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The Kalamazoo Public Library is an independent district library in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that serves about 120,000 people, has a salaried staff of 90, and spends about $10 million annually. The library consists of the central branch downtown, and four branch libraries. [1]
Kalamazoo Public Library was founded in 1893. The building was designed in the Romanesque Revival style, with several wings and towers filled with windows to capture natural light. Ulysses Wheaton built the structure, which stood for 65 years.
In 1958, construction began on a new building inspired by Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, a two-story, 1930s-era building near Paris, whose second level seems to float on columns surrounding a recessed ground floor. Designed by Louis C. Kingscott, Inc., and built by the Miller-Davis Company, the building opened in 1959, and combined the library and a museum.
In 1998, a new 4-story library building opened, which stands today at 315 South Rose Street in downtown Kalamazoo.
In addition to traditional book lending and reference books, patrons of the library enjoy access to
The Kalamazoo Public Library is technology friendly. All of the catalog data are computer based. The library also offers computers for use by patrons for finding books, accessing the internet, playing games, and word processing. The library also offers computer training classes for those who are not familiar with the internet, computer, software, or digital media use.
The library provides a free WiFi network for patrons. Digital titles (including e-books and audiobooks) are available for check-out through the library website (at the library or remotely).
In 2014, the library opened the 'Idea Lab', formerly known as 'The Hub', which is a digital media lab open to the public for digitizing photos and video, producing podcasts, preserving old vinyl records, cassettes and VHS tapes, and other services. [4] [5]
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