President's Letter

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     Do you have arts and crafts supplies taking up space in drawers and bins, left over from a completed project or one that never got started. Well, there are others who could put those supplies to good use in projects of their own if they had access to them. That’s where the Cascade library’s new Craft Supply Exchange (CSE) comes in.

     The CSE, which opened in late January, will be modeled on the successful jigsaw puzzle and plant exchange services already offered by the library, according to Deborah Lily, staff librarian.

     “If you have any craft supplies that you no longer need, please consider donating them at the customer service desk,” she said.  “Then, stop by the exchange to see if there’s something useful for one of your projects. We ask that you take just what you need in consideration of others using the exchange. As with the puzzle and plant exchanges, donating something is not a requirement for taking an item!”  

     The exchange will be located just outside the Local History Room, near the interior entrance to the Wisner Center.  As with the puzzle and plant exchanges, the craft exchange will be available during library hours. Librarians will sort through all donations and then organize them into the labeled exchange bins. There is no cost to take something from the exchange. 

     “We plan to offer the service indefinitely, subject to availability of donations,” Lily said.  “So,  please keep us in mind for future potential donations.”

 For a variety of reasons, including safety precautions and space limitations, not all items will be appropriate for the CSE. Here are lists of acceptable and unacceptable items:

Acceptable Donations: 

• yarn & felt 
• ribbon 
• knitting needles & crochet hooks 
• embroidery / needlework supplies 
• sewing supplies & buttons 
• rubber stamps and unused ink pads 
• scrapbooking & card-making supplies 
• beads & jewelry-making supplies 
• art supplies (unopened paints, brushes, graphite, pastels, charcoal, etc.) 
• sewing patterns 
• drawing supplies  

Unacceptable Donations: 

• non-craft items 
• unfinished personal projects 
• open or partial bottles of glue or paint 
• aerosols, hazardous materials 
• spray paint or paint thinners 
• promotional items, such as branded scraps of fabric or company-specific craft kits 
• sharp tools 
• damaged items such as torn fabric or stained yarn, etc.

     “ We were inspired to offer this service at the Cascade Township branch because it has been so well-received at other libraries,” Lily explained. “We are especially excited about getting the exchange up and running in the heart of winter, when many folks are busy creating projects. So, please check it out and keep us in mind for future donations.”

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Editor’s Note: The Cascade Branch of KDL is a leader in bringing special programming to the community thanks, primarily, to funding from the Friends of the Library. Leigh Verburg, branch outreach and programming specialist, shared the following information about Friends-sponsored activities that can help you navigate the chilly bridge between February and spring.

     Spring is out there somewhere on the horizon. And, while we wait for warmer days and sunshine, there are programs and plenty of books to carry us through those long winter evenings. Here are a few options for you to consider:

KDL Reading Challenge, Let It Snow -  Whether you’re craving cozy, adventurous, or something else, take a dive into this annual challenge. All you have to do is read any six books of your choosing to earn a free mug. Reading any six books is all it takes to finish the annual “KDL Reading Challenge, Let it Snow!” But, why stop there? If you read four more, you will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Cellar Bird Books. You can claim your mug and enter the drawing at the library’s reception desk. 

Adult Puzzle Tournament – If you’re looking for a reason to get out of the house, the annual Adult Puzzle Tournament is returning on Saturday, February 14 from 1-3 pm. Teams of four can register to compete against other teams to complete the same 500-piece puzzle in the shortest amount of time. Medals will be awarded to the first three teams to finish. Sounds like a fun way to kick off your Valentine Day celebration.

BINGO Hour – If you prefer slower-paced competition, BINGO Hour might be right up your alley. This is a monthly activity, with the next game scheduled for 10 am on February 10.  Join us for a relaxed, fun morning...no rushing required. 

Mahjong – Don’t have your own Mahjong sets and cards? No problem. Cascade Township will provide them for you. So, there’s no reason not to give this popular game a try. It’s held in the Wisner Center weekly on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm. 

There are plenty more activities where those came from. For more programming information, please visit kdl.org/events. We think you’ll find something for everyone! 

     Did you know? KDL offers Perkpasses for KDL card holders. You can check out six tickets for Fredrick Meijer Gardens, The Children’s Museum, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. You can visit each of them one time a year. Check out kdl.org/perkpasses for dates and availability. 

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     There aren’t many people alive who still remember the days when professionals—especially doctors—would routinely make “house calls” because it was often easier and safer for them to come to the patient rather than the other way around.

     Well, there are still a few noble souls who will inconvenience themselves for patients truly in need. But, the concept of making a house call has largely transitioned away from the medical profession and is now alive and well within the mission of service-oriented professionals found in the library.

     But, instead of “house calls,” they call it “Outreach.” And, according to Leigh Verburg, branch outreach and programming specialist, it’s a huge part of what the Cascade team delivers to the community.

     “Outreach means bringing library services to places and people outside of the library,” she explained. “It looks different based on who we are providing this service to and what is wanted or needed from the library.”

     An example of an outreach program that has recently helped seniors through a difficult time is the one extended to residents of Gaylord House apartments by branch librarians Nanette Zorn and Deborah Lily. A four-month construction project had cut off residents from the communal area where they shared library time, bingo, library craft time, community meals and lectures.

     “Because the Friends supported this outreach, Deborah and I were able to visit them monthly to drop off gifts and let them know that they are valued people, valued patrons and that they are thought of by our staff even when we can't physically see them,” Zorn said.    

     A different sort of outreach program is the one offered at the Mary Free Bed YMCA every other Tuesday, where Zorn and another librarian, Taylor LaBash, run a mobile library, open new library cards, answer tech questions, circulate books and promote programs.    

     “With your support, we are able to hand out incentives like KDL swag and healthy snacks,” she said.  “The really fun thing about outreach is that it allows us to reach an audience that often isn't in the habit of coming to the library and that may not know the extent of our services. They might be attracted to our table by a healthy snack after their workout, but they stay at our table because they get so much more from their encounter with us.”

    Here is a brief overview of the various types of outreach that the Cascade branch offers schools and partners, as well as some examples of what we have done or are doing.

• Tabling Events
  • Having a table of information about library services
    • this can be Parent-Teacher Conferences, Literacy Nights, Career Days, etc.
• Reading visits
  • Storytimes for Early Education or Elementary Schools
  • Can be done at Middle and High School level with First Chapter Friday or something like that
• Library Resource Presentation
  • This can be slide shows, database tutorials, or program presentations
    • We recently gave a presentation at a church on general library card benefits
• Reading and Writing Challenge Presentations
  • Promote and talk in schools every May and in the Fall about Summer Wonder, Legendary Readers, etc.
• Book Promotion
  • Book talks
  • Bringing books for check out
• Community Events
  • Have a table with library resources, free giveaways, yard games, etc.
    • 4th of July, Easter Egg Hunt, etc.

    
    

         If you would like to learn more about the library’s Outreach programs and explore what they might be able to help your group with, you need to do some “outreach” first by contacting Leigh Verburg at lverburg@kdl.orgor 616-647-3849.

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     If you’re a movie buff and a patron of the Cascade library, you might remember a program offered by the Friends called “Flix @ the Library.” It was a huge success with all age groups before the days of the pandemic closed it down. And, despite the noble efforts of its founder and caretaker, Debbie Straub, to resurrect it in recent years, it could never attract enough of a following to warrant the investment of time and effort.

     “I think it was partly because there were far fewer movies produced then,” she said, “resulting in fewer titles that I could offer families. Plus, COVID let the streaming genie out of its bottle, with many folks becoming accustomed to staying home to watch movies.”

     Several aficionados of Flix recently asked if the Friends would ever consider giving it another try. And, while Straub is hesitant to use the word “never,” she said there are no current plans to do so. However, she added that there is another option that many patrons may not be aware of.

     “Cascade and several other branches of KDL have recently started showing free, family-friendly films as part of a program called “Movie Zone,” she said. “The programs are run by library staff, not by anyone affiliated with the Friends, and they feature G or PG rated movies that can be enjoyed by the whole family.”

     While no title has yet been announced, the next “Movie Zone” event is scheduled for 2 pm on Friday, February 13. “If you want more information, you can call KDL at (616) 784-2007 and ask about the "Movie Zone" program,” she said. “Someone should be able to fill you in on all the details for Cascade as well as for the other branches that are showing movies.”

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