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February Closures
During the month of
February, the Library will be closed on the following dates:
February 12 (Lincoln's Birthday)
February 15 (Presidents' Day)
On Tuesday, January 16, the branches will be closed in observation of Presidents' Day; the Main Library will be open.
All library locations will be open Saturday, Feb. 13. The Main will be open Sunday, Feb. 14.
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Vol. 3, No. 2 February 1, 2010
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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Please Take a Moment to Complete Our Patron Survey
Library Assessing Branch Schedules, Seeks Input from Patrons |
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It has been six months since last summer's budget crisis resulted in reduced hours for the OPL's branches, and the Library is in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the current branch schedules. The Library hopes to get input from the public, to find out how well the current branch schedules serve the needs of library patrons. To that end, the Library is conducting a patron survey, which can be found by clicking here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SK87GV2
In the current budget situation, increasing branch hours is not an option. Branches must remain open five days a week only. Currently, all branches are open Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. The Library hopes to assess whether some branches can better serve the community by changing schedules without increasing the hours of operation.
Please take a minute or two (at the most) to take the survey. Thank you!
Hard copy surveys are available at all Library locations. |
Writing Program Announces Class Schedule, Launches Web Site |
Oakland Word, a three-month program funded by a grant from the California State Library, kicks off this week with the start of the first session of classes. Oakland Word offers free workshops and seminars in fiction, poetry, and memoir writing that are intended to provoke dialogue and encourage creativity among underrepresented youths and adults. The first session of Oakland Word classes are slated to begin Sunday, February 3. A second session will begin in March.
The first session program offers workshops at three Library locations:
Asian Branch
§ Intro to Writing Short Fiction (Fridays, 4 - 5:30 pm)
§ Writing Life Stories (Saturdays, 4 - 5:30 pm)
§ Teens: Blogging 101 Seminar (one day only: Saturday, March 6, 12:30 - 3:30 pm)
Cesar E. Chavez Branch
§ Urban Fiction: Elements of Short Story Writing (Saturdays, 2:15 - 3:45 pm)
§ Take Charge of Your Work: Career Development (Saturdays, 4 - 5: 30 pm)
Main Library
§ Life Stories in Poetry and Prose (Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm)
§ Writing and Speaking Word: Poetry and Spoken Word (Saturdays, 3:30 - 5 pm)
§ Soul Song: Song Writing Seminar (one day only: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2 - 5 pm)
§ Literature of Oakland: Reading & Writing about Oakland Public Library (Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm)
§ From the Heart: Love Poetry Seminar (one day only: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 - 5 pm)
Courses at Chávez Branch will be taught by bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) instructors.
The second session will begin in March and conclude in late April (details about class offerings are forthcoming).
Full class information is available on the Oakland Word Web site.
Anyone interested in participating in the Oakland Word writing workshops will need to register in advance. For information, call (510) 238-6572 or email theoaklandword@gmail.com. For information in Spanish, call the Chávez Branch (535-5620).
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Celebrate Black History Month at the Library |
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During the month of February the Library is offering a slew of fun and enlightening events that celebrate Black History Month.
 On Saturday, February 13, at 1 p.m., AAMLO will screen Inside Buffalo, an award winning feature film documentary about the Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division, the all-African American segregated combat unit that fought with outstanding heroism in Italy during the Second World War. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Fred Kuwornu. Writer Tullio Bertini, author of Trapped in Tuscany: Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers, and 92nd Infantry Division veteran Ivan Houston, author of Black Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers of World War II, are also scheduled to appear and sign copies of their books. AAMLO is located at 659 14th St.
At West Oakland Branch, 1801 Adeline Street, the 20th Annual African American Celebration through Poetry takes place on Saturday, February 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. On Saturday, February 27, from noon to 4 p.m., the West Oakland Branch presents its annual African American Quilters of Oakland Demonstration and Workshop. For information call the West Oakland Branch at (510) 238-7352.
For the entire month, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, 6833 International Blvd., presents a pair of exhibits, one celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and another honoring Black Scientists.
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| West Oakland Branch Unveiling Exuberant New Mural |
 West Oakland Branch has a new mural on the exterior wall, next to the main entrance. Entitled "Joy", the mural is a tile mosaic created by Umi Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan transferred a photograph of local children onto ceramic tiles, which he then installed on the branch's exterior.
On Saturday, February 6, 2010, 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon, all are welcome to attend the ceremonial unveiling of the mural, which will take place as part of an action-packed day at the branch. The festivities will include an open house for the Oakland Tribune's new Community Journalism Training Project, headquartered in the same building. There will also be a performance by Dimensions Extensions Performance Ensemble, and hands-on crafts with the Museum of Children's Art.
West Oakland Branch Library is located at 1801 Adeline Street. Call (510) 238-7352 for information. |
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Library and AARP Offer Free Tax Assistance
Popular Program Runs February 1 - April 15 |
 You can get help with your 2010 Income Tax Returns at the Oakland Public Library - free of charge. In partnership with the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), the Library is offering free tax assistance from February 1 through April 15. Trained volunteers will help residents fill out their forms at the Main Library-West Auditorium, César E. Chávez Branch, Dimond Branch, Eastmont Branch, and Temescal Branch Library.
A complete schedule is available on the Library's Tax Help website. Or call (510) 238-3134. Hours may be subject to change; please call your branch to confirm times and make an appointment.
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| Library to Screen East Oakland Stories |
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On Friday, February 19, the Oakland Public Library, in partnership with ACORN Woodland Elementary School and EnCompass Academy, welcomes the public to a screening of California of the Past: East Oakland Stories. The screening begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 11:30 a.m. Produced at the Library, East Oakland Stories is a series of short videos recorded by residents of East Oakland. Each 3- to 5-minute segment is personal narrative augmented by photographs, music, letters, and other pieces illustrating each individual story. The stories are preserved as part of the California of the Past's online collection. The screening will be at ACORN Woodland Elementary Auditorium, 1025 81st Avenue. Refreshments will be served.
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Last Chance to Catch Access to Life
AAMLO's Gripping Photo Exhibit Closes Feb. 27 |
 Time is running out to catch AMLO's Access to Life exhibit, featuring images that chronicle the transformative effect that access to free antiretroviral drug treatments is having on AIDS patients around the world. The exhibit, which enjoyed a much publicized opening on December 9, will remain on view through February 27. Working in partnership with the agency Magnum Photos to create Access to Life, the Global Fund sent an international team of eight photographers to nine countries in the fall of 2007, and for a second visit four months later. Their aim was to document the dramatic impact of treatment on more than 30 individuals and their families. By telling these stories through photographs, text and multimedia pieces, the Access to Life exhibit graphically documents the positive impact that free antiretroviral drug treatment is having not only for the individuals portrayed, but on the lives of millions of AIDS patients around the world.
Call 510-637-0200 for information.
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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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