Kalamazoo Public Library
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
The library also offers computer training classes for those who are not familiar with how to work modern technology, such as the internet and computers.
The library provides a free WiFi
network for patrons who bring their own laptop
to the library
.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 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.
History
In 1958, construction began on a new building inspired by Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
’s Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye is a modernist villa in Poissy, in the outskirts of Paris, France. It was designed by Swiss architects Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, and built between 1928 and 1931....
, a two-story, 1930s-era building near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 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.
Branches
- Oshtemo - located on the west side of Kalamazoo, in Oshtemo Township. The building is the second largest branch, and features most of the features available at the Central branch. The building's architecture is designed in such a way to allude to a castle. "The whimsical new building arose like a medieval village around a castle. Designed to appeal to children and the young at heart, it features colorful, basic geometric forms." Oshtemo branch also houses the bookmobile.
- Eastwood - located on the east side of Kalamazoo, in Kalamazoo Township. The original east side library was opened in 1912. In 1996, the Eastwood branch took its current form when a new building was constructed.
- Alma-Powell - located on the north side of Kalamazoo. In May 1968 an anonymous gift of $10,000 was received by the Kalamazoo Board of Education for the purpose of establishing a library in the poorest section of town. The library has been in many locations since, but currently is located within the Douglass Community Centre.
- Washington Square - for more than 75 years, the branch has been a welcomed and welcoming fixture of the Edison Neighborhood.
Technology
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 how to work modern technology, such as the internet and computers.
The library provides a free WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
network for patrons who bring their own laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
to the library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
.