All are welcome to attend the Library's 18th Annual Native American Culture Day on Saturday, November 7, 2009, from noon-5 p.m. at the Main Library. The event will include Native speakers, musicians, dancers, and films. The Main Library is located at 125 14th Street. This event will be held in the West Auditorium.

The theme this year is "Indigenous Voices at the United Nations." Local Native activists speak about the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and international indigenous struggles for rights and preservation of the earth. The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council, with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. (As an aside, today, November 1, Raquel Rolnik, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, is scheduled to visit the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where the housing is said to be in a deplorable state.)
                                            
Special guests include Tony Gonzales of the American Indian Movement (AIM-West), and Alberto Saldamando of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC). Both AIM-West and the IITC are organizations of Indigenous Peoples working for human rights, environmental justice, and self-determination. In 1977, IITC was the first Indigenous organization to receive Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council. Oakland's own Medicine Warriors Dance Troupe will be on hand to perform Native American dances, as they have in years past. Flautist Wally Johnson and drummer Jane DeCuir will perform. Films will be screened from noon to 1 p.m.
 
Native American Culture Day is sponsored by the library's Native American Services Committee. It is a free public event for all ages. For more information, call (510) 238-3134.
 

 

 

At Dimond Branch, the new laptops make it possible for a greater number of patrons to take advantage of the branch's free wi-fi access. The branch already has 14 PCs for public use. Patrons can use the laptops within the branch only, and will be required to sign a liability form before checking out a laptop.
  

Book readings and author talks promise to liven things up at the Library this month. The library has a pair of noteworthy events scheduled. 
 
On Sunday, November 1, at 3 PM, Libby Fischer Hellmann (pictured, left) and Keith Raffel will appear at the Main Library to chat about their recently published mystery novels. Ms. Hellman will share a few passages from Doubleback. In a rave review, Publisher's Weekly said, "Hellmann skillfully juggles disparate threads of bank fraud, extortion, drugs and illegal immigration." Mr. Raffel will read from Smasher: A Silicon Valley Thriller, described by bestselling author Cara Black as "a taut roller coaster ride ... behind Silicon Valley's doors."  Books will be available for sale. The Main Library is located at 125 14th Street. Call 238-3138 for information.

On Tuesday, November 17, at 7 PM, Dimond Branch presents authors Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow(pictured together at right), who will talk about their topical new book, The Sharing Solution: How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life and Build Community. Both authors are local attorneys who specialize in guiding people to creating and maintaining successful sharing arrangements. Expect a stirring presentation from these impassioned spokeswomen. Dimond Branch is located at 3565 Fruitvale Ave. Call 482-7844 for information.
 

Fun, educational programming for the month of November includes an art workshop and dance classes. Details and locations are as follows:

 

 

Participants are invited to enter the City of Oakland's art competition and exhibition: "Re-create". (See MOChA's Web site for more details.) This program is sponsosred by the Public Works Agency, Environmental Services Division.

Temescal Branch is located at 5205 Telegraph Ave. For information call 597-5049. 

 

Luna Kids Dance Classes for Young Children
In this program, children up to age 7 can learn to expand their range of motion, articulation, and locomotion while learning how to put movements together, solve simple movement problems, and come to understand that dancing can be about the expression of feelings or ideas. They increase their knowledge of spatial concepts (line, path, level, and focus) and explore energy concepts.

 

This program will be offered at two locations, on two dates: