Reading Together 2026: Meet the Author
April 11 | 3–5 pm | Chenery Auditorium | Adult: Kalamazoo Public Library is excited to welcome Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of the 2026 Reading Together title Take My Hand, to Kalamazoo! Join us at Chenery Auditorium for a moderated conversation with the author, followed by an audience Q&A session and book signing opportunity.
Tax Forms and Information
Get information about filing 2025 taxes.
Saturday Eve's Book Club: Reading Together 2026
Sat, February 28 @ 11 am–1 pm | Health equity for Black women is about making sure Black women have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible—and that means confronting the systems and conditions that have consistently put them at risk. Featuring Henrietta Lacks Traveling Museum with curator Jermaine Jackson.
It Takes a Village: Why Childbirth Education Matters for Families and Communities
March 16 @ OSH | March 18 @ CEN | 6–7 pm | Adult: Presented by a certified doula from our community, we'll provide information on childbirth statistics, the many choices made during a childbirth journey, and how to advocate for the best care during the process. Refreshments provided.
Reading Race
March 10 | 6:30–7:45 pm | CEN | Adult: This book club, co-sponsored by the Society for History and Racial Equity (SHARE) and KPL’s Antiracism Transformation Team, focuses on race and racism in American society. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of Legacy by Uché Blackstock, MD.
Search the Catalog
African American Newspapers in Genealogical Research
Family historian and lecturer Tim Pinnick, whose 25 years experience includes work in all the major U.S. repositories, explains how…
KPL TV: Writers’ Block: Local Authors
Dr. Sherri Williams: Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television
Kalamazoo Public Library presents Writers’ Block, a forum where independently published local writers can tell the world about their work.…
Classified: Who in the World is Merze Tate?
Kalamazoo author and publisher Sonya Bernard-Hollins discusses her latest book about Merze Tate (1905-1996), grandchild of the first Negro settlers…
Council Hawes Jr. and The Pacific Club
In 1946, after returning from military service in World War II, Council Hawes Jr. (1910-1982) managed The Pacific Club (aka…
Celebrate 125 Years of "Lift Every Voice and Sing"!
Kalamazoo Public Library, the Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center, and the SW Michigan Chapter of the NAACP lead a…
Celebration of the Life & Legacy of Alma Harrod Powell
In 1978, 11 years after the passing of Alma H. Powell, staff and friends of the Alma Powell Branch designated…
Alexander, Dr. C. Allen
“An extraordinary personality, who is a physician, surgeon, community leader, oral historian, sportsman, raconteur, and author.”
African American Churches
List includes both active and inactive congregations Ministerial Alliance of Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1969 Allen Chapel A.M.E., founded in 1855 Bible…
Black Arts Festival
“The Black Arts Festival is founded on the belief that Black Awareness should be an integral part of our society.…
Johnson, Pauline Byrd
Pauline Byrd Johnson was many things: an outspoken critic of forced desegregation policies, an active member of the Kalamazoo Republican…
Powell, Alma H.
Alma Harrod Powell (1906-1967) The library has always been a special place for both children and adults looking to plunge…
Databases
Heritage Quest Online
HeritageQuest® Online is a comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research…
Local Information Database
Kalamazoo Public Library maintains a wealth of current and historical information about area citizens, organizations, businesses, buildings, events, plus local,…
Something about the Author
Something About the Author Online brings you comprehensive online access to all volumes of Gale's award-wining reference set, Something About…
MyHeritage Library Edition
MyHeritage is the leading destination to discover, share and preserve your family history. Trusted by millions of families, its global…
Literary Reference Center
This rich full-text database provides a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines…
