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| March Closure |
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Due to budget cuts, the library will be closed on Friday, March 13
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Vol. 2, No. 3 March 1, 2009
Greetings!
Welcome to the the Oakland Public Library's monthly e-newsletter! We are providing this vehicle to keep our community updated about the latest library news and events. Please forward it to any friends and neighbors you know who might be interested in subscribing. If you do not wish to receive future issues, you can unsubscribe at any time. Happy reading! |
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Celebrate National Library Week, April 12-18, 2009
Culture Clash Headlines National Library Week Event
On Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 7 pm, the Oakland Public Library invites you to join Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza of Culture Clash for a sampling of new and recent works at the Oakland Museum of California's James Moore Theatre, 1000 Oak Street. For Culture Clash, the event is also an anniversary celebration: The group has been putting out humorous and politically savvy books and performances for 25 years.
Founded in the Mission District in 1984, Culture Clash has evolved into one of the nation's leading performance groups. Ric and Herbert will discuss their successful theater career and read excerpts from such classic works as Culture Clash in AmeriCCa, Chavez Ravine, and Zorro from Hell. Copies of Oh Wild West! will be sold courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California Store. A booksigning will follow.
There will be no reserved seating and seating is limited. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. (enter on the museum's 10th Street side). This event is co-sponsored by the Oakland Public Library, the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, and the Oakland Museum of California. Call 510-238-6713 for information.
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 The Big Read Oakland Continues with Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying
The Big Read continues in March with book and film discussions of our Big Read selection for 2009, Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying. Join in the fun - and read a great book. Copies of A Lesson Before Dying and a Reader's Guide are available in our libraries.
As it did in February, the Oakland Public Library is hosting a number of Big Read Events in March. The film adaptation of A Lesson Before Dying, starring Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson, will screen at three branches:
Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Ave., 482-7844, Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.
Elmhurst Branch, 1427 88th Ave., 615-5727, Saturday March 7, 2 p.m.
Piedmont Ave. Branch, 160 41st St. 597-5011, Monday March 9, 5 p.m.
The Big Read brings two events to the Main Library, 125 14th Street. In Fresh Perspectives, on Wednesday March 4, at 6:30 p.m., local actors will bring to life poignant scenes from A Lesson Before Dying. Call 238-3134 for information. Get in touch with the Big Read team ( thebigreadoakland@gmail.com) to find out how your book club can get involved in East Bay Book Clubs Connect. Book club members will come together for an evening of entertainment and literary discussions at the Main Library.  The Big Read will culminate in a video conference with Ernest J. Gaines (pictured) on Thursday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. at Cal State East Bay's Oakland Center.
All events (including those not held at the Library) are listed on the official Big Read Website.
The Big Read Oakland is co-sponsored by the Oakland Public Library and California State University, East Bay, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
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Talented Teens Put to Test
Teenagers, get ready to show off your Guitar Hero III skills and Manga drawing abilities at the Oakland Public Library! The Library's Guitar Hero III Tournament will crown a new virtual guitar champion of Oakland in March, and submissions are now being accepted for the Library's Making Manga Magic Teen drawing contest.
 The 2nd Guitar Hero III Tournament is a double elimination tourney with rounds at four branches preceding a championship showdown at the Main Library's new, state-of-the-art TeenZone. Here are the details:
Asian Branch, 388 9th St., Ste 190, Friday, February 27, 4 p.m. (call 238-3400)
César E. Chávez Branch, 3301 East 12th St., 2nd floor, Wednesday, March 4, 2 p.m. (call 535-5620)
West Oakland Branch, 801 Adeline St., Thursday, March 5, 3 p.m. (call 238-7352)
Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m. (call 597-5017)
GRAND FINALE: Main Library TeenZone, 125 14th St., 2nd floor, Wednesday, March 11, 4 p.m. (call 238-7613)
The tournament is being held in celebration of the American Library Association's third annual Teen Tech Week (TTW). TTW is about connecting teens to different technologies, especially those found at the library. Please call your participating local branch for more information.  The 6th Making Manga Magic Teen drawing contest gives artistic teenagers the opportunity to exhibit their talents. Teens are encouraged to create their own Manga or anime character, draw it with paint, pencil or computer graphics, and enter their creations in the contest by April 18, 2009. Just follow a few instructions and get your work in on time and you may win a prize. Entries that do not follow instructions will be disqualified. Here are the instructions:
- You must be 12 - 18 years old and have an OPL library card in order to submit an entry.
- Draw original Manga or anime character on an 8 ˝" x 11" sheet of paper.
- On a separate page, please write your name, age, grade, Oakland Library card number, email, current address, and phone number.
- Only one entry per person.
- Drop off your entry at your local branch library or mail to "Manga Contest" TeenZone/Oakland Public Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612.
- Deadline for submissions is April 18, 2009.
Winners will be announced on the Oakland Public Library's Website and a private awards ceremony will be held May 2, 2009.
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March is Women's History Month
March is National Women's History Month, ensuring that the history of women receives due recognition in schools, workplaces, and libraries throughout the country. With that in mind, the Oakland Public Library is hosting a variety of events that put the spotlight on the achievements of women past and present.  On Tuesday, March 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Ave., presents Female Rebels and Mavericks. Local artist Max Dashu brings valiant and defiant women to life in her visual presentation from the Suppressed Histories Archives. Call 482-7844 for information. On Saturday, March 28, from 2 to 4 p.m., Rockridge Branch and the Association of American University Women sponsor the Life-Saving and Sustainable Power of Microfinance, a presentation on assisting women in developing countries. Speakers will include Dana E. Whitaker, author/photographer of Transforming Lives $40 at a Time: Women + Microfinance: Upending the Status Quo; Gail Uilkema, president of the Lantern Project; and Hava Maloka, AAUW International Fellowship recipient. Rockridge Branch is located at 5366 College Ave. Call 597-5017 for information. The Wisdom Women Poetry Workshop comes to Lakeview Branch on Monday, March 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Award winning poets Mary Rudge and Nina Serrano will keep you writing in their Peace and Healing Poetry Workshop. Bring your creativity and learn tips for success in poetry. There will be time to share new creations. Lakeview Branch is at 550 El Embarcadero. Call 238-7344 for information.  Two exhibits celebrate the contributions of women artists in the Black Panther Party. Artwork from Women in the Struggle will be on display in two cases in the Main Library, 125 14th St., behind the Information Desk. Meanwhile, West Oakland Branch, 1801 Adeline St., will present Women Artists of the Black Panther Party. Both exhibits will be on display all month, and feature works by Tarika Lewis, first woman artist of the BPP newspaper and first sister to join the Party in 1967; Asali Dickerson, an artist for the Panther newspaper from 1972-1977; Kiilu Nysha (pictured, above), an elder in the fight for social justice in the Bay area for the last 20 years; and Charlotte O'Neal, a Party member who now lives in East Africa, where she is well known for her art. West Oakland Branch plans to hold a reception for its art exhibit on Saturday, March 14, from 1 to 3 PM. Call (510) 633-2446 for information. |
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César Chávez Branch Celebrates César Chávez Day
 On Saturday, March 28, come celebrate the life and achievements of César Chávez (born March 31, 1927) at the Oakland branch library that was named for him! The festivities will feature Latin American folk combo Colibrí. You are guaranteed to go home with your head ringing with new rhythms and inspiring lyrics (in Spanish!). Bring the entire family. César Chávez Branch is located at 3301 East 12th St., Ste. 271. Call 535-5620 for information. |
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Free Tax Assistance at the Library
 The Library and the American Association for Retired Persons continue to offer free tax assistance up to the deadline on April 15, 2009. Trained volunteers will help residents fill out their forms at several library locations. (See below for locations and schedule.)
Participants need to bring copies of last year's federal and state tax returns and all materials pertaining to their 2008 tax forms (including details of stimulus checks, if they received any in 2008) for themselves and their spouse (if filing jointly).
For walk-in appointments (at specified sites), be sure to arrive in time for the beginning of the day's session in order to receive a time slot. The Library's Tax Assistance program is very popular, and not everyone is guaranteed a time slot. Seniors, ages 60 and up, will be given preference at walk-in sites.
The Tax Assistance Program will not take place on Mandatory Business Closure days. Due to budget cuts, the Oakland Public Library will be closed on Friday, March 13, Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10. Tax Assistance will not be available on those days. Hours may be subject to change; please call ahead to confirm times.
Locations and Times:
Oakland Main Library-West Auditorium
125 14th Street
Mondays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesdays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Fridays, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(510) 238-3134
No advance appointments; arrive early to sign up for a time slot.
César E. Chávez Branch Library
3301 East 12th Street, Suite 271
Mondays, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bilingual Spanish/English
(510) 535-5620
Call for an appointment. Some walk-ins may be accepted; call for information.
Dimond Branch Library
3565 Fruitvale Avenue
Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(510) 482-7844
Call for an appointment. Some walk-ins may be accepted; call for information.
Eastmont Branch Library
7200 Bancroft Avenue
Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(510) 615-5726
No advance appointments; arrive early to sign-up for a time slot.
Temescal Branch Library
5205 Telegraph Avenue
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(510) 597-5049
Call for an appointment.
For more information, please call (510) 238-3134, or see the Oakland Public Library's Tax Help Web site. |
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Digital Story Station Comes to Eastmont Branch
If you're a resident of East Oakland and have a tale to share, then the Oakland Public Library and its partners, ACORN Woodland Elementary School and Encompass Academy, want to hear and record it! California of the Past: East Oakland Stories is the title of a grant-funded project at the Eastmont Branch Library, which kicked off in January.
With a new Digital Story Station funded by a grant from the California State Library, it's easy to produce a short 3 to 5 minute video that can include photos, letters and music, as well as your voice and image. You'll receive a free DVD copy and your story will become part of the California of the Past online collection. It will also be shared with the community as part of a digital archive that will be made available at the new East Oakland Community Library at 81st Avenue - slated to open in late 2009.
If interested, please call (510) 238-7075 to learn more and sign up!
California of the Past is funded by a California State Library grant supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services and Technology Act, with services provided by MEDIA ARTS Center, San Diego.
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Calling all Book Lovers!
Mark your calendar for The Bookmark Bookstore's Spring Sale. Sale pricing is offered to the public from Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Save 30% off FOPL's year-round bargain pricing during this special event. Call 510-444-0473 for more information or to donate your gently-used books. All proceeds benefit the Oakland Public Library.
 For Friends of the Oakland Public Library members only: on Wednesday, April 8th, during the "Members' First Choice Sale," FOPL members receive 30% off all purchases. Click here to learn about FOPL membership. | |
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The Oakland Public Library informs, inspires, and delights our diverse community as a resource for information, knowledge, and artistic and literary expression, providing the best in traditional services, new technologies, and innovative programs. |
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