Kelly Boston, Grand Rapids Public Library Commissioner

03/05/2026

Six years is flying by! If you live in GR city limits I’d be honored to collect your signature to run for the library board again!

02/14/2026

We had fun celebrating Lunar New Year, doing the Black History Month scavenger hunt, and finding new books this morning.

12/29/2025

I’m honored to share that I received the Mary Ann Paulin Award for Reading Advocacy from the Michigan Association of School Librarians this year.

I’m in my 13th year as a school librarian, and sparking a love of reading in middle schoolers is what drives me. As John Schu says, matching students with books is a sacred task.

My favorite part of the job is building relationships with students. I recently read a book a student recommended to me and mentioned that I had finished to her friend. An hour later, she burst into my office exclaiming, “I came as soon as I heard!” We both jumped up and down, sharing our thoughts and excitement about the story. Donalyn Miller is right that reading is a communal act that connects you to other readers. It’s a joy to do this important work.

12/17/2025

📣 There’s still time to share your thoughts! The GRPL Community Survey closes on Thursday, December 19. Your feedback will help shape our next 5-year strategic plan and the future of library services in Grand Rapids. Take 3-4 minutes to tell us what matters most to you.

Thank you for helping us make the library an even stronger community hub!

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📣 ¡Todavía hay tiempo para dar su opinión! La Encuesta Comunitaria de la Biblioteca Pública de Grand Rapids cierra el jueves 19 de diciembre. Sus comentarios nos ayudarán a diseñar nuestro próximo plan estratégico de 5 años y el futuro de los servicios bibliotecarios en Grand Rapids. Tome 3-4 minutos para compartir lo que más le importa.

¡Gracias por ayudarnos a fortalecer la biblioteca como un centro comunitario para todos!

Help us shape the library's future! In addition to our core library services and programming, Grand Rapids Public Library is exploring…

12/02/2025

Help us shape the library's future! "I am reaching out to the community because we are very excited to embark on a new 5-year strategic…

07/24/2025

Beating the heat this morning at Grand Rapids Public Library - Seymour Branch) and picked up Summer Reading Challenge prizes. We had a lovely chat with Elise, one of the amazing librarians!

07/23/2025

One of the bonus activities in the Grand Rapids Public Library’s summer reading challenge is to read a book about nature or the environment. Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion was one of my favorite reads this summer—here’s my review!

05/22/2025

10/22/2024

I dropped my ballot off in the absentee ballot drop box at Grand Rapids Public Library - Seymour Branch last night and saw it was already marked received today. Feels good to check that off my list! Check out the Michigan Voter Information Center to see the status of your absentee ballot, where you can vote early, and more : https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/

10/19/2024

Had a lovely autumn Alger Heights morning with a harvest latte (it’s a pumpkin spice latte, shhhh!) and some laughs with the baristas at Sip Coffee & Cocktails, Michigan apples from Ken's Fruit Market, and now Meet Me at the Library at Grand Rapids Public Library - Seymour Branch with snacks and fun activities for littles.

10/05/2024

This board book is absolutely delightful. It’s perfect for fall as apples and pumpkins battle it out to see which one is the ultimate autumn treat. Highly recommend for the toddlers in your life this season. Thanks Grand Rapids Public Library!

09/24/2024

The GRPL Board of Commissioners is looking for candidates to fill an open seat.

Candidates must be passionate about libraries, be over 18 years old, and a resident of the City of Grand Rapids. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on November 1, 2024.