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President's Letter
What Is It about Books and Authors?
A recent feature article in the New York Times got me to thinking, which isn’t easy to do. But then, I suppose that’s what good articles are supposed to do, right? The article was about some of the most interesting home libraries in the country.
As I paged through the article, it struck me that even books have become a status symbol for some people. I mean, these were amazing home libraries. From chic chaos to Rooseveltian gravitas, and everything in between.
But, more important than that was the realization of just how ubiquitous books are and how revered many authors are for the way they can transport us to new realities, introduce us to new friends, help us build new skills, and give our imaginations a hall pass to wander unchecked into a world of possibilities.
If you had the good fortune to sit in on KDL’s recent “On the Same Page” event at the Van Andel Arena for an evening with Kristin Hannah and her good friend, and fellow author, Megan Chance, you saw that magic in action.
For a thoroughly enjoyable hour, the two of them told us how they met 37 years ago and how they help each other fine tune their ideas and writing. They corrected each other’s faulty memories and laughed at their own shortcomings. They offered no cures for cancer or solutions for peace in the Middle East. And yet, 10,000 people sat mesmerized and wished it wouldn’t end.
KDL Executive Director Lance Werner said that the event helped reaffirm the relevance of libraries in an evolving world. But, it also affirmed the relevance of books and the people who bring them to life for us.
While my home library will never make the pages of the New York Times, it is still a place of security and comfort where I go to read, write and think. And, we all need a place like that in our lives.
I hope you and your family and friends have a joyous time celebrating our country’s 250th birthday this Fourth of July! But, if you miss anything, you can always read the book.
--Joe David
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Benefits of a Friend's Membership
When you become a Friend, you help support an important part of the social fabric of your community. Plus, you earn "Early Bird" privileges at most book sales, which means you gain entry to the sales in advance of non-members to have first shot at the books of greatest interest to you.
And, we will notify you of any scheduled book sales or special events. So, you'll never miss out on an opportunity.
book donations
You Learn about the Most Interesting People While Picking Up Book Donations
When Karen and Clark McCombs recently contacted the Friends to ask if we would be interested in picking up a large collection of books left behind by her recently deceased father, Lee McMillion, our team of volunteers couldn’t get there fast enough.
And, when we got there, we found a lot more than an eclectic collection of wonderful books. We found a very interesting backstory about the man who had amassed the books over a lifetime.
Lee Newman McMillion could have been the protagonist in a Tom Clancy novel. After attending Princeton on an ROTC scholarship, he served six years in the Navy. And then, during a chance tour of NASA, he was hired on the spot and built the first space suit for the Mercury 7 astronauts.
He began a 27-year career in the world of intelligence in 1966 as part of the Corona Project, which was the successor to the U-2 program that saw Francis Gary Powers shot down while spying for the CIA over Russia in 1960. Both the Corona Project and his first spacesuits are in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
But, no matter how busy his career kept him, he always maintained his love for history, reading, music, and conversation. It was inevitable, then, that books would be a constant companion in his life-long commitment to learning. Lee passed away in November of 2023 after 67 years of marriage to his high school sweetheart, Lynn. The books he left behind are just part of the wonderful legacy of a life well lived.
“The Friends are grateful to Karen for sharing her father’s collection of books and his amazing life story with us,” said Joe David, Friends president. “He made an important difference during his life and continues to do so today.”
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Lynn and Lee McMillion
Book Sales
The Fourth of July Used Book Sale Has Come a Long Way in 53 Years
The Friends of the Cascade Library’s annual Fourth of July book sale has remained an important staple in the community’s holiday diet since 1973 when a pioneering group of volunteers decided that a book sale might be a good way to raise money for the library.
It was just seven months after the fledgling group held its first board meeting. And, that initial sale contributed an eye-popping $557.30 to the Friends’ coffers and gave birth to an annual tradition that is almost akin to turkey at Thanksgiving for some families.
“The sale was deemed so successful,” recalled Past Friends President Debbie Straub, “that the board decided we should do it annually. We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we?”
Attendance and revenues continued to grow throughout the next few decades, with annual sales from the event reaching near $20,000 at its peak. While some of that revenue has been diverted into other outlets for the sale of books—additional book sale events, the Chapter Two Bookstore, and online sales—none of the enthusiasm for the Fourth of July sale has waned.
This year’s event will kick off from 2-5 pm on July 3 with the “Members’ Only” presale in the library’s Wisner Center. “This early bird sale is one way we say ‘thanks’ to members who have provided financial support for the library through the Friends,” explained Joe David, Cascade Friends president. “If you don’t have an active membership, you can purchase one for as little as $5 at the door.”
The main event for everyone will run from 8 am to 2 pm on the 4th this year, which is an hour shorter than last year to reflect changes in scheduling of other holiday events by Cascade Township.
“We usually have close to 20,000 books on display over the course of the two-day event,” according to Kathy Sullivan, Book Sale Events Chair. “This year we will be offering a $10 bag sale right from the outset. And, you can put both adult and children’s books and most media in the same bag.”
Books for Sale Inside and Outside the Library
David also wanted to ensure that patrons remember that there are probably more books for sale inside the Wisner Center than outside on the Fourth. “Some people don’t realize that and have expressed disappointment in recent years, thinking the selection of books was more limited than in the past,” he said. “But, if they just go inside, where it’s much cooler, they’ll find out that isn’t the case.”
Once the sun sets on the 4th of July sale, remaining books will be moved into the Wisner Center, where there will be a two-day “Donation Sale” on July 6 and 7. “It’s a self-service sale,” explained Sullivan. “Just gather the books you want, stop by the front desk, and make a donation to the Friends.”
There aren’t likely many days remaining between the time you read this and the beginning of the sale. But, volunteers are always needed and appreciated. If you’re interested in donating a couple hours to help make the sale a success, please check out the article on volunteering in this issue of the newsletter or click here to let us know you're interested.
If you’re going to be out of town and are unable to attend the sale on the Fourth, you’ll have another opportunity to stock up on books at the next Friends book sale on September 19 and 20.
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volunteer corner
Volunteerism Is Thriving; Join the Fun for the Annual Fourth of July Book Sale
If cynicism has been weaseling its way into your assessment of the state of humanity these days, here’s an interesting fact that might help hold it at bay. More than 75.7 million people (28.3% of the U.S. population) formally volunteer their time through official organizations every year in the United States...organizations like the Friends of the Cascade Library.
These volunteers are contributing approximately five billion hours of service annually to selflessly help make their communities and the world a better place. Plus, it is estimated that more than half of Americans Informally support their communities and neighbors by assisting with chores like shopping, repair work and yard work.
If you’re not already one of those people and would like to be, the annual Fourth of July book sale is a great place to start. An event this big has a lot of moving parts. And, the most important part is the people who volunteer their time to make it a success. If you've volunteered in the past, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, this is your chance to find out and have a positive impact on your community at the same time.
There are a variety of roles you can fill, and none of them requires a lot of experience.
- Cashier (cash): Responsible for taking cash payment from customers and making change when necessary.
- Cashier (charge): Responsible for using Square system to process credit card purchases. It's not complicated, and training will be provided.
- Counter: Responsible for calculating how much the buyer's purchase amounts to before the buyer makes payment to the cashier. Basic math skills are required.
- Floater: Responsible for keeping books organized on tables, helping restock tables, answering questions, and filling whatever other needs arise during the course of the sale.
- Set-Up/Clean-Up: Tables need to be moved and set up. Boxes of books need to be moved up from the basement and set up on the tables. Signs need to be displayed. And, everything gets reversed at the end of the sale. If you prefer to avoid lifting, just let us know.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER :
If you're thinking about volunteering, click on this link to let us know you're interested.
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Many volunteers are needed to keep tables stocked at the book sales.
Book Discussions
Here's What's on Tap for the Friends' Book Discussion Group Starting in September
Like so many other activities that required interaction between people, book discussion groups went on a forced hiatus during the COVID pandemic. But, in its aftermath, these popular groups are making a strong comeback, including the Friends Discussion Group, which has seen attendance increase to more than 20 participants for each meeting in the last year.
The group’s facilitator and Cascade librarian Sara Moseley recently announced that participants had voted on a lineup of books for the 2026-2027 discussion season. Here are the titles and the dates to mark on your calendar:
September 23, 2026 The Correspondent (Virginia Evans)
A bestselling epistolary novel that explores the life of Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer in her early seventies who is losing her sight. Through letters and emails written over a decade, she navigates grief, aging, estranged family relationships, and unexpected late-life romance.
October 21, 2026 Bog Queen (Anna North)
A dual-timeline story that alternates between a modern forensic anthropologist in England and a young druid leader in Iron Age Europe. It explores themes of land exploitation, climate crisis, and the connection between women and the earth across millennia. It weaves together three distinct narrative perspectives.
November 18, 2026 The God of the Woods (Liz Moore)
A gripping mystery and family drama set in the 1970s Adirondacks. When 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family-owned summer camp, it triggers a massive manhunt. The disappearance mirrors a haunting local tragedy: Barbara’s older brother, Bear, mysteriously vanished from the exact same region fourteen years prior. The story unfolds across multiple timelines and perspectives, exposing deep secrets, corruption, and the intense class divide between the wealthy Van Laar family and the impoverished local community that serves them.
December 16, 2026 Hamnet (Maggie O’Farrell)
A deeply emotional historical fiction story available as an acclaimed 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell and a recent 2025 film directed by Chloé Zhao. It imagines the private family life of William Shakespeare, centering on his wife, Agnes, and their tragic loss of 11-year-old twin son, Hamnet, which later inspires the creation of his masterpiece play, Hamlet.
January 20, 2027 The Gales of November (John U. Bacon)
A definitive account of the tragic 1975 sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior, which killed all 29 men aboard. The book chronicles the ship's origins, the perilous nature of Great Lakes shipping, the storm, and the emotional aftermath for the victims' families.
February 17, 2027 The Ending Writes Itself (Evelyn Clarke)
A locked-room mystery by Evelyn Clarke, the pseudonym for V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke, follows six struggling authors summoned to a private Scottish island by a deceased, world-famous writer's estate. They have 72 hours to finish his unfinished novel for a $1 million prize, but the contest turns deadly as the writers begin to die.
March 17, 2027 Title and author to be determined
This is the 2027 KDL-wide “On the Same Page” event.
April 21, 2027 Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)
Ryland Grace, an amnesiac middle-school teacher, wakes up alone on a spaceship millions of miles from Earth. He gradually pieces together that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to stop Astrophage, an alien microbe that is rapidly draining the sun's energy.
May 19, 2027 Buckeye (Patrick Ryan)
A historical fiction that follows two couples from the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio from World War II to the end of the 20th century and the secrets which develop between them. It is Ryan's first full length novel for adults and received favorable reviews from critics.
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"The Correspondent" is first up for the Friends' Book Discussion Group on September 23.
your donations at work
Popsicles, Mermaids, and Friends Help Kick Off 'Summer Wonder' at the Library
A huge hit song from 1980 called “Popsicles and Icicles” by The Murmaids would have been an appropriate theme song for the recent kick-off event of Summer Wonder, where Friends volunteers passed out rapidly melting popsicles to eager children while a mermaid entertained them in Friendship Park’s fountain and then by the aquarium inside the library.
The summer is off to a great start even with the really hot, humid and rainy weather, as the library staff decorated the branch with a splash of summer to help focus on the fun and help get the patrons and staff in the festive mood! Last year, the entire KDL system had more than 20,000 patrons who completed the program!
The kickoff event was a smashing success with more than 400 attendees, even in the rain, according to Leigh Verburg, branch outreach and programming specialist.
“We were able to quickly change direction and get our mermaid and unicorns in a dry area,” she said. “The crafts were a big hit, as kids loved making dragon eggs, unicorn horns, and a gnome home. We are so grateful to the Friends and their members for making it possible for us to offer these events to the community. We couldn’t do it without their hard work and support.”
Leigh added that there are two new large, station-based programs coming soon: Color Lab on June 30 and Operation: Top Secret on July 6. Both programs will be run from 10 am -11:30 am and have stations with crafts and activities. “We are expecting between 300-500 attendees for these programs,” she said. “We hope to see you there!”
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A mermaid in Friendship Park's fountain helped kick-off the summer fun.
Calendar of Activities
The Cascade Library Team Has Plans to Keep Families Busy This Summer
The library has a lot planned for this summer. The Bookmobile will be on the move. Concerts will rock Friendship Park. Dancing, spy games, experimentation with color, and craft shows are just a few of the fun events on tap. Here are some of the activities that you might want to add to your personal calendar. Please check the KDL website for a complete listing of all activities.
Foam Party @ the Bookmobile
Frolic in foam bubbles and listen to child-friendly tunes while having a bubbly blast. Swimwear and a towel for each child is helpful. Footwear that can get wet is also recommended. For families with children.
- Monday, June 8, 6:00 pm – Fallasburg Park (Lowell)
- Monday, June 22, 6:00 pm – Johnson Park (Walker)
- Monday, July 13, 6:00 pm – Townsend Park (Rockford)
- Monday, July 27, 6:00 pm – Caledonia Lakeside Park
Bookmobile Storytime
Enjoy favorite books, rhymes, music and all the fun of a library storytime in the great outdoors with the Bookmobile librarians. Afterwards, play in the park and stop by the Bookmobile to register for a library card, pick up program information and check out the latest library materials. For young children.
- Thursdays, June 4 – August 6, 10:30 am, Millennium Park
Concerts in Cascade: Windbreakers – June 25 at 7 pm
An evening of live music and community connection as part of our annual summer concert series. Windbreakers - A prominent Yacht Rock tribute band known for performing “hardcore smooth” hits from the late 70s and early 80s.
Color Lab – June 30 at 10 am
Experience color in art, technology and light while embarking on a visual and tactile learning adventure filled with fun activities and crafts. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Cascade Twp. Library.
Dance With Me – Mondays at 10 am - Even the littlest of kids can dance! Learn to dance together while babywearing in this beginner program for caregivers. Toddlers and older siblings are welcome to dance along.
Decorate Your Bike – July 3 at 10 am - Get ready for Independence Day by decorating your bike, scooter, wagon, or other wheeled ride with festive colors and creative flair. Supplies will be provided while they last.
Operation Top Secret – July 6 at 10 am - Young agents are invited to test their spy skills through puzzles, challenges, codes, and hands-on activities.
Kids & Teen Craft Show – July 21 at 10 am - Support the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of local young makers by shopping handmade items created by children and teens. We are especially hoping to see strong support from adults in our community as these young entrepreneurs showcase their talents and hard work.
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In addition to bringing books to the community, the Bookmobile will also bring fun summeractivities.
community
'Battle of the Books' Brings Kids and Families Together in Literary Competition
If you’re old enough to remember the early College Bowl telecasts from the 1950s or an updated version hosted on NBC by Peyton Manning, then you have a pretty good idea what the annual Battle of the Books competition is at the Cascade Branch of the Kent District Library.
It’s an opportunity for kids with talents outside the athletic arena to put their reading skills to the test in friendly competition with other teams of students by answering questions in a timed and judged event at the library.
The “Battle” has grown in popularity over the years, with 22 four-person teams sparring this year for gift cards and the right to display the championship trophy in their school, according to Lulu Brown, branch director.
“We register the four-person teams a couple weeks before the event, go into the classrooms to explain it and build excitement, and share four book titles that we will draw questions from,” she explained. “Each team must have an adult coach.”
Excitement and anticipation build in the ensuing weeks as the kids choose team names and plan how to decorate their tables. Prizes are awarded for the best table decoration, and each participant receives a certificate to commemorate the event.
Brown said that the energy in the room at this year’s “Battle” was remarkable, as students cheered enthusiastically for correct answers, creating an atmosphere that felt as exciting as a championship sporting event.
“It’s not just about the kids, though,” she explained. “Families came out in strong support to encourage their young readers. One of the most rewarding aspects of the evening was seeing entire families engaged in the challenge, with parents quietly thinking through the questions alongside the students.”
Programs like Battle of the Books highlight the library’s commitment to making learning fun and engaging for young readers while fostering a love of reading that extends beyond the program itself. The event also reflects the strong partnership between the library, Friends of the Library, local schools, and families who support literacy and learning in our community.
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The Wisner Center was packed for the annual "Battle of the Books" competition.
Membership
Make Sure Your Membership Is Up to Date
The Fourth of July book sale is almost here. Is your Friends membership active? Now is the time to check to make sure you can easily access the “Members Only” presale from 2-5 pm on July 3 at the library. Your membership expiration date is shown on your membership card.
Membership dues remain very low: $5 for seniors and students, $10 for adults (under age 60), $15 for a family, and $100 for a lifetime membership. You can purchase or renew a membership either on our website or at the circulation desk the next time you’re in the library.
In addition to giving you early access to our book sales, your membership dues help the library develop programming that benefits virtually everyone in the community. Thanks for supporting the Friends and the library!
Your Friends membership expiration date is on your card (not your library card).