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Avant-garde Cello Improvisations with Ben Hamilton

Contact: Shani Leonards
Supervising Librarian
Claremont Branch Library
510-981-6280

Berkeley, November 25, 2013—Join us on Saturday, December 21st at 10:30 a.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, at 2940 Benvenue and Ashby Avenue, for a free concert of improvised cello looping. Cellist and award-winning composer Ben Hamilton will offer a program of original music to delight patrons all ages. A question and answer session with the artist as well as a chance to see his tools of the trade up close will take place after the concert.

Ben Hamilton has been composing on cello for nine years and was awarded the John H. Imbrie Memorial Scholarship for Superior Achievement in Composition in 2004. His classical studies eventually gave way to his own creative leanings and he began working with a looper. That enables him to layer cello parts on top of each other, playing in harmony with and accompanying himself.  In addition to the traditional sounds that cellos are known for, Ben employs extended cello techniques like pizzicato, harmonics, and non-pitched voicings to create a soundscape that is relaxing and engaging. His careful attention to dynamics and harmony allows his compositions to swell from one quiet note into an orchestra of sound. Ben draws inspiration from nature and his surrounding environment when composing his improvised pieces. For questions about the program call (510) 981-6280.

This free concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org)

Claremont Branch Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and the branch is open 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday.  Starting December 2nd the branch will have extended hours on two days: Tuesday­–10:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For questions about the program call (510) 981-6280.or go to www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org

Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, materials in large print or Braille, or other accommodations for these events, please call 510 981-6195 (voice) or 510 548-1240 (TTY) At least three working days’ notice will ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

Ben Hamilton Cello Flyer

 

Artist and Author, Salma Arastu, and the Poetry of Rumi: Art Exhibit and Readings

Contact: Isobel Schneider
Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6150
ischneider@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Berkeley, November 22, 2013- The Berkeley Public Library presents artist and author, Salma Arastu, and the Poetry of Rumi: a reading and an exhibit of original art on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 2:00 to 3:30 pm, in the 3rd Floor Community Meeting Room at the Central Library at 2090 Kittredge Street. This free program will include readings, a slideshow and examples of artist Salma Arastu’s art. She will also present her new book, Turning Rumi: Singing Verses of Love Unity and Freedom. The book will be will be available to purchase and Ms. Arastu will be available to sign copies.

Salma Arastu will display some of her original multimedia and multicultural artworks, and read from the works of Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet, and Sufi mystic whose poetry inspired her art. Salma has written: “Through my art I have been able to transcend all physical and mental limitations to create images of transformation. As a woman, Hindu, Muslim, artist and mother, I see this challenge as a unique opportunity to create harmony through the expression of the universal in my art.”

Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet, Sufi mystic, jurist, and theologian. For seven hundred years his poetry and spiritual teachings have been revered by peoples throughout the world crossing borders of ethnicity and religion. His poems have been translated into many of the world’s languages and he has been a widely read and long admired poet in the United States.

Salma Arastu is an Indian artist, living in North America. Arastu is a native of Rajasthan and has a master’s degree in fine arts from MS University in Baroda. Her art works, whether paintings, sculptures or poetry speak of human universality. Her art form and techniques are greatly inter-woven with Arabic calligraphy, miniature arts and folk patterns.

Salma Arastu has almost 40 solo shows to her credit and has won several awards including East Bay Community’s fund for artists in 2012. Her works are displayed in public venues and she has authored three books: Dard Ki Seedhiyan in Hindi, The Lyrical Line: Embracing All and Flowing and Turning Rumi: Singing Verses of Love Unity and Freedom. For more information, call 510-981-6148

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 more info please call 510-981-6195 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least five working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

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Two Career Development events at The Berkeley Public Library: Develop Your Resume and Cover letter writing skills And Drop-in Job Counseling

Contact: Dan Beringhele
Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6145

Berkeley, November 20 2013 – The Berkeley Public Library hosts a Resume and Cover Letter Workshop on Monday November 25th at 6:00 pm in the 3rd Floor Community Meeting Room of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street.

This free workshop is led by resume expert Marilyn Tullius from Delta Strategies for Marketing.  She will address how to handle gaps in employment, focusing the resume for specific jobs, common dilemmas in resume writing; as well as answer individual questions. Attendees should bring copies of their current resume and cover letter for review and advice in a small group discussion setting.

The second event is the Career Counselors from North Cities One Stop drop-in career counseling held the fourth Wednesday of every month at 2:00. pm. in the Central Library’s Third Floor Electronic Classroom at 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley. This month’s session takes place Wednesday, November 27th.  Counselors will provide assistance with job search strategies, social networking, creating or improving a resume, interviewing, salary negation and more.

There will be no session in December. Drop-in career counseling will resume in 2014 on January 22nd at 2:00 pm.

The Library also has a large collection of books and media about career options, the job search, writing resumes and cover letters and more. Explore the Library’s online resources from your home computer including: Job Scout. Career Cruising, Learn a Test and several more. Practice taking a sample exam on Civil Service Real Estate or CBEST. A valid library card is required to check out items and to access the online job resources.

The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. For questions, please call 510-981-6195 (voice) or 510-548-1240 (TTY) or visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

 

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability.

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The Times They Are a Changing: At least when Library items are due at Berkeley Public Library

Contact: Jay Dickinson
Circulation Services Manager
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6174

Berkeley, November 21, 2013 – Effective December 1, 2013, the Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) approved proposed changes to the lending rules at all Berkeley Public Library locations. To make it easier to remember when items are due all items can be checked out for the same length of time and for the same number of renewals.

According to Jay Dickinson, Circulation Manager at the Central Library, “Changes were suggested in an effort to present a less confusing experience to our patrons. Other libraries have been making this move with success, so after some discussion we decided to take the leap.”

All library items now circulate for three weeks, have two renewals, and can be reserved. The new rules do not affect renewals on ADA cards, Link+ or eBooks.

Type of Item

Loan Period

Renew?

Books

21 days

2 renewals

Books on CD/Cassette

21 days

2 renewals

DVD/VHS

21 days

2 renewals

Magazines

21 days

2 renewals

Music CD/Cassettes

21 days

2 renewals

Library items can be renewed in person or using the self-checkout machines at the any Berkeley Public Library, by going online to “My Library Account” at the library website or by calling 510-981-6249. Renewals are not allowed on items that have hold request placed on them. For more information about the Berkeley Public Library go to http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/

For more information about the Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) for the Berkeley Public Library go to http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about_the_library/bolt/bolt.php

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“Travel” with the Berkeley Public Library - Traditional Art of Java: Batiks, Puppets & More

Contact: Jef Findley
Library Specialist II
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6142

 

Berkeley, November 20, 2013 – Weary of visas, long lines and traveling? Come to the Central Berkeley Library 3rd floor Community Meeting Room located at 2090 Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue on Saturday December 7, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a free entertaining and educational talk by collector Joseph Fisher. He will share samples of colorful Javanese art discuss its significance.

In addition, a free public exhibition: Traditional Art of Java: Batiks, Puppets & More will be display on the 2nd floor of the Central Library from November 26 to December 26, 2013. A diverse collection of objects that reflect religious practices, sacred rituals, myths and ancient skills will be on display in the large window display and in glass cases in the Lobby. Experience a display of puppets, dance/drama masks, batik cloths, bronzes and street vendor items made for tourists. The exhibit is presented and curated by Joseph Fischer, a former lecturer at U.C. Berkeley, Rangoon University (Burma) and Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia) author of five books on Indonesian art including Story Clothes of Bali, The Folk Art of Bali and The Folk Art of Java. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6148.

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org).

The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible.

For questions, please call 510-981-6195 (voice) or 510-548-1240 (TTY) or visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability.

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Two Career Development events at The Berkeley Public Library: Develop Your Resume and Cover letter writing skills And Drop in Job Counseling

Contact: Dan Beringhele
Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6145

 

Berkeley, November 20 2013 – The Berkeley Public Library hosts a Resume and Cover Letter Workshop on Monday November 25th at 6:00 pm in the 3rd Floor Community Meeting Room of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street.

This free workshop is led by resume expert Marilyn Tullius from Delta Strategies for Marketing.  She will address how to handle gaps in employment, focusing the resume for specific jobs, common dilemmas in resume writing; as well as answer individual questions. Attendees should bring copies of their current resume and cover letter for review and advice in a small group discussion setting.

The second event is the Career Counselors from North Cities One Stop drop-in career counseling held the fourth Wednesday of every month at 2:00. pm. in the Central Library’s Third Floor Electronic Classroom at 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley. This month’s session takes place Wednesday, November 27th.  Counselors will provide assistance with job search strategies, social networking, creating or improving a resume, interviewing, salary negation and more.

There will be no session in December. Drop-in career counseling will resume in 2014 on January 22nd at 2:00 pm.

The Library also has a large collection of books and media about career options, the job search, writing resumes and cover letters and more. Explore the Library’s online resources from your home computer including: Job Scout. Career Cruising, Learn a Test and several more. Practice taking a sample exam on Civil Service Real Estate or CBEST. A valid library card is required to check out items and to access the online job resources.

The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. For questions, please call 510-981-6195 (voice) or 510-548-1240 (TTY) or visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability.

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Learn Plumbing Basics at the South Branch Library and the Tool Lending Library

Berkeley, November 19, 2013 –The South Branch Library and the Tool Lending Library are offering a Plumbing Basics class taught by Jac Weber of Women’s Plumbing Repair.  This free program is on Saturday, December 7, 2013. It runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon in the South Branch Meeting Room at 1901 Russell Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and is open to everyone, with a special invitation to mothers, grandmothers, daughters and sisters. Learn how to use the tools from the Tool Lending Library to make minor plumbing repairs. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6101

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org).

South Branch Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m.; closed on Sunday.  Starting December 2nd all of the branch libraries will have extended hours on Tuesday­ and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wheelchair accessible. For questions, please call 510-981-6101 (voice) or 510-548-1240 (TTY) or visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability.

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Tibetan People and Landscapes of the Himalayas Photographs by Richard Christiani

Contact: Michele McKenzie
Librarian
Art & Music Department
510-981-6240

 

Berkeley, November 20, 2013 – Bay Area architect and photographer, Richard Christiani will speak about his experiences photographing the people and landscapes of the Himalayas at a free event on Sunday, December 1st at 2:00 p.m. in the 3rd floor Community Meeting Room of the Central Library. The photography exhibition will be on display from November 25th through February 2nd in the Catalog Lobby on the first floor of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck, downtown Berkeley.

This artist’s talk is presented in conjunction with an exhibit of Christiani’s striking color photographs, capturing the stark beauty of the Himalayas and the devoutness of the Tibetan people. An avid hiker and practicing Tibetan Buddhist, Christiani has completed six treks into remote regions of the Himalayas to visit some of Tibet’s most sacred Buddhist sites and dramatic landscapes. Richard Christiani is president of Christiani Johnson Architects, an award-winning San Francisco firm. In addition to completing undergraduate and graduate studies in architecture at U.C. Berkeley, he has formal training in both photography and art.

The free exhibit and free artist’s talk are sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org). For more information call 510-981-6241 or connect to www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org

The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible.

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

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Deni Béchard discusses his new book Empty Hands, Open Arms: The Race to Save Bonobos in the Congo and Make Conservation Go Viral

Isobel Schneider
Berkeley Library
510-981-6150
ischneider@ci.berkeley.ca.us

 

Berkeley-November 8, 2013 – Author Deni Bechard will discuss his newest book, Empty Hands, Open Arms: The Race to Save Bonobos in the Congo and Make Conservation Go Viral, in a free program at the Berkeley Public Library Central Library 2090 Kittredge Street, Sunday, November 17, 2013, at 2:00 pm, in the 3rd floor Community Meeting Room.

When acclaimed author Deni Béchard learned of the last living bonobos—great apes that are, along with chimpanzees, our closest relatives in the animal kingdom—he was astonished. How could the world accept the extinction of this majestic species, along with their rainforest home? Béchard discovered that one relatively small NGO, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI), has done more to save bonobos and their natural habitat than far larger organizations.

Based on extensive travels in the Congo and Rwanda, and hundreds of hours of interviews with conservationists, this book explores how BCI has been so successful. In contrast to many Western conservationists, BCI works closely with Congolese communities, addressing the underlying poverty and unemployment that lead to the hunting of bonobos. Deni Béchard is the author of a memoir, Cures for Hunger, and a novel, Vandal Love, which won the 2007 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. He writes for a wide range of publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Outside, and Salon.com.

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 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. For more info please call 510-981-6195 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

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Berkeley Public Library Hires New Deputy Director

Contact: Jenifer Shurson
Associate HR Analyst
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6105

 

Berkeley CA, November 8, 2013 – The Board of Library Trustees and Director of Library Services Donna Corbeil, are pleased to announce the selection of Suzanne Olawski as the Berkeley Public Library’s new Deputy Director. Ms. Olawski began her new position on October 28, 2013.

Ms. Olawski has worked in libraries for nearly twenty years and has served in either a supervisory or management capacity for almost all of her tenure. She previously worked for Solano County Library, serving as the Supervising Librarian of Training and Virtual Services, as well as Berkeley Public Library as the Neighborhood and Children’s Services Manager. In this capacity, Ms. Olawski was instrumental in the Branch Library improvement program. She worked closely with design teams and consultants on the Branch Facilities Master Plan, a $26 million branch improvement program to renovate, expand and make seismic and access improvements at Berkeley’s four neighborhood branch libraries. Most recently, Ms. Olawski served as the Deputy City Librarian of the City of San Mateo Public Library.

This year, Ms. Olawski was presented with a great professional opportunity when the Berkeley Public Library announced its recruitment for the position of Deputy Director of Library Services. From a pool of highly-qualified candidates, she was selected to be the new second in command of Berkeley’s dynamic Public Library that serves an equally dynamic, diverse and highly supportive community. Ms. Olawski is “excited to be rejoining the staff at the Berkeley Public Library, an incredible public institution committed to providing excellent service to the community through dedicated staff, diverse collections and programs and by supportive and committed trustees.” She has characterized her return to the Berkeley Public Library as a “privilege to be a part of such a dynamic team and to serve such a wonderfully diverse community.”

For questions regarding this appointment call 510-981- 6105.

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