I love visiting libraries in other cities, and finally got to check out the downtown Central branch…read moreof KPL recently. This library seems pretty big and they had a lot of cool things to check out right on the main floor. I was interested in the book shop, which is in the lower level. They have a ton of books for sale! It was a bit crowded and a little hectic in the book shop room, but it's good to know it exists. We wandered around for a bit and I saw tons of new books, a huge DVD/Blu-Ray collection, a nice teen area, and plenty of computers. The layout seemed a bit random but I wasn't really looking for anything specific. Kalamazoo is lucky to have this nice library!

Super excellent public library here in downtown Kalamazoo. Laid out on multiple levels with decent…read moreseating, many workstation carrels, tons and tons of lending materials. Not just books but CDs and DVDs and other media. The library is modern, fancy and very beautiful. Free public wifi does require accepting terms but it worked anonymously and very well. Staff was helpful and friendly. An awesome resource for Kalamazooians. [Review 11222 overall, 998 of 2019.]

I love this gem of a used bookstore, tucked into the lower level of the main Kalamazoo Public…read moreLibrary building downtown. There is both an elevator and stairs to get downstairs to it (also housed on the lower level: YA, music, videos, and more). The shop is only open a few hours a week, so be sure to check the times before you head there (unless you are already picking up your books, in which case, you will have built a stop here into your KPL journey). It is entirely staffed by volunteers (THANK YOU!). There is usually a cart of books on sale near the front, as well as DVDs for a dollar or two. You'll find just about EVERY genre here, even if it is only a book or two. There are always a lot of cookbooks (YAHOO!), YA, kids, fiction, poetry, music, etc. There's a Michigan section (always good for finding gifts), as well as plenty of NF offerings. Some coffee table books are more expensive, but generally a book won't run you more than a dollar or two. The prices are clearly marked on the back. If you are kicking it old school, they have both cassette and cds for sale. If you are musician, you're probably already in the know to check the small section that has sheet music and piano music books. A few times a year they have a big outdoor sale under tents in the back parking lot. The price to fill a bag is really inexpensive. We love this little bookstore, and the kind people that run it. It's a gem in our community. Re: Disability parking: There is ONE spot right out in front of the library. It is often taken by someone without a plate or placard. The library is not in charge of this situation, nor can they call ticketing to help (I asked). I have asked the city many times for more handicap parking spaces downtown, as of yet to no avail.

The Friends of the Library is a great little bookstore in the basement of the central branch of the…read moreKalamazoo Public Library. Most people don't know it exists unless they are regulars at the library, but it deserves its' own recognition. The store is stocked with public donations and overflow books from the library's shelves, so the selection will vary wildly all the time. They recently had a huge portion of their shelf space devoted to books about trains that were given by a donor's estate. Virtually no new releases, obviously, but there is almost some gem on the shelves and at a fantastic price. Twice a year they run a sale that overflows either onto the sidewalk or onto the library rotunda. This is usually a madhouse because of the pricing - 10 cents per book or $2.00 for a bag full of books. Well worth checking out. This place is also a great volunteer opportunity for book lovers!

My husband had something to do in town today so he brought me by to spend some birthday money,…read moresince my birthday was on Thursday. I bought 3 books, totaling $38 and some change. All 3 were about traveling in America which is right up my alley because we typically go on one big trip a year. One of the books was specifically about National Parks and during our trip in June we plan to go to at least 3 National Parks. The store was very well organized and (despite probably being smaller) felt bigger than the Mishawaka location. Everything was easy to find and displayed nicely. Lots of books were even discounted, which was also nice. Employees were nice and made checkout easy. I do tend to prefer small/locally owned stores, but as far as Barnes & Noble go, this location is pretty cool.

This Barnes and Noble is one of the larger ones and has an amazing selection. I found a book that…read morewas not in stock at two other book stores I tried. Bill, a team member, was very helpful in locating the book. This is the place to explore and find your next awesome reading adventure.

This Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to the Portage Public library and a city cemetery is…read moreextremely well maintained. A group of my friends and I were doing a spring cleanup in the area (picking up wind blown litter to beautify the area), which led us to walk through the Memorial Park and see if we could pick up any litter that was in the area. Between the six of us, we only found one kid's glove in the entire park. The city maintains several beautifully planted flower gardens in the neighboring areas (either side of the drive into the parking lot for the library and Memorial Park, as well as one across the street from that drive), and the park's has lead directly to the three-mile-long trail that starts at the library and ends at Kilgore Road.

This building is beyond breathtaking, so I highly recommend taking the opportunity to visit it if…read moreit arrives. I went to an ice cream social there ages ago and was totally in awe of the architectural beauty, by the sunlight streaming through the intricate stained glass windows and throwing colorful shards of light every which way. Possibly the best stained glass I've ever seen outside a cathedral. They offer tours by appointment, rentals are a possibility, occasionally concerts are hosted at their auditorium and there's tons of activities for members-only.

The Ladies' Library was built in 1878 and has been well maintained by the Ladies' Library…read moreAssociation in Kalamazoo. The building is handicapped-accessible. It has beautiful woodwork inside and brick and tile outside. The Ladies' Library Association sponsors concerts, tours, teas, luncheons, and speakers. Individuals can rent the building for weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, etc. Please contact Barb at 269-344-0158 for tour information.

Small 1/4 mile tight knit community here in downtown Kalamazoo…read more Spans along Vine and Westnedge. The community is near Western university. Super cute bagel shop, breakfast spot at Crow's nest, Italian and pizza at Martini's and some great and friendly ambiance and beers at O'Duffy's.

Hello, I need Yesterday two men buried my truck in debris. I want this debris cleared, the men…read moreconfronted, and reassurances that this will not happen again. I can not believe the blatant disregard and disrespect for my property. I have these individuals on video and would be happy to provided that evidence. I expect that I should receive some response by 5pm 10-30-2020 as I WILL NOT MOVE MY TRUCK UNTIL THE DEBRIS HAS BEEN REMOVED. being that I risk a ticket by not moving the truck I will be forced to go to the city and law enforcement. I'm hoping you will be able to help me resolve this issue quickly. This is the message I sent, with the video. I was left on read. Vine neighborhoods promise to make this a better neighborhood is a load of crap. The blatant disregard and disrespect for my property astounds me. This is not the direct fault of the VNA, just a warn to the city's level of care regarding your property in this area. The VNA has directed me to a number (which I've already called) and called the video troubling.

The Financial Aid Office is incredibly unhelpful…read more Firstly, while experiencing a technical problem, they prompted me to IT, who then prompted me BACK to the financial aid office. I spent an entire day going in circles. Additionally, I was told that my review could take up to 10 business days. And here I am, more than 10 days later, without a completed review. When I asked about the review, the financial aid office told me that they could not tell me anything. I thought these people were supposed to be here to help us. Apparently not.

Worked here for 30 years. There are a lot of great instructors here and great orograms! The…read moreTesting Center got a major upgrade, taking over the Computer Lab. Now the Computer Lab is a few computers with part time staff who can reset your password. There isn't the Office Technology lab or any of the open lab classes. Now classes are in person or web only and no technicians to help you if you are struggling but the Dental Hygiene department and the Nursing school are incredible! For those without dental insurance, the dental hygiene clinic clean teeth, do x rays, and a few other things. Great resource, but don't wait to the last minute for an appointment! They do fill up every semester! The welding program and auto program are other fantastic programs! Also, the Learning Center is another amazing free resource for students to help them with math classes, for example. There are a multitude of educational areas that you can get help with. The wheelchair ramp, however, is really steep! I have helped push students up the ramp when I worked there. Now, I couldn't imagine trying to navigate it with my rollator! When I go out there, I take my mobility scooter! I know at 5 1/2 mph, I can get up the ramp!

Very diverse and renowned university! The campus has so much to offer. From courses, study aboard…read moreopportunities, and events. Speaking of the most well known and highly anticipated is Bronco Bash! After a hiatus because of everything back in 2020. It finally came back and it was worth the wait. Just like this art by a fellow student. Can't wait for the next one!

I've been going to this school for 5 years now, and just this year they decided to raise tuition…read more Understandable because prices go up over the years normally. But I recently started touring other schools and I've now realized below the bar western has become. To start: the math and science departments are both terrible. Organic has such a high fail rate it's been suggested...by Wmu staffers...that I take it at the neighboring community college just to be able to pass it, at a cheaper rate no less. The TA's for the math classes offered at WMU also suggest taking calculus classes elsewhere as the classes aren't designed to help the average student learn adequately enough to pass. Secondly, one of my biggest digressions with this university is what they have done to the nature preserve Asylum Lake. Since buying it, they now ticket people for parking there without a valid university parking pass, yet refuse to put any upkeep into the preserve. Fallen trees on paths, overgrown paths that are still advertised as paths is unacceptable and despicable. I've been running there for five years and this is the first year I've experienced these issues. The reason I give this university three stars and not just one is due to the amazing staff at park view and their outstanding engineering program. No complaints there. The teachers are helpful, in class and out with assisting you and aiding you in learning the material and being competent in the field. For this reason I haven't yet transferred. All in all, if western would spend money in the right places instead of insisting on new dining halls and endless useless fountains, this review would be 5 stars.

I came for a quick hike on an icy cold afternoon with my friend. The Park is composed of a…read moreHistorical Area, hiking trails and a kayak launch into the creek. In May, the Park was hit by a tornado that destroyed many of the trees and damaged several structures. It is amazing how Mother Mature can change the face of the land so quickly. The Park is named Celery Flats, because the region has been popular for growing celery with its sandy soil. The Historic Area of the Park is decorated for the holidays with trees and lights. Historic buildings include a grain elevator, a one room school house and Stuart Manor. Stuart Manor as moved to the park in 1994 and was one of the first homes built in Portage. Hayloft Theater is a restored barn turned theater. The barn was damaged by the tornado and is awaiting repair. There is also an amphitheater in the Park that is perfect for summer concerts. The buildings were not open for touring during our visit, but they appear to be open during events. The Historic Area is a perfect place to bring the kids to learn about history. The hiking trail through the Park is part of the trail system that meanders through Portage and Kalamazoo. There are picturesque bridges along the trail with a canoe/kayak launch over Portage Creek. The trails are a perfect place to watch birds. We saw a flock of mallards in the creek during our visit. The trail offered something I had not seen before. There was a solar phone charging station near a bench for those who need to stay connected. The Park has a really nice pavilion that was decorated for Christmas. I could see this as a perfect place to take family pictures or visit with Santa. The parking lot is large with handicapped spaces close to the pavilion. The trails are paved and easily accessible. I will return to see how the forest recovers from the tornado. The Park has a lot to offer.

This is a very popular spot, very clean and beautiful it was recommended by a friend when we asked…read morewhat's a good walking trail. We are from Battle Creek and she told us this spot county zoo.