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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
March 13, 2020<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>CONTACT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Farrell Howe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marketing & Communications Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">269.553.7879<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:farrellh@kpl.gov">farrellh@kpl.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">All Kalamazoo Public Library Locations will be Closed March 14–April 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kalamazoo, MI, Friday, March 13, 2020. All Kalamazoo Public Library locations will be closed March 14–April 5 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We realize that this may present a hardship to some of our patrons and
regret that we must close. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Important Information to Know During the Closure<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Why are you closed March 14–April 5? </b>On Thursday, March 12, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a mandate to close all Michigan schools grades K-12 through April 5 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Whitmer also urged all Michigan
residents to practice self-isolation by staying home. Kalamazoo Public Library considers the health of our patrons and staff a top priority. To help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 among the high number of residents who utilize our library locations
on a daily basis, and thus increasing the risk of exposure to the rest of our community, we will comply with the Governor’s order.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What if I have library materials currently checked out?</b>
<b><span style="color:red">Please keep them until we reopen.</span></b><span style="color:red">
</span>Due dates and holds will automatically be extended to accommodate the closure period. Due dates on MelCat items will also be extended and new requests will not be filled at this time.<span style="font-size:11.0pt">
</span>Please note all drop boxes will be locked and unavailable during the closure.<span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Will any KPL services be available during the closure period?
</b>While our physical buildings will be closed, our website <a href="http://www.kpl.gov">
kpl.gov</a>, is our online branch and is always open. KPL offers a large variety of
<a href="https://www.kpl.gov/digital-catalog/">digital options</a> including <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/catalog/ebooks/">
eBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/catalog/eaudiobooks/">eAudiobooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/catalog/evideos/">
eVideos</a>, <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/catalog/emusic/">eMusic</a> and <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/catalog/emagazines/">
eMagazines</a>. Learn how you can “get digital” on our <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/about/news/lets-get-digital/">
website</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>How can I keep updated about the reopening of the library?</b> All service updates will be posted on the homepage of our website and on social media (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooPublicLibrary">Facebook</a>,
<a href="https://twitter.com/KzooLibrary">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kzoolibrary/">
Instagram</a>).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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