Kalamazoo Public Library - Alma Powell Branch
🏢 Kalamazoo Public Library · KALAMAZOO, Michigan
Kalamazoo Public Library - Alma Powell Branch
The Alma Powell Branch at the Douglass Community Centre has served Kalamazoo's north side since its founding in 1968 — established through an anonymous $10,000 donation to bring library services to one of the city's underserved neighborhoods.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 308 W. North St., KALAMAZOO, MI 49007
Phone: 2695537960
Website: kpl.gov
📖 About Kalamazoo Public Library - Alma Powell Branch
<p>The Alma Powell Branch of Kalamazoo Public Library was created in 1968 following an anonymous donation of $10,000 made specifically "for the purpose of establishing a library in the poorest section of town." Today the branch operates from the Douglass Community Centre at 308 W. North Street, embedding library services within one of Kalamazoo's most important community hubs on the north side. The branch serves a neighborhood with deep historical ties to the African American community of Kalamazoo, offering circulating collections, public computers, free Wi-Fi, and Tuesday evening hours until 8:00 PM. All KPL cardholders have access to Libby for eBooks and audiobooks and to the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) for statewide research databases.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Founded 1968 through a $10,000 anonymous donation for library services in an underserved neighborhood
- Now operates from within the Douglass Community Centre on W. North Street
- Evening hours Tuesdays until 8:00 PM
- Serves Kalamazoo's historically significant north-side community
📱 Free with a Kalamazoo Public Library Card
Your KPL card unlocks digital resources from the library and the state of Michigan:
📍 More Kalamazoo Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Alma Powell Branch come to exist?
The branch was created in 1968 following an anonymous donation of $10,000 given specifically to establish a library in what was described as the poorest section of Kalamazoo. That community-driven origin defines the branch's mission to this day.
Where is the Alma Powell Branch located now?
The Alma Powell Branch currently operates from inside the Douglass Community Centre at 308 W. North Street in Kalamazoo's north side. Note that the IMLS database lists an earlier address at 1000 West Paterson Street; the branch has since relocated to its current Douglass Community Centre location.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.