a nice, ten-minute conversation based on his blog post. kpl.gov/blogs

Do you have a library story you’d like to share? Talk to a staff member the next time you visit or go online, kpl.gov/my-story. Comment about library staff or service, kpl.gov/comments. Tell us what you geek, kpl.gov/geek. We’d love to hear from you.

Central Library – CEN 315 S Rose St, 49007 553-7800

Friends of the Library Bookstore 315 S Rose St, 49007 553-7820

Eastwood – EAS 1112 Gayle Ave, 49048 553-7810

Oshtemo – OSH 7265 W Main St, 49009 553-7980

Alma Powell – POW 1000 W Paterson St, 49007 553-7960

Washington Square – WSQ 1244 Portage St, 49001 553-7970

Library BoardLisa A. Godfrey President

Valerie Wright Vice President

James VanderRoest Treasurer

Robert Paul Brown Secretary

Fenner Brown II Bruce Caple Cheryl TenBrink Trustees

CreditsKalamazoo Public Library’s Marketing and Communications Office publishes Link with support from the Friends of the Library. Contact us with your comments or suggestions, 553-7879 or email mac@kpl.gov.

*****ECRWSS*****RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER

your stories

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director's note

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