This is a wonderful library. The small building is like Mary Poppins' bag, full of treasures…read moreuntold. There is an easy entry, with a gently sloping ramp. Inside the entryway, there is a bulletin board with upcoming events (so impressive!) and a few racks of free books (thank you!). Further in, you'll see stairs and an elevator to the basement level, where there is a meeting room and kitchen, as well as restrooms. The main part of the library features an open floor plan, with a variety of sections. Let's go counterclockwise: Right away, there's the checkout and help desk. The librarians are so friendly. Wander in a bit more, and you'll discover the children's area - with lovely windows, super cute castle bookshelves, and a play area. Heading further around is a tween section, where the bookshelves are crowned with large stuffed animals (I am sure I am not the only one to call that lion Aslan). In the corner is the teen section - with funky lights, fun seating, and plenty of displays. Follow along to the stacks, which feature the bulk of the library (all those lovely stories!), as well as interesting displays. My favorite display is the one for Poetry Month - take a look at my photo! The last corner is another one with gorgeous windows, and has table and chairs, as well as comfortable chair seating options. You can read magazines here, or get your work done. In the middle of the library is comfortable seating, and a wall of new books. Perhaps most impressive is the enormous array of events that the library has scheduled. We attended the Zingerman's Bakehouse talk tonight, with authors Amy Emberling & Frank Carollo. We'll be back for a cooking class, medieval faire, and intercultural events galore. The staff is so friendly and warm - this is one of Kalamazoo's greatest treasures.

I just love a smaller community library! This library is active with classes and groups for teens…read moreand book sales. I haven't had a negative experience here - from popping in to use the restroom during wassailing, to a class on cheese, to a presentation from Zingerman's, to book sales, to help finding an odd book - it's a lovely place to be!

Take note: The library is temporarily relocated while a major remodel is being completed on the…read moreoriginal building. The new location is at 5528 Portage Rd., and it is officially open as of yesterday, Thursday, May 27. The library has wauved fines during the pandemic, in part because the materials have to be quarantined before they can be checked back in. Please consider wearing a mask at the library, even if you're vaccinated, because so many elderly and immunocompromised patrons rely on the library services and are at extremely high risk of COVID co-morbidities.

What an incredible resource for parents in this area! This was my first visit to the Portage…read morelibrary, and I was super impressed. My 4 and 5 year old could have stayed hours longer. Tons of toys and books in an imaginative, brightly-colored space. Couldn't have asked for more. We've only scratched the surface of what is offered here. We'll be back.

I love this gem of a used bookstore, tucked into the lower level of the main Kalamazoo Public…read moreLibrary building downtown. There is both an elevator and stairs to get downstairs to it (also housed on the lower level: YA, music, videos, and more). The shop is only open a few hours a week, so be sure to check the times before you head there (unless you are already picking up your books, in which case, you will have built a stop here into your KPL journey). It is entirely staffed by volunteers (THANK YOU!). There is usually a cart of books on sale near the front, as well as DVDs for a dollar or two. You'll find just about EVERY genre here, even if it is only a book or two. There are always a lot of cookbooks (YAHOO!), YA, kids, fiction, poetry, music, etc. There's a Michigan section (always good for finding gifts), as well as plenty of NF offerings. Some coffee table books are more expensive, but generally a book won't run you more than a dollar or two. The prices are clearly marked on the back. If you are kicking it old school, they have both cassette and cds for sale. If you are musician, you're probably already in the know to check the small section that has sheet music and piano music books. A few times a year they have a big outdoor sale under tents in the back parking lot. The price to fill a bag is really inexpensive. We love this little bookstore, and the kind people that run it. It's a gem in our community. Re: Disability parking: There is ONE spot right out in front of the library. It is often taken by someone without a plate or placard. The library is not in charge of this situation, nor can they call ticketing to help (I asked). I have asked the city many times for more handicap parking spaces downtown, as of yet to no avail.

The Friends of the Library is a great little bookstore in the basement of the central branch of the…read moreKalamazoo Public Library. Most people don't know it exists unless they are regulars at the library, but it deserves its' own recognition. The store is stocked with public donations and overflow books from the library's shelves, so the selection will vary wildly all the time. They recently had a huge portion of their shelf space devoted to books about trains that were given by a donor's estate. Virtually no new releases, obviously, but there is almost some gem on the shelves and at a fantastic price. Twice a year they run a sale that overflows either onto the sidewalk or onto the library rotunda. This is usually a madhouse because of the pricing - 10 cents per book or $2.00 for a bag full of books. Well worth checking out. This place is also a great volunteer opportunity for book lovers!

The place is nice alot of stuff to do there, And the workers there are really nice. Overall I had a…read morereally great time there I suggest you visit!?!?!?!

I love visiting libraries in other cities, and finally got to check out the downtown Central branch…read moreof KPL recently. This library seems pretty big and they had a lot of cool things to check out right on the main floor. I was interested in the book shop, which is in the lower level. They have a ton of books for sale! It was a bit crowded and a little hectic in the book shop room, but it's good to know it exists. We wandered around for a bit and I saw tons of new books, a huge DVD/Blu-Ray collection, a nice teen area, and plenty of computers. The layout seemed a bit random but I wasn't really looking for anything specific. Kalamazoo is lucky to have this nice library!

This is a beautiful community library. There are lots of places to sit, read, study, etc. There…read moreare high ceilings and lots of natural light. The library, including restroom, is very clean and well maintained.

Amazing selection of books and multimedia equipment. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful…read more Highly recommend for everyone

Very friendly and helpful people! My grand daughter is going into the nursing program so she had…read moreto get a tb test. The young lady who I jetted the tb testing stuff in was very calming and made my grand daughter at ease--not only about the test but going through the nursing program. The technician was super! Wish I would have caught her name to give her cudoos for being more than just professional, she was genuinely caring!

Very friendly staff. Good selection of books and other materials. Easy to get to from my home.read more

A smaller library than Central or Portage locations but they still offer great programming, a cool…read morelayout/architecture, and they've got awesome wooded views if you fancy sitting in a comfy chair and enjoying a lovely view while you read a good book, which I do. Fancy an outdoor adventure? You can connect to the Leila Arboretum trails from behimd the building, which is much easier than spotting the Leila lot, which is unmarked.

I came for a quick hike on an icy cold afternoon with my friend. The Park is composed of a…read moreHistorical Area, hiking trails and a kayak launch into the creek. In May, the Park was hit by a tornado that destroyed many of the trees and damaged several structures. It is amazing how Mother Mature can change the face of the land so quickly. The Park is named Celery Flats, because the region has been popular for growing celery with its sandy soil. The Historic Area of the Park is decorated for the holidays with trees and lights. Historic buildings include a grain elevator, a one room school house and Stuart Manor. Stuart Manor as moved to the park in 1994 and was one of the first homes built in Portage. Hayloft Theater is a restored barn turned theater. The barn was damaged by the tornado and is awaiting repair. There is also an amphitheater in the Park that is perfect for summer concerts. The buildings were not open for touring during our visit, but they appear to be open during events. The Historic Area is a perfect place to bring the kids to learn about history. The hiking trail through the Park is part of the trail system that meanders through Portage and Kalamazoo. There are picturesque bridges along the trail with a canoe/kayak launch over Portage Creek. The trails are a perfect place to watch birds. We saw a flock of mallards in the creek during our visit. The trail offered something I had not seen before. There was a solar phone charging station near a bench for those who need to stay connected. The Park has a really nice pavilion that was decorated for Christmas. I could see this as a perfect place to take family pictures or visit with Santa. The parking lot is large with handicapped spaces close to the pavilion. The trails are paved and easily accessible. I will return to see how the forest recovers from the tornado. The Park has a lot to offer.

This is a very popular spot, very clean and beautiful it was recommended by a friend when we asked…read morewhat's a good walking trail. We are from Battle Creek and she told us this spot county zoo.