Kent District Library Re-opening Delayed

The original plan was for the Kent District Library to re-open to the public on Monday July 6th, but that date will be delayed. No new date has been determined.

Due to the increased number of coronavirus cases, KDL has made the difficult decision to keep the library closed to the public. The Leadership Team places the safety of its patrons and staff as the highest priority. The new opening date will depend on a sustained improvement in the coronavirus situation. In the mean time, curbside pickups, availability of exterior drop boxes for returns, live-streamed programs, and expansion of digital resources is unaffected by the delay in opening the library for public access.

Lance Werner, the Executive Director of KDL explains, “Although Kent County is in a better situation than many other areas, we are committed to helping to create a sustained improvement. Right now, the trend needs to be turned around.”

The library has already made some changes to their library service since mid-March. "The library immediately shifted programming to be live-streamed and online. Exterior book drops opened for returns on June 8 and due dates for all items were extended. The introduction of curbside service on June 15 has enabled people to checkout materials from the convenience of their car. Additionally, the library added 700 new Wi-Fi hotspots, which will be mailed to homes needing internet access."

To get the latest information on the re-opening plan for the Kent District Library, here is their official web page.

Kent District Library is a public library system operating 19 branch libraries. KDL serves nearly 400,000 residents of 27 governmental units, comprising most of Kent County, Michigan. KDL is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by millage dollars and private donations. The Kent District Library is a member of the Lakeland Library Cooperative.

Now is a great time to sit in front of the air-conditioning and read a good book!