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

Poetry & Jazz: A Mashup Concert at Berkeley Public Library

Berkeley, March 31, 2015—April is National Poetry Month and the Library is going all out with our Poetry & Jazz @Central Concert on Saturday, April 18, 2:00-4:00 pm at the Berkeley Public Library at 2090 Kittredge Street in the 3rd floor Community Meeting Room. We have a great lineup: Al Young  accompanied by John Wiitala on bass; with three more sets of notable poets and musicians as they present the words and music of poetry: Avotcja with Val Serrant on steel drums, Phavia Kujichagulia with Ron Williams on guitar, The Word-Music Continuum with poet Kirk Lumpkin and musicians: Paul Mills, Mark Wieder, and special guest, Q.R. Hand, Jr. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6150.

Al Young was named Poet Laureate of California in 2005. "Like jazz, Al Young is an original American voice." — Muriel Johnson, former Director of the California Arts Council. Young is the award-winning author of several screenplays and more than 22 books of poetry and non-fiction. His work has appeared in Paris Review, Ploughshares, Essence, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. Avotcja is an award winning poet & multi-instrumentalist. The 12th Annual Berkeley Poetry Festival honored Avotcja with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Her writing is published in English and Spanish in the USA, Mexico and Europe. “The passion and brutal honesty in her writing touches the depths of the hardest heart, while healing the damaged spirits of those gone astray.” — E.W. Wainwright of the African Roots Of Jazz. Phavia Kujichagulia calls herself a griot, an oral historian who utilizes music and poetry to reveal history. “Talking about Phavia Kujichagulia requires a certain amount of restraint. It would be easy and entirely appropriate to say she is a renaissance woman in the tradition of the 20th century’s first true eclectic, the late Paul Robeson” — Fresno Bee. The Word-Music Continuum is a unique performance ensemble uniting music with the spoken word. Ensemble members include Kirk Lumpkin doing poetry & percussion, Paul Mills on guitar, Mark Wieder on double bass.  “To say the house was rocked is an understatement. You were great! You showed us that the blend of word and music is limitless and that poetry has no bounds.” —William S. Gainer of the Nevada County Poetry Series.

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

Take a Mythological Adventure Back in Time with Kenn Adams’ Adventure Theater
at the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library

Berkeley, March30, 2015—Kenn Adams’ Adventure Theater presents The Myth-Adventures of Melanie Moe, a hilarious interactive theater performance that integrates tales from Greek mythology into a story with a modern day heroine. This exciting program takes place Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 3:30pm in the community meeting room at the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library. Kenn Adams’ Adventure Theater specializes in fast-paced, hilarious performances for kids. Audience members provide sound effects, become scenery, and even get to be the stars of the show. This is a free performance, appropriate for kids ages 8-12. Call 510-981-6223 for more information.

In The Myth-Adventures of Melanie Moe, Melanie Moe travels through time to ancient Greece and accidentally offends Hera, Queen of the Gods. This sets Melanie off on a perilous adventure to save all mortals from sure destruction, where she must battle the Cyclops, escape the Furies, and outwit the Sphinx, all with the help of kids from the audience. Kenn Adams is a professional playwright, performer, and teaching-artist, with over 23 years of experience creating and performing innovative theater for children and adults

Made possible by a generous gift from the Pace Trust, in support of the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library.

The North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library is located at 1170 The Alameda and is open Monday, 10:00am-6:00 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00am-8:00pm, Thursday 12noon -8:00pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10:00am-6:00pm.

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
510-981-6145

Enjoy Unlimited Possibilities @ Berkeley Public Library
Celebrate National Library Week -- April 12-18, 2015

Berkeley, March 30, 2015–The Berkeley Public Library joins libraries nationwide in celebrating National Library Week (April 12 through 18, 2015), to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers. “The theme for National Library Week is ‘Unlimited Possibilities @ your library’,” said Jeff Scott, Director of the Berkeley Public Library. “We serve Berkeley by providing wireless, computer access, technology classes, story times, adult literacy classes, concerts, author talks, books, magazines, videos, music and more—all free!”

Here are a few of the programs that we are offering during National Library Week 2015:

These above are just a few of the many events offered this week and every week at the Berkeley Public Library. See our online events calendar for more information.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. Libraries and librarians are change agents within their communities – transforming lives through innovative educational resources and forward-thinking programming. Libraries work to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities do not have. Libraries promote democracy by providing service to all regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic status.

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: Rachel MacNeilly
Library Services Manager
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195

New Teen Room at the Berkeley Public Library’s Central Library

Berkeley, CA March 24, 2015—The Berkeley Public Library invites you to attend a Special Workshop of the Board of the Library Trustees to hear updates on the Central Library’s Teen Room Project on Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30pm at the South Branch Library, 1901 Russell Street. The design team of Noll & Tam will present an update on schematic design and layouts affecting the first two floors of the Central Library. All community members are invited to attend this special workshop. The Board of Library Trustees’ regular meeting starts at 6:30pm.

See more information at: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about/planning/central-library-space-improvements

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 us at https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
    

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



 

Two Berkeley Public Library Branches Receive Berkeley Design Associates Awards
 

Berkeley CA  March 24, 2015—Berkeley Public Library’s branch libraries are winning accolades again; this time from the Berkeley Design Advocates. Both the West Branch and South Branch libraries were honored for outstanding design, along with ten other building projects, in the 11th biennial BDA Design Awards ceremony. The ceremony was held Wednesday, March 18 at the Aurora Theater in Berkeley. This year BDAs honored twelve projects completed between January 2013 and December 2014. BDA is a membership organization of architects, landscape architects, planners, builders and design professionals established in 1973 to promote excellence in the built environment of Berkeley.

Jeff Scott, Library Director, was delighted about the awards, “These branches are beautiful and functional. Our branch improvement program continues being a great success with the public and our buildings keep winning awards.”

The new South Branch Library opened in April 2013 and is located at 1901 Russell Street. South Branch was designed by Field Paoli Architects and received LEED Gold Certification in 2014. The new West Branch Library open in December 2014 and is located 1125 University Avenue. The Principle architects were Harley Ellis Devereaux. West Branch is the first Zero Net Library in California. LEED Certification is pending.    

The North Branch Library and its design team were honored by BDA in 2013. Berkeley Public Library completed its Branch Improvement program in 2014. For more information about Berkeley Public Library call 510-091-6195 or view our website: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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

Focus on the Cello at Berkeley Public Library’s Claremont Branch

Berkeley, March 23, 2015— Enjoy an evening performance with Berkeley’s own Jewish Music and Poetry Project on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00pm at the Claremont Branch Library located at 2940 Benvenue at Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. The concert includes the world premiere of Berkeley composer William Ludtke’s Op. 155, Three Songs for soprano and cello with poems by Berkeley poet Marcia Falk and the U.S. premiere of Hungarian Lajos Delej’s Scherzo, recently rediscovered in the BBC archives. The poet, Marcia Falk, will read her poems. For more information about this event call 510-981-6280.

The Jewish Music & Poetry Project consists of soprano Nanette McGuinness, composer David Garner, pianist Dale Tsang, and cellist Adaiha Macadam-Somer. The Project's mission is to bring new, nearly new, forbidden and forgotten music to light, by performing, commissioning, and recording new chamber music and song cycles with texts by Jewish women poets, particularly those from 20th-21st century Germany. JMPP also performs music by Jewish composers, especially, but not only so-called Verfemte or “outlaw” artists. The Project occasionally detours to other lands, poets and musicians whose works intrigue or delight them. Learn more about the Jewish Music & Poetry Project at http://jewishmusicandpoetryproject.webs.com/.
This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library: http://www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org/.

The Claremont Branch Library is located at 2940 Benvenue at Ashby, 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: Suzanne Olawski,
Deputy Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
 

New Teen Room at the Berkeley Public Library’s Central Library

Berkeley, CA March 13, 2015—The Berkeley Public Library invites you to attend a community meeting to hear updates on the Central Library’s Teen Room Project on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00pm in the third floor Community Meeting Room at the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street. The design team of Noll & Tam will present an update on schematic design and layouts affecting the first two floors of the Central Library. All community members are invited to attend this meeting.

A Board of Library Trustees workshop on this project is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30pm at the South Branch Library, 1901 Russell Street. This event is open to the public.

See more information at: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about/planning/central-library-space-improvements

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 our website: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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

Grow Your Garden @Claremont Library
Two Spring Garden Workshops with Lori Caldwell

Berkeley, March 3, 2015—The Berkeley Public Library’s Claremont Branch welcomes Alameda County Master Composter and Bay-Friendly Gardener, Lori Caldwell, for two spring programs: Gardening 101 on Wednesday March 4 at 6:30pm and Eat What You Grow on Wednesday March 11 at 6:30pm.

In the first workshop, you will learn how easy and fun gardening can be! Lori will cover healthy soil building, transplanting, and plant choice by season, seeds vs. starts and non-toxic pest control. In the second workshop, Lori will talk about everything you need to know to get your edible garden started, including cover crop rotation, soil fertility, plant succession, transplanting seedlings, watering /irrigation and the best crops for your garden. For questions regarding either program, call 510-981-6280.

Lori Caldwell is an Alameda County Master Composter, avid edible gardener and Bay-Friendly Qualified Landscape Professional. She has been happily teaching sustainable gardening classes all over the Bay Area since 2007. Her mission is to connect people to the soil and all that it provides.
These free programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org.

The Claremont Branch is located at 2940 Benvenue at Ashby, Berkeley CA 94705, and is open: Monday, 10:00 am-6:00pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00 am-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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