Tag Archives: Kent District Library Wyoming

World Affairs Council to begin ‘cultivating community’ series at KDL’s Wyoming branch 

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , , ,
The Wyoming branch of the Kent District Library will be the location of a discussion series this month. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan, in partnership with the Kent District Library and located at the KDL’s Wyoming branch, will offer a three-part spring discussion series titled “Cultivating Community through Civil Discourse beginning April 10.

 

The series, according to supplied information, “explores ways to make our community one that’s characterized by civility and respect for all.”

 

All events in the series are free and open to the public, and will be held at the Wyoming Branch, Kent District Library, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, Wyoming. The time will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. No reservations are needed and there will be free parking.

 

The first discussion, on Tuesday, April 10, will be “Searching for a Reconfigured ‘We the People’: Embracing Counter Narratives for Just and Civil Discourse” and will feature David Hooker, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the University of Notre Dame.

 

Following events will be Tuesday, April 17, with Jack Lessenberry of Michigan Radio leading a discussion on “The Loss of American Consensus: Were We Better Off with the Cold War and without the Internet?”, and on Tuesday, April 24, Sarrah Buageila of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, leading a discussion on “Portraits of American Muslims: Civility in a Pluralistic Community”.

 

For more information visit worldmichigan.org/civil .

 

Wyoming hosts last meeting on millage, KDL leader states he is comfortable with request

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , , , , ,

On Saturday, April 29, the City of Wyoming will host the last of its three public information sessions on its request to open the city’s library maintenance fund for park improvements.

 

The meeting is at 10 a.m. at the KDL Wyoming Branch located at 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The discussion will center on the May 2 ballot proposal where voters are being asked to allow the city to utilize .16 of its .39 library maintenance millage to put toward some of the $23 million in park needs. The nearly $800,000 per year raised would be use to pay a 15-year bond of $4.4 million. The bond money would be dedicated for park improvements at Ideal, Jackson, Ferrand, and Gezon.

 

According to Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, the mill levy for the average Wyoming homeowner would be less than $12 a year.

 

The library maintenance millage is only to maintain the actually facility, Rynbrandt said, adding that what many people do not realize is that the library building is owned by the City of Wyoming. Kent District Library operates the library services and owns the collection. Operations of the library and the collection are funded through a Kent District Library millage, which is a 1.28 mill levy, which covers all 18 branches within the KDL system.

 

The Kent District Library and the Kent District Library Board are neutral on the subject of Wyoming’s request to transfer some of its library maintenance millage for park improvements, however; KDL Director Lance M. Werner said he and Wyoming Branch Manager Lori Holland have had multiple talks with the city about the proposal and impact to the library.

 

“We have been repeatedly assured by the City that the Branch will be held harmless and will be supported at the same level it currently is in the future,” Werner said.

 

The city recently completed more than $650,000 in renovations to the library facility that includes a new roof and the revamping of the former cafe to a public space. Upon review, city staff determined that there would be no major renovation projects needed for the library facility within the next 10 years, Rynbrandt said.

 

Every five years, the City of Wyoming meets with residents and city staff to review needs at its parks. Through that process, the city has recognized more than $23 million in park improvements. In 1994, Wyoming residents did grant a park millage which for the past 20 years the city has been able to invest and maintain the parks without an increase, Rynbrandt said.

 

However, within four years the city has had several natural disasters — a 2013 flood, and 2014 and 2016 tornados — which has created a greater need, Rynbrandt said. Highlighting some of those needs is Ideal Park, one of the four parks that would receive funding through the millage proposal. Ideal Park was severally impacted from the 2014 tornado with its playground equipment destroyed. The city was able to remove much of the debris and get the park reopened only to have the 2016 tornado cause more damage.

 

Jackson Park also was impacted by the tornados but also has a need for better stormwater control along with improved security and safety. Ferrand Park is a small pocket park that has not have any major improvements in a number of years and Gezon Park is surrounded by intense residential growth with the central area of the park needing to be developed.

 

For more information about the proposal or any the parks, visit WYParks.com.

 

Kent District Library Hosts International “Disability Rights” Dignitaries

3-bottom, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, , ,

wyoming library

By: Andrea Mantakounis

The Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library will host a tour of international leaders to discover how the library offers an inclusive environment and accessible spaces for disabled community members.

 

The group of eight visitors represent disability rights organizations in seven countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. They will tour KDL’s Wyoming Branch on Monday, April 11 from 1-3 p.m. The visit is part of an international professional development project that stems from a partnership between Colleagues International (CI) – a non-profit organization based in Kalamazoo, Michigan – and the U.S. Department of State.

 

In 2015, Kent District Library was awarded the Community Champions Award by Disability Advocates of Kent County for assessing all 18 KDL branches and the service center headquarters for accessibility. Kent District Library operates the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for residents in Kent, Ionia, and Montcalm Counties

 

“We are so humbled to see this recognition for our accomplishments in serving the disabled community. We have learned so much from our partners at Disability Advocates of Kent County and their assistance has helped us become the best library we can be for all members of our community,” says Lance Werner, KDL’s Executive Director.

 

The Department of State has outlined the following specific objectives for the project:

 

·         Examine federal, state, and local laws and programs intended to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
·         Explore government and private sector funding of services and programs for persons with disabilities;
·         Discuss how various organizations, associations, and NGOs influence policy and raise awareness of disability issues through advocacy, media and grassroots organizing; and
·         Provide professional networking opportunities that facilitate long‑term dialogue among the visitors and their American counterparts.

 

The Department of State specifically requested these guests have a tour and meeting with Kent District Library. This event will include KDL staff and community members, including those with disabilities, highlighting how the library has created an inclusive environment and accessible spaces for the community.