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

Story Time for Adults at Berkeley Public Library:
Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily

Berkeley, September 29, 2015 – Twilight is coming earlier and earlier. Soon Jack o’ lanterns and skeletons will appear on porches. Trick or treating is on kids’ minds, but why should children have all the fun? Adults and teens, come celebrate Halloween at the Berkeley Public Library with a Southern Gothic masterpiece, William Faulkner’s short story, A Rose for Emily. This free performance is Saturday, October 31 at 3:00pm at  the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge (at Shattuck) in the fourth floor Story Room.

Experience Faulkner in a new light: with two kinds of puppets, sound effects, sets, and multiple readers. A Rose for Emily is the darkly humorous tale of a Southern spinster whose secrets emerge posthumously, through the voices of her hometown neighbors. After the performance, stay and discuss the story, genre and author. This is the first in a series of readers theater presentations intended for teen and adult audiences. Watch for future shows featuring Southern Gothic voices such as Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy. For more information, call 510-981-6241.

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.

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

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.

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Contact: Shani Leonards
Library Specialist II, Claremont Branch
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-9280
 

Chilling Tales: A Halloween Story-time for Grown-Ups
at Claremont and North Branch Libraries

Berkeley CA. September 29, 2015—Leaves are falling and it’s cooler and darker earlier each evening. We even had a touch of rain. It is time to gather around our fireplace and hear bone-chilling tales for grown-ups! Berkeley Public Library will be sharing Chilling Tales: A Halloween Story time for Grown-ups twice in October.

Come by the Claremont Branch Library on Tuesday, October 27 from 6:30-7:45pm at 2940 Benvenue Avenue at Ashby; or visit North Branch Library on Wednesday, October 28 from 6:30-7:45pm. Be thrilled by the chilling tales read aloud by your otherwise friendly librarians! Bring your flashlights and garlic cloves! If once isn’t enough you can be scared the next night, too — if you dare! Call Claremont Branch at 510-981-6280 or North Branch at 510-981-6250 for more information.

The free program at Claremont Branch is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. The event at North Branch is made possible by a generous gift from the Pace Trust, in support of the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library.

The Claremont Branch Library is located at 2940 Benvenue Ave @ Ashby, one block West of College in Berkeley’s Elmwood District. The North Branch Library is located at 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. Branches are 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

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.

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Contact: Sarah Dentan
Acting Library Director
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
 

North Branch of Berkeley Public Library Closed for Bedbug Eradication

    

Berkeley CA September 25, 2015--The North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, located at Hopkin and 1170 The Alameda was closed Friday morning to allow for treatment of bedbugs. The Library will remain closed through Monday, September 28, to allow for sustained treatment using heat and steam and is expected to be open as usually at 10L00am Tuesday September 29, 2015. The Art of HOWL program that was scheduled for September 26 has been postponed.

The treatment was decided upon Friday morning, shortly after bedbug-sniffing dogs identified the possible presence of bedbug in three specific areas of the library: the downstairs men’s restroom, underneath the desks of the public computer area and chair in the adult reading area. There is no indication that library materials are involved

Out of an abundance of caution, bedbug-sniffing dogs will evaluate all library locations over the next week.

Bedbug are not considered a public health hazard, as they ae not know to spread disease.

The California Department of Public health has a number of helpful documents on their bedbug page, including a general factsheet. The U.S. EPA also has a number of documents on their bedbug page, including document about protecting your home, protecting yourself at school or office and tips for travel.

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Contact: Sarah Dentan
Acting Director, Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195

News From Berkeley READS:
League of Women Voters Honors Berkeley Public Library’s
 Berkeley READS with Spirit of the League Award
And Upcoming Tutor Training Session

Berkeley, CA September 3, 2015—The Berkeley Public Library was delighted to hear that the Berkeley/Albany/ Emeryville League of Women Voters (LWVBAE) will honor Berkeley READS, our Adult and Family Literacy Program. “Berkeley READS is an amazing community resource,” says Acting Library Director, Sarah Dentan, “We are so pleased that they have been recognized by The League.”

The 2015 Community Luncheon is Monday, September 21 at Hs Lordships at the Berkeley Marina at 11:30am with Meet & Greet. The Luncheon and program are from 12-1:30pm. Also being honored at the 2015 Community Luncheon is Senator Loni Hancock (9th District, CA). In addition to receiving a spirit of the League award for Outstanding Leadership for California, she will be the Distinguished Speaker. Her topic is Working for Democracy: Reflections of an Activist. Tickets are $80-100; Tables are $640. For reservations please Contact the League by email: luncheon@LWVBAE.org or call 510-8824. RSVP by September 14, 2015.

The invitation to the Awards ceremony says. “Berkeley READS is an adult and family literacy program provided free by the Library to individuals in our community who wish to improve their reading skills. Since Berkeley READs began in 1987, its volunteers have worked with nearly 1,500 student and 300 families in small group and in weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions. We are pleased to confer upon Berkeley READS our Spirit of the League award for efforts of its staff and volunteers to make our community members better readers and thus better citizens.”

Learn more about volunteering as an adult literacy tutor with Berkeley READS Adult & Family Literacy Program  by coming to the Tutor Orientation Thursday, September 24, 6:45-8:00pm. See if Berkeley READS is the "right fit" for you. Then follow up with the Part 1 of Tutor Training on Saturday, September 26, 10:00am - 4:00pm where you learn practical tips for tutoring and Part 2  on Thursday, October 1 between 6:45-8:00pm. Attendance is required for both sessions in order to become a tutor. All sessions are in the Berkeley READS office at the West Branch Library - 1125 University Avenue near San Pablo Avenue. For more information about Berkeley READS, call 510-981-6299.

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Contact: Sarah Dentan
Acting Director, Library Services
 Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195

Congresswoman Barbara Lee nominated Berkeley Public Library
for National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Berkeley CA. September 3, 2015—Each year the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) presents select museums and libraries with the nation’s highest honor, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) from California’s 13th Congressional District recently nominated the Berkeley Public Library for the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This annual award is presented in May by the IMLS to underscore the significant contributions that museums and libraries make to their communities.

The award honors institutions that demonstrate extraordinary approaches to serving their constituents and that exceed expected levels of community outreach. Sarah Dentan, Acting Berkeley Public Library Director was pleased. “Just to be nominated is an honor for the Library and the community it serves, she said. It shows recognition of our programs and services to the citizens of Berkeley.”

All types of nonprofit libraries and library organizations, including academic, school, special libraries, archives, library associations, and library consortia, are eligible to receive this honor. Public or private nonprofit museums of any discipline (including general, art, history, science and technology, children’s, and natural history and anthropology), as well as historic houses and sites, arboretums, nature centers, aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and planetariums are eligible as well.

Winners are honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, host a two-day visit from StoryCorps to record community member stories, and receive positive media attention. Approximately thirty finalists are selected as part of the process and are featured by IMLS during a six-week social media and press campaign. Winning the medal elevates an institution’s profile and can positively impact fundraising, programming, and outreach activities.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The IMLS’s mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov

For more information about the Berkeley Public Library, please call 510-981-6195 or go to www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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