Kelly Boston, Grand Rapids Public Library Commissioner

08/13/2026

I enjoyed visiting Grand Rapids Community Media Center today for a “Meet The Candidate” series of interviews ahead of the November election. The staff were lovely, and I appreciate this platform being offered even to hyperlocal positions like the one I’m running for so that voters have all of the information they need to make informed decisions. It was also a great reason to pop into the West Side branch downstairs! These segments will air on GRTV and be uploaded to The Rapidian’s website.

07/29/2026

I dropped mine off at the Seymour branch box and was able to see it was received within a couple of days.

Are you voting absentee this election season? Ballot boxes are available at all Grand Rapids Public Library locations.

Ballot boxes are for voters and residents eligible to vote in Grand Rapids. All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, August 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026.

Learn more → www.grandrapidsmi.gov

📸 – Ottawa Hills Branch

07/22/2026

Have you given your input about GRPL’s hours? The survey is open until July 25th.

06/09/2026

Signing up the whole fam for the summer reading challenge! 😎📚

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…