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

Reserve a Space for Your Community Meeting @Claremont Library

Berkeley, February 26, 2015—Beginning March 2, advanced reservations can be made to use the Berkeley Public Library’s Claremont Branch flexible programming space. The space is available Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. The first available date to reserve the space is Tuesday, March 17. Reservations are free to Berkeley-based community groups, organizations and government agencies. The flexible programming space is located at the rear of the Children’s area and has space for three tables and chairs for up to 25 attendees.

Usage is limited to once per month per organization. Reservations are taken no less than two weeks in advance and no more than 12 weeks in advance. Additional rules and regulations for the use of the rooms and equipment can be found in our Meeting Room Use Policy. For questions regarding this service, please call 510-981-6280 or visit our website at http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/library/meeting-rooms

The Claremont Branch is located at 2940 Benvenue and Ashby Avenue, Berkeley CA 94705, and is open: Monday, 10:00am-6:00pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00am-8:00pm, Thursday 12 noon-8:00pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10:00am-6:00pm. For more information about this program, call 510-981-6280.

Wheelchair accessible. For questions, 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. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Erica Dean Glenn
Senior Librarian, Children’s Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6229

Celebrate the Persian New Year
With the Golden Thread Fairytale Players at Berkeley Public Library
 

Berkeley, February 27—Celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, with the Berkeley Public Library and the Golden Thread Fairytale Players with 21 Days that Change the Year, a free performance for the entire family. The Golden Thread Fairytale Players, the first American theatre company focused on the Middle East, perform Saturday, March 14 at 11:00am in the third floor Community Meeting Room, Central Library at 2090 Kittredge. Fusing history and literature with contemporary arts, 21 Days That Change the Year offers a multi-cultural event providing children and their families with the richness of Middle Eastern arts and culture. Call 510-981-6223 for more information.

This program replaces our regular Saturday morning Family Story Time and is best for children five years and up. This enriching and humorous performance frames an ancient tale by 10th Century Persian poet Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Epic of Kings) through the contemporary adventures of Dara & Sara, a sister and brother eagerly awaiting Nowruz. The performance includes music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, audience participation, and a chance for a couple of lucky kids to be part of the story.

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

The Central Library is located at 2090 Kittredge Street and is open Monday, noon - 8:00pm, Tuesday, 10:00am - 8:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm.
Wheelchair accessible. For questions, 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. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Jeff Scott
Director Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195

Berkeley Public Library’s
West Branch is First Zero Net Energy Library™ in California

Berkeley, February 17, 2015 — In its first year of operation Berkeley Public Library’s West Branch produced more energy than it used– leading to official certification as the first “net zero” library in the state and only the third municipal building of its kind in the nation. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is in the final stages of certification for West Branch and plans to present the West Berkeley Zero Net project during their National Conference this April in Seattle.

“Libraries embody a community’s values,” said Jeff Scott, the Director of Library Services. “It’s fitting that the Berkeley Public Library’s West Berkeley branch brings together City values of education and sustainability. This is an amazing accomplishment by Berkeley voters, library patrons, a dedicated group of Berkeley Public Library staff and our local design firms and contractors.”

In November 2008, Berkeley voters also overwhelmingly passed Measure FF, a $26 million bond dedicated for construction at City libraries. Energy efficiency played a critical role in each redesign, which also led to the creation of larger, seismic safer and more innovative libraries for users. To date, three Berkeley Public Library Branches have been awarded LEED Certification: South Branch is Gold, Claremont and North Branch are Silver. Library and City leaders hope to get Platinum Certification – the highest LEED certification – for the West Berkeley Branch.

“West Branch Library is performing beyond our expectations,” said Neal DeSnoo, the Energy Program Officer for the City of Berkeley. The building embodies a confluence of citizen interests: the city’s library system and climate action. In 2006, the City’s Climate Action Plan was approved by more than 82 percent of Berkeley voters. It set a goal of reducing local greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. A key component is reducing the impact of residential and commercial buildings by using renewable resources and increasing energy efficiency.

Large windows and long skylights result in less need for artificial light during the day. Ventilation uses the wind to cool the building on hot days. Radiant piping under the floor circulates hot water during cold months and cool water during warmer months. Over the past year, the 9,300-square-foot West Branch Library’s solar panels produced 7,027 kWh of electricity more than it needed, a finding verified by the nonprofit New Building Institute. This is enough to power two average-sized Berkeley homes for a year.

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Contact: Jeff Scott
Director, Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
 

Berkeley Public Library Releases Annual Report for 2014
 

Berkeley, February 12, 2015—The Berkeley Public Library Annual Report covering the 2014 fiscal year is now available! This report highlights the various programs and activities of the library including a fiscal summary.

Some important benchmarks:

• 1.3 million visitors
• 109,078 new library cards
• 1,973,998 books circulated
• 320,385 questions answered (a 66% increase from last year)
• Library hours increased to 52 hours a week

The month-long public celebration, Branch Out, highlighted increased service hours and showcased our four newly reopened branch libraries.
Berkeley Public Library continues to be one of the most heavily used library systems in California, with over one million visits to the library last year. Our annual report gives more details on how we served the community, as well as the array of free public programs presented throughout the year. To read more about the library go http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about/planning.

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Contact: Debbie Carton
Art & Music Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6236
 
 

SF Shakespeare presents As You Like It at Central Library

Berkeley, February 10– Berkeley Public Library welcomes the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival as they present the touring company’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at 2:00pm at the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge in the third floor Community Meeting Room.

Join Rosalind, Orlando, Celia, and Touchstone as they escape to the Forest of Arden in Shakespeare’s classic comedy focusing on love, loss and redemption. With a hilarious love triangle, mistaken identities and an exciting wrestling match, this production is a sure delight for all ages. As You Like It features one of Shakespeare’s strongest heroines, thought provoking family dynamics and the famous “All the world’s a stage…” speech. The 55-minute touring production presents a cast of five professional actors in costume, with set, props and recorded music. Following the performance is a question and answer session with the cast. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6241.

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

The Central Library is located at 2090 Kittredge Street and is open Monday, noon - 8:00pm, Tuesday, 10:00am - 8:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm.

Wheelchair accessible. For questions, 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. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: James Moore
Branch Manager, South Branch
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6265
 

Autris Paige performs as Paul Robeson, Renaissance Man,
at Berkeley Public Library’s South Branch

Berkeley, February 4—Nationally known baritone Autris Paige explores the life of Paul Robeson  through the words and songs of the great singer, actor and political activist.  Paige is accompanied by pianist Loni Williams. This special event is one of many free public programs occurring at the Berkeley Public Library during February: African American History month. This performance takes place at South Branch Library in Berkeley on Saturday, February 21 at 1:00pm in the Community Meeting Room.  

Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is a towering figure in American history. Mr. Paige's presentation of Robeson's speeches and writings, together with songs he made famous, will shed new light on Robeson's history and legacy. For more information about this event call 510-981-6260.

A Bay Area native, Mr. Paige attended McClymonds High School in Oakland and San Francisco State University. He then traveled to southern California, for advanced study in musical theater at the University of Southern California. He made his professional debut with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera in Candide. A versatile performer, Mr. Paige has appeared with Ray Charles and Eartha Kitt on Broadway and at major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera and San Francisco Opera.

This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. (http://www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org)

South Branch is located at 1901 Russell at Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94703 and is open: Monday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00 am-8:00 pm, Thursday 12 noon -8:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm. For more information about this program call 510-981-6260

Wheelchair accessible. For questions, 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. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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