Algoma Township + Kent District Library

On May 2, 2023, voters in Algoma Township will decide whether to remain in the Kent District Library system.

If Algoma Township residents vote “no” on the ballot proposal to leave KDL, they will continue to have access to KDL's Five Star library service, as well as extensive programming by our professional staff. KDL goes beyond the traditional scope of a library to offer a collection of unique items, including Wi-Fi hotspots, bicycles, movies, iPads, GoPro Cameras – even garden seeds. KDL provides innovative and educational programming for all ages.
If Algoma Township residents vote “yes” on the ballot proposal to leave KDL, they will no longer have access to all the materials that they would as a KDL patron. For example, Algoma Township residents will not be able to check out items from the digital collection or Beyond Books Collection, and they would lose access to other online databases and resources.

Algoma Township At-A-Glance

Kent District Library has served the people of Algoma Township since 1994 – and the Kent District Library Board would love to continue to do so. KDL has received no concerns from the Algoma Township Board about the services KDL provides.

Total library cards issued: 4,396 with 2,296 cards in 1,626 households having checked out materials within the past 12 months. (note: it’s common for one library card to serve multiple individuals).
Primary Libraries Used by Algoma Township residents over the past 12 months: Krause Memorial Library in Rockford (78%), Plainfield Township Branch (11%), other libraries (11%)
Total value of annual checkouts of items by Algoma Township residents based on what it would cost to purchase them: $1.58 million
- Value of physical items checked out: $917,850
- Value of digital items checked out: $658,533
Total items checked out by Algoma Township residents over the past 12 months (as of February 2023): 90,121
- Physical only circulation: 49,418
- Digital only circulation: 40,703
Items to choose from
- Nearly 700,000 items in the physical collection
- 15.6 million digital items
- More than 5,000 programs each year

Did you know that Algoma Township residents are among the highest users of Wi-fi hotspots borrowed from KDL?

If you add the number of checkouts and duration of individual checkouts, it totals 36 years of internet access.

Will I still be able to use KDL if Algoma Township withdraws from the system?

If it’s voted to leave the system, when will my library card with KDL expire?

What is the ballot language I’ll be voting on?

How will I access library services if Algoma Township is no longer part of KDL?

How much do I pay in property taxes for KDL access?

The current KDL millage is 1.24 mills and the average Algoma Township household pays $3.09 per week – about the price of a cup of coffee. This average weekly amount is based upon the median home value in Algoma Township, which is $258,100 as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The taxable value of the median home value home is half the total value, which is $129,050. The 1.24 mills is $1.24 per $1,000 of the taxable value, which comes out to $160.02 per year or $3.07 per week.

The Algoma Township newsletter compares the KDL millage to others paid by Algoma property owners. See page three of the December 2022 edition of Algoma Advisor.

How does access to KDL work?

Kent District Library serves 26 municipalities through a network of 20 branches. Residents in those municipalities pay a portion of their property taxes to support KDL, which makes them eligible for a library card that gives them access to our physical and digital collections. Each KDL branch functions as a community library that serves the unique needs of its community while simultaneously enjoying the economies of scale that come from the buying power of a district library.

How is KDL governed? Do residents have local representation?

Can we tap into the Lakeland Library Cooperative and access similar collections and programs?

Not unless you join a library that is served by the Lakeland Library Cooperative. The Lakeland Library Cooperative serves 42 member libraries, including KDL, in seven Michigan counties and allows for sharing of some physical collections and a small digital collection that is a fraction the size of KDL’s digital collection. It does not allow for sharing the KDL digital collection, online subscriptions/databases or Beyond Books collections of Wi-Fi hot spots, movies, iPads, etc. Lakeland Library Cooperative does not offer programming.

What other services are provided by KDL to the residents of Algoma Township?

Programs: Informational and educational in-person, online and on-demand programs for all ages.
Summer Wonder: Annual program that helps students offset learning loss that occurs naturally when school is not in session.
Early literacy programs and support: Opportunities to prepare kids for a successful start to kindergarten.
Teen Zones and Teen Crew: Productive activities for teens to gather for learning that are also fun.
Business and professional resources: Access to LinkedIn Learning, Gale Legal Forms, language learning and other opportunities to help workers and businesses grow and prosper.
Outreach initiatives: Help for people unable to visit the library, such as seniors and individuals with disabilities.

What types of items have been checked out by Algoma Township residents?

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