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Contact: Debbie Carton (Ph: 510-981-6139)

Activist Ying Lee reads from her new book, Ying Lee, from Shanghai to Berkeley at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 3 at the 3^rd floor Community Meeting Room of the Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch, 2090 Kittredge Street. Lee, also known as Ying Lee Kelley, lived under war or the threat of war for most her years growing up in China and Hong Kong. She came to San Francisco as a teenager and spent her young adult life in the throes of a changing world that would catapult her into the anti-war movement around the same time that she became a wife, mother and teacher. Lee’s struggle for peace and justice led her into politics, where she would become Berkeley’s first – and only – Asian city council member. Her belief in a better world would lead her to work for Congress members Ronald V. Dellums and Barbara Lee. Now a grandmother, Lee continues her fight for justice and against war. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org).  Copies of Ms. Lee’s book will be available for purchase and signing. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6139. The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.  For questions and accessibility information, call 510-981-6195, TTY 510-548-1240, http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Donna Corbeil Library Director 510-981-6195

BERKELEY, CA - One of the goals of the Berkeley Public Library Board-approved Library Strategic Plan: 2011-2013 is to cultivate a broader base of Berkeley residents into regular library users. One of the initiatives of this goal is the development of a Communications Plan. The San Francisco-based public relations firm BergDavis Public Affairs has been engaged to assist the library with gathering valuable feedback from the community and stakeholders through a detailed, user-oriented survey. Over the next few months the Library will use the survey results to develop a comprehensive public information and communications program to promote the use and support of the Library and increase public awareness of the Library’s services, programs, special events and facilities. The final plan will recommend communication strategies to increase awareness of what the Library does and offers the community. From January 23 through February 19, 2013 we will be seeking community input on how to improve Library services and communications. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Please fill out the short survey you will find online at http://tinyurl.com/BPLCom; www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org or; at all library locations in paper format. Your help is greatly appreciated!

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Contact: Andrea Moss Librarian 510-981-6151

UC Berkeley Archaeology Lecture Series

How do Slaves and Forced Laborers Rebel?  How archaeology provides insight in two case studies from ancient Rome and the Spanish colonial Andes.  Lecture and discussion with Archaeology students from UC Berkeley, Monday January 28, 6-7:45pm at the Berkeley Public Library’s Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley CA 94704 For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6151. For accessibility information, call 510-981-6195, TTY (510) 528-1240, www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Andrea Moss Librarian 510-981-6151

Learn the characteristics of effective nonprofits Free workshop taught by the Foundation Center

This free class will provide you with a step-by-step checklist approach to help you determine your readiness for foundation fundraising.  Designed for new nonprofits or community groups with very little experience in grantseeking, and addressing such questions as:

• What groundwork do I have to have in place before approaching foundations for funding?
• What are the steps to obtaining incorporation and nonprofit status and where can I get some help to do so?
• What are the characteristics of successful nonprofits?

Friday, February 15, 2013 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Central Library Meeting Room

Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St

This class is free but registration is requested.  Register at the Classroom section of www.grantspace.org.

For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6151. For accessibility information, call 510-981-6195, TTY (510) 528-1240, www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. #####

Contact:  Debbie Carton 510-981-6139

Berkeley Public Library presents a free noontime lecture/concert featuring West Edge Opera on Thursday, January 24, at 12:15 pm.  General Director Mark Streshinsky introduces the company’s upcoming production, L’Incoronazione  di Poppea.  From the harpsichord, conductor Gilbert Martinez, Artistic Director of MusicSources, will accompany cast members in selected arias. Monteverdi’s opera has been praised for its originality, melody and the human attributes of its characters.  Poppea was first performed in Venice during the 1642-1643 carnival season and established the composer as the leading musical dramatist of his time.  The opera recounts how Poppea, mistress of the Roman emperor Nero, achieves her ambition to be crowned empress. The program takes place at the Central Berkeley Public Library, 5^th Floor, 2090 Kittredge Street, which is wheelchair accessible.  This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org). For more information, call 510-981-6139 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. West Edge Opera’s production of L’Incoronazione di Poppea opens February 1st at the Performing Arts Theater at El Cerrito High School.  Read more about the show at www.westedgeopera.org. Poppea Flyer

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Contact: Douglas Smith
Deputy Director
510-981-6195

As part of the Fiscal Year 2014 /2015 budget planning process, Berkeley Public Library is exploring what options we may have to increase branch library hours. This has been a prominent budget priority in past years but was deferred while the library focused on the Branch Facilities Master Plan, the success of Measure FF, and everything that has gone into building and renovating four branch library buildings. Now, we are seeking community input on when the library should be open to the public. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Please fill out the short survey you will find online at www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org or at all library locations in paper format from January 11 - 28, 2013. Thank you for your help!

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Contact: David Howd
510-981-6250

The popular Paws to Read program will begin at the Berkeley Public Library’s North Branch on Tuesday February 5, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.  Children in grades kindergarten through five may sign up for a twenty minute session where they will read aloud to a gentle dog provided by TherapyPets, a nonprofit all volunteer organization.  Sign-ups begin February 1. The program will run weekly through March 12. Paws to Read is a great way for children to practice oral fluency, spend time with a friendly dog, and have fun.  The goal is to help build a child’s self-esteem and confidence, as well as foster a fondness for reading.  The program has met with success in other bay area communities. North Branch Library is open Mondays-Tuesdays, Fridays-Saturdays 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Wednesdays-Thursdays 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.  For accessibility information call 510-981-6195, TTY 510-548-1240, www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Will Marston (510-981-6233)

Berkeley Public Library invites you to an exhibit on the literary careers of this year’s Berkeley Public Library Foundation's Authors Dinner co-chairs, husband and wife authors, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. They are the authors of a dozen books each, ranging from fiction and mysteries to books on parenthood. Chabon won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. His latest novel is Telegraph Avenue, set in the East Bay. Like his wife, Chabon has written essays on parenthood, collected in his book, Manhood for Amateurs. Waldman has written seven books in her popular series, The Mommy-Track Mysteries. Her controversial essay “Motherlove” was published in 2005 and was argued about on The View. Oprah Winfrey invited Waldman onto her show to discuss the essay. The reception of the essay inspired Waldman to publish a collection of essays, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace.

Berkeley’s Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street, historic lobby and old entrance display cases. The exhibit runs January 8 – February 10, 2013. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library (http://www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org/). For questions and accessibility information, call 510-981-6195, TTY 510-548-1240, http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org

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