Organized in 1860 and opened to the general public in 1872, Kalamazoo Public Library now serves a district population of 119,000 through five locations plus multiple outreach ventures. Many Southwest Michigan residents use Kalamazoo Public Library through reciprocal agreements with neighboring libraries. The library offers an extensive collection of books, movies, and music, year-round programming for all ages, ONEplace—a management support center for nonprofits, a Local History Room featuring a vibrant website and local information database, the County Law Library, and more. Dozens of public computers and wi-fi offer high-speed access to the Internet. Mobile apps make library information and the collection more easily accessible to portable devices. Kalamazoo Public Library has received nationwide recognition for its innovative services and dedicated community support. In 2002, Kalamazoo Public Library was awarded the prestigious National Library of the Year award by Library Journal. More recently, KPL received a 2011 State History Award for the Local History section of its website, and was honored in 2012 with a Michigan State Librarian’s Citation of Excellence Award.
