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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">July 2, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">CONTACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Farrell Howe</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Marketing and Communication Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Kalamazoo Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">269-553-7879<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Thanks a Million, Friends!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Gently Used Books Generated More Than 1M for KPL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Kalamazoo, MI – Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Since 1959, the <a href="http://www.kpl.gov/friends">Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library</a> has provided ongoing support to many KPL outreach programs and services
through the sales of used books from the Friends Bookstore, membership dues, and gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“The Friends of the Library have for so long provided a great service to the Kalamazoo community by offering gently used materials at affordable prices,” said Kalamazoo Public Library Director Ryan Weiber.
“The best part is that proceeds from their regular bag sales and bookstore sales go straight to funding library programming, collections, technology, and new ideas that benefit our patrons. We are so fortunate to have such an engaging and supportive Friends
group at KPL!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">During the Friends May board meeting, it was announced that since 1997, the Friends has raised and donated <b>more than one million dollars to KPL</b>! These donations have funded:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">mini-grants for innovative KPL services<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">scholarships for KPL staff<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">community literacy programs such as the annual <a href="http://www.kpl.gov/summer"><i>Summer Reading Challenge</i></a> and <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/reading-together/" target="_blank"><i>Reading
Together</i></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">and much more!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“When I realized that Friends has donated more than one million dollars to the library, I was honestly shocked but thrilled!” said recently retired Friends Director, Carol Manstrom. “My first thought was how
many books sold does that represent? I was boggled by the complexities of figuring that out, but it’s a lot!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Carol continued, “That million dollars also represented untold hours of work put in by the Friends volunteers. I think a lot of Kalamazoo residents feel like I do, that we are so fortunate to have such a first
public library! Our Friends group is made up of people that are willing to give their time and effort to support our library to help ensure the continuation of all great programs and services!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Kalamazoo Public Library staff and trustees, and on behalf of the Kalamazoo community, we would like to take this opportunity to say, <i>“</i><b>Thanks a Million Friends!”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Learn how you can support Kalamazoo Public Library through your purchases at the <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/category/friends-of-kpl/bookstore/">Friends Bookstore</a>, or <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/category/friends-of-kpl/join-friends/">becoming
a Friends member</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">####<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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