March is reading month—which means it’s time for all first graders to get a chance to sign up for their very first library card.

Cedar Springs Public Library and KDL’s Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library team up to visit kids at school and get them excited about this new privilege.

Shannon Vanderhyde, Youth parapro at Cedar Springs, and Sara Magnuson, youth parapro at Sand Lake/Nelson Township, recently visited 11 first grade classrooms at Cedar Trails Elementary, and one at Creative Technologies Academy to hand out the envelopes with information on what to do. Algoma Christian will also receive a visit this year.

The cards are good at any library in Michigan.

To celebrate, all first graders get to attend a movie March 3 and 4 at The Kent Theatre for free, with other family members welcome for $3 each. The movie is “The Nut Job.” Doors open at 5:30 with the movie starting at 6:30. A child’s library card or family library card entitles the first-grader to a free small popcorn that night. Just present your card at the concession stand.

Olivia Rostic 2, was all smiles with Santa at the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library last Saturday, December 14. Olivia had a lot to share with Santa and told him all about what she wanted for Christmas. To see more Santa photos click here.

Santa heard lots of wishes from boys and girls last  weekend when he visited at both Family Fare in Cedar Springs and the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library.  If you missed him, you can see him at Classic Kelly’s Restaurant on Main Street on Sunday, December 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Five dedicated community volunteers put their heads, needles, and thread together for over 40 hours to make a beautiful quilt for the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library to use as a fundraiser.

The quilt was pieced together by Sharon Hula, Sharon Jones, Lois Williams and Janet Boezwinkle. Long arm quilting was done by Quilting by Carol of Rockford Michigan. This quilt demonstrates the passion these volunteers have for the library and its services.

“We hope that the community likes it as much as we do,” says Glenda Middleton, Library Branch Manager. “These women decided to offer it to the library as a way to raise money for the many services and operations we offer. The colors are so vibrant and cheerful that I imagine many people will love it.”

The quilt is a perfect-sized couch quilt at 68 x 110 inches. It is extra long and great for a nap or comfortable enough for two to stay warm and read a good book (from your library). The value of the quilt is $285.00.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $1 each or 6 for $5 at the library, 88 Eighth Street, Sand Lake. The drawing will be held December 21^st at 3 p.m. at the library. Need not be present to win.

For more information, contact the KDL Sand Lake/Nelson Library at (616) 784-2007 or visit www.kdl.org.

Friends of the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library ended the year of 2010 by donating $25,000.00 (twenty-five-thousand dollars) to Nelson Township toward the reduction of the balance due on the mortgage of the library.  Since the construction of the new facility, which was completed in 2007, the Friends have contributed $55,000.00 toward reduction of the mortgage debt.
Landscaping and development and maintenance of the prairie surrounding the library are also high on the Friend’s list of goals.  Since 2007 $31,600.00 (thirty-one-six-hundred dollars) has gone toward planting trees and shrubbery, improving the prairie and developing a rain garden north of the library.
Last fall the donor bricks were laid around the flagpole and along the sidewalk leading to the library. Bricks in the project were purchased: in honor of veterans and those in military service; In memory of those no longer with us; By organizations wishing to be remembered; and families and individuals. Contributions for additional bricks may still be made at the library.  Bricks are $50.00 each and may contain up to 3 lines of engraving.
New officers installed at the January meeting were: President Maureen Mahoney, Vice President Laura Hoffman, Secretary Carol Barber, Treasurer Dorothy Bishop and Trustees Judy Kruithoff, Fran Daniels, and Jean Anderson.
Meetings are held at the library in January, March, May, July, September and November on the second Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. The organization welcomes new members who would like to be involved with various projects and events and become an advocate for the library.