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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>23rd ANNUAL KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY PARTY IN THE PARK</b></span><b><br>
</b><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TO BE HELD ONLINE WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 AT KPL.GOV</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kalamazoo, MI, Friday, May 22, 2020. Every Spring since 1997,
<a href="https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/www.kpl.gov" title="www.kpl.gov">
Kalamazoo Public Library</a> has hosted the community's largest story hour at Bronson Park, Party in the Park. Due to the pandemic, this year's Party in the Park had to be canceled. So, Kalamazoo Public Library has decided to "bring the Party" to our patrons
by hosting it online!</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, May 27th, the homepage of kpl.gov will be taken over by our
<a href="https://www.kpl.gov/event/party-in-the-park/" title="https://www.kpl.gov/event/party-in-the-park/">
23rd Annual Party in the Park Celebration</a>, featuring KPL staff reading great books for children birth–5. However, story lovers of all ages are welcome to attend! </span></p>
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<font face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif">The traditional Party in the Park normally lasts for 1 hour. This year, it will be available for families to enjoy all day so they can join in at their convenience. A link to the videos will be available on
<a href="https://www.kpl.gov/party-in-the-park/" title="https://www.kpl.gov/party-in-the-park/">
kpl.gov</a> after May 27. </font></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So join the Party (online) on Wednesday, May 27 at
<a href="https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/www.kpl.gov" title="www.kpl.gov">
kpl.gov</a>. </span></p>
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<b style="color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;"><br>
About Party in the Park<br>
</b><span style="font-size: medium; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Party in the Park is part of KPL's
<a href="https://www.kpl.gov/children/ready-to-read/" title="https://www.kpl.gov/children/ready-to-read/">
Ready to Read Program</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ready to Read is a Kalamazoo Public Library outreach program that encourages parents and caregivers to share books with children
from birth to five years of age.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Educational research shows that reading aloud to children is the best way to prepare them for learning to read. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children
that start kindergarten being familiar with books are more likely to become good readers and achieve academic success.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important;">Ready to Read hosts Party in the Park every spring to celebrate early childhood literacy. More than 1,500 preschoolers
attend a festive story hour in Bronson Park. Community leaders and costumed storybook characters read aloud and all children receive a healthy snack and a gift book from the Library.</span></div>
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