KDL Grandville branch expands, offering more to its city, the southwest region

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Griffin Walker, the first to donate to the library expansion fund, cut the ribbon at the KDL Grandville Branch dedication. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Armed with umbrellas in an effort to stay dry from the downpour of rain, about 50 people came out to the dedication and ribbon cutting for the expansion of the KDL Grandville Branch on Oct. 8.

The event, hosted by the City of Grandville and the Kent District Library, celebrated the addition of 6,665 square feet to the library, with the largest part of the addition being a divisible community room for hosting library programs and serving city and community events.

“At the Grandville Branch, we see a number of people from throughout the county,” said KDL Grandville Branch Manager Josh Bernstein, who is a regional manager serving both the Grandville and Byron Center branches. In fact, because the KDL library branches over the years have become more regional sources, KDL has created regional branch managers to work with communities.

“We have a lot of our neighbors from Byron Center and Georgetown, as we have a partnership with them, coming to the Grandville library for resources and meeting space,” he said.

  • A new feature is the fireplace that separates the community room from the library. (WKTV)
  • Visitors check out the new children’s play area. (WKTV)
  • The KDL Grandville branch has more than one million library items. (WKTV)

Space was the original reason that Grandville City Council decided to move the library from the city complex to its own space. The current library facility was built in 1991 and dedicated in 1992. The original library project costs was about $1.8 million.

Space again was the concern for city and community leaders to come together to raise funds for the expansion, according to Grandville Mayor Steve Maas who spoke during the dedication ceremony. Through the additional space, Maas said the library facility was able to expand from one study room to 10 new private study rooms. The expanded and updated Grandville facility also includes:

The new Nelson Foundation Disability Resource Room

More than a million library items

Hundreds of regularly scheduled in-person programs and activities for all ages

Separate and enclosed space for children’s programs and early literacy efforts

Drive-up book drop

Larger space for the Friends of the Grandville Library Book Nook

Fireplace area separating the library from the new community center

New, high-efficiency HVAC system

Additional  restrooms, including a family restroom

 

Area residents and leaders were willing to brave the heavy rains for the KDL Grandville Branch dedication on Oct. 8. (WKTV)

For the new addition, city and community leaders hosted a Building Beyond Books fundraising campaign with the goal of raising about a million dollars. At the time of the dedication, the effort had raised $870,000 with donations still being accepted. 

KDL oversees 20 branches that serve the communities around Grand Rapids. (The City of Grand Rapids is served by the Grand Rapids Library.) Locations on the southwest side of the county include, Wyoming, Kentwood, Gaines, Byron Center, Grandville, Caledonia, and Kelloggsville High School. KDL operates the Bookmobilie and the KDL Wyoming branch houses the KDL Talking Book and Braille Center. For more about KDL and its locations, visit kdl.org.

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