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Youth Poet Laureate Contest Starts in March
Stephanie Yun
STEPHANIE YUN, Oakland's Reigning Youth Poet Laureate

 

Young poets of Oakland, rev up your creative engines! It's time to polish your verse for Oakland's Second Annual Youth Poet Laureate Contest!

 

Applications will be accepted from Friday, March 1 until the deadline at 5 pm on Friday, April 19. Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 18 and reside or attend school in Oakland.   

 

In addition to the honor of serving as Youth Poet Laureate, the contest winner will win a $5,000 scholarship and gain invaluable experience and exposure through public speaking engagements and publishing and media opportunities.

 

Finalists will be announced in early June, and the winners will be announced in August. The competition will judged by local leaders and celebrity authors.

 

Youth, parents, and teachers can learn more by by contacting Amy Sonnie, Teen Outreach Librarian, at 510-238-7233 or via email -- or get information online.

 

 

 

Ready, Set, Connect! Youth Job Training Program Coming to OPL

 

The Oakland Public Library is partnering with Community Technology Network to offer the Ready, Set, Connect! (RSC!) workforce development program to Oakland youth. The program will provide local youths with technology-based job skills through a balanced combination of classroom training and hands-on work experience at the Main Library, 125 14th Street, in Oakland. The program begins in March and concludes in June. 

 

Interested youth should apply at http://bit.ly/RSCApply by March 8, 2013. 

 

For information, please contact Sharon McKellar, Community Relations Director, at 238-3513 -- or visit us online.

 

 
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Job On! Courses at Main Library and Dimond Branch in March

 

The Oakland Public Library is offering a series of free classes to help people involved in a job search. Job On! Secrets to Job Search Success is a four-part program to provide instruction to job seekers as they enter the complicated and sometimes confusing job market. Four courses, starting March 5 and continuing until early April, will be offered at the Main Library (125 14th Street) and the Dimond Branch Library (3565 Fruitvale Ave). 

 

For more information, please click here, or call the Main Library Information Desk at 238-3134 or the Dimond Branch at 482-7844.

 
2 Volunteer Info Sessions in March
 

Support YOUR Library: Volunteer! 

 

The Oakland Public Library is offering two Information Sessions for members of the public who are interested in volunteer opportunities. Please join us to find out how to become a summer lunch program site volunteer, adult literacy tutor, pre-school story reader, Library Advisory Commission member, Bookmark Bookstore volunteer, and more. 

 

The first Information Session will be offered at the Main Library, Bradley C. Walters Community Room, 125 14th Street, on Thursday, March 14, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. 

 

The second session will be offered at the 81st Avenue Branch, 1021 81st Avenue (at Rudsdale), on Saturday, March 16, 10 to 11:15 a.m.

 

To register, click here or contact Sara DuBois, Coordinator of Grants & Volunteers at (510) 238-6572 or via email.

 

 

BABY BOOTIE! OPL and Bananas Offer Classes for New and Expectant Parents

 

New and expectant parents, join us for one or all of the classes in this popular series offered by experts from Bananas: 
  • Baby Language and Brain Development
  • Yoga with Baby
  • Sleep Issues
  • Baby Massage. 

Come with questions!

 

Click here to see our March schedule of classes. (More classes will be scheduled in April.)

 

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MARCH EVENTS

Selected highlights from our monthly calendar. Click each event for details.

  

Meet and Draw Animals!

An "In Touch with Nature" workshop for children, with the Junior Center of Art and Science.

Asian Branch, Saturday, March 2, 11:30 am                           

 

An Evening with Maria Nieto

Author will read from her novel Pig Behind the Bear.

Piedmont Avenue Branch, Tuesday, March 5, 6:30 pm

 

Encuentros: Youth Speaks Poetry Workshops

A workshop for teen writers.

César E. Chávez Branch, Tuesday, March 5, 4 pm; Tuesday, March 12, 4 pm

 

Our Family Coalition - Welcoming Schools

An LGBT-inclusive approach to K-5 education.

César E. Chávez Branch, Tuesday, March 5, 6 pm

 

Understanding Collaboration: A Workshop for Grant Seekers

An informative session presented by the Foundation Center.

Main Library, Tuesday, March 12, 2 - 3:30 pm

 

Developing a Website for Your Business

The final installment of the "Start Your Own Business" seminar series.

Main Library, Wednesday, March 13, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

 

Diabetes in Our Community: How to Heal Naturally

A talk by herbalist Karl Grant.

Lakeview Branch, Tuesday, March 12, 6 - 8 pm

 

Introduction to Mindfulness for Stress Management

Learn concentration tools to help teenagers do well in school. Offered in English and Spanish.

César E. Chávez Branch, Saturday, March 16, 12 - 1 pm

 

Children's Book and Toy Swap

Lakeview Branch, Saturday, March 16, 11 am

 

Heartbreak, a History, with Meghan Laslocky

Author reads from Little Book of Heartbreak, a nonfiction work.

Temescal Branch, Saturday, March 23, 2:30 pm

 

Celebrate Cesar Chavez's Birthday!

Live Tex-Mex music and a fun time.

César E. Chávez Branch, Saturday, March 30, 3:30 - 5 pm

 

EXHIBITS

(running all month, unless otherwise noted)

 

The Waters of Oakland

A historical exhibit about Lake Merritt and its related waterways.

Main Library, 2nd Floor

 

Library Artists, Performers & Writers Go Public!

Rockridge Branch, 2nd Floor Gallery, March 3 - 29

 

Honoring Past Artists: Breathing Life in Oakland's History

An Exhibit of Works by Richard Blakely

Lakeview Branch, March 2 - 29

                                                                                                         

 

 

FREE TAX ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY

  

taxes, taxes, taxes!

The Oakland Public Library, in partnership with AARP, offers free tax assistance from February 5 until April 15. Trained volunteers will help residents fill out their forms at five library locations: Main Library, Cesar Chavez branch, Dimond branch, Eastmont branch, and Golden Gate branch. (Please note that the various locations will start offering the service on different days.)

 

Most locations require that you make an appointment by calling the branch ahead of time. Walk-in sessions are available at the Main Library and Eastmont Branch (be sure to arrive in time for the beginning of the day's session in order to receive a time slot). 

 

Participants need to bring copies of last year's federal and state tax returns and all materials pertaining to their 2012 tax forms for themselves and their spouse (if filing jointly).

 

Click for the schedule.  

                                                                                                         

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.