Slay(don) Style: Visiting the Rockford Rotary and Learning About the Krause Memorial Library Expansion
This was published in the November 21 Rockford Squire
Since March, my colleague Todd Olson has been encouraging me to visit his Rotary Chapter. I genuinely enjoy Rotary—I was even a member back when I lived in Lakeland, Florida. Well, I finally made it as a guest, and I couldn’t have picked a better meeting to join. It was held at the Krause Memorial Library, where we got an inside look at their expansion plans.
First off, a bit of history: Did you know the name “Krause” comes from the founder of Wolverine Worldwide? Neil Blakeslee, a Rotary member, co-chair of the library expansion project, and former Mayor of Rockford, shared some Krause family history and their role in building up Rockford over the years.
The meeting kicked off with a tour led by Jennifer German, Regional Manager of the library. She gave us a real sense of the library’s evolution. Originally built in 1937, the library was updated in 1963 and again in 1989. With each update, though, the size remained the same—which is why the current expansion is so significant.
One of the first things Jennifer showed us was the original entrance to the library. I’d always wondered why that area was so ornate compared to the rest of the building.
Here’s an interesting detail about how the library operates: the property and building are owned by the city, while Kent District Library (KDL) manages the library operations, providing materials, hours, and staff. It’s not quite as simple as “landlord and tenant,” but that’s essentially how it works—the city owns the space, and KDL makes it a fully functioning library.
During the tour, some members mentioned they’d only visited the library a few times, while I admitted to being a frequent visitor for a phase of my life. Libraries are a great way to connect with other parents and make friends. When I moved back to the area, it’s where I met some of my best friends.
Now that the millage has passed, Jennifer and Neil explained that there’s plenty of work ahead. They’re aiming to break ground on the renovation and addition in October 2025, with the goal of opening by summer 2026.
So, what does this mean for Rockford residents? The cost is approximately $115 per residence, annually, for a maximum of 20 years. Cannon Township has pitched in with a $100,000 contribution. Did you know that 21% of the Krause Memorial Library users are Cannon Township residents?
Neil also highlighted how lobbyist Peter Varga was instrumental in moving things forward. The teamwork between Neil, Thad Beard, Dr. Michael Shibler, and Jennifer has really been the backbone of this project he shared, and it shows in every step they’ve taken to make the expansion a reality.
I’m glad I finally took Todd up on his invitation. The Krause Memorial Library is about to enter an exciting new chapter, and I look forward to seeing it grow into an even greater asset for Rockford and beyond.
And, if you’re interested in learning more about Rotary—I know a guy!
Keep sending invites my way 616-915-5370 and jes@swiftprinting.com
