Dear Michigan librarians,

Kalamazoo Public Library and our community (and the library profession) recently lost an instrumental figure in the history of KPL.  Longtime, former director Saul Amdursky passed away July 30, 2021 after a battle with cancer. Saul brought significant, positive changes in library service to Kalamazoo, and his efforts led to the library becoming one of the first formed as a district library in Michigan, the eventual construction and renovation of all KPL library locations in the late 1990s, and acclaim as the Library Journal National Library of the Year honor in 2002.   

Originally from Rochester, New York, Saul graduated with his library degree from University of Kentucky, and embarked upon a career that included stops at libraries in Prince William County, Virginia (1971-1975); Albion, Michigan (1975-1979); Racine, Wisconsin (1979-1982); Bloomington, Illinois (1982-1987); Kalamazoo (1987-2004); Fraser Valley Regional Library System, British Columbia (2004-2007); and Des Moines, Iowa (2007-2010).  Saul advocated enthusiastically for great public library service here in Kalamazoo and nationally, and the passion for his profession was evident in every conversation. 

We will miss him, yet his memory and significant contributions to Kalamazoo and the library world remain! According to the Amdursky family, a memorial service will take place later this fall in Kalamazoo.

-Ryan

Ryan Wieber | Director
Kalamazoo Public Library | CEN
315 S. Rose St. | Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 553-7828