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Community Survey

Help shape the future of Berkeley Public Library! We are working on a strategic plan and need your feedback to make improvements and prioritize initiatives.

This survey should only take 5 minutes to complete. All responses are optional and anonymous.

Thanks for your participation!

Take the Survey

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Come Talk to Us

Want to chat and provide feedback for the strategic plan? Attend a session via Zoom or an in-person drop-in session at your local branch. We value your time and input!

Dates & Times

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Upcoming Local Author Events

 

Janet Byron & Robert Johnson

North
Saturday, July 8
2pm

Celebrate the publication of the 3rd Edition of Berkeley Walks.

Byron and Johnson will lead a guided walk from North and then return to the branch for a book launch celebration with cake.

 

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Cartoons and Crime:
Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell and Rita Sapunor

Central
Saturday, July 8
2pm

Calling all true crime fans and graphic novel fans! Come downtown to Central for a conversation on the blending of humor, nonfiction, and comics.

Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell is a cartoonist for the New Yorker and the author of the graphic novel Murder Book which details her true crime obsession.

Rita Sapunor is an Oakland-based autobiographical cartoonist for New York Magazine, Vice, and the RESIST anthologies. Most recently she illustrated She The People: A Graphic History of Uprisings, Breakdowns, Setbacks, Revolts, and Enduring Hope on the Unfinished Road to Women's Equality.

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Hannah Michell

North
Wednesday, July 26
6:30pm

Berkeley-based writer and professor, Hannah Michell will discuss her new novel Excavations with Left Margin LIT Co-founder David Roderick.

Michell's work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mslexia and Asian Review of Books.

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July is National Zine Month

DIY Zines for Adults & Teens West Wednesday, July 5 & 19 6pm	Intro to Zines for All Ages Central Saturday, July 8 1pm
Make a Zine with Bay Area Queer Zine Fest Central Saturday, July 15 2pm	How to Make Comic Zines for Adults & Teens Central Friday, July 21 4pm

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More July Highlights

Plan Your Next Vacation with Library Resources

Central
Monday, July 17
1pm

Learn how to leverage online tools, our e-book travel collection and other library resources to plan your next vacation.

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International Chess Day Tournament

North
Saturday, July 22
2-5pm

The Library is holding a first ever International Chess Day Tournament with two separate age categories, youth and adults.

Trophies and medals will be up for grabs in this causally competitive competition. Come test your skills and meet some other chess fanatics!

Register

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Intro to US Citizenship

Virtual via Zoom
Thursday, July 20
6:30pm

Learn about different parts of the citizenship test, the application process, how to get a tutor and help studying for the test. Plus, learn about library resources to practice for the test on your own.

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ChatGPT and Me: Learn to Use AI Technology

Central
Wednesday, July 26 @ 2pm
Saturday, July 29 @ 2pm

Come to our computer lab downtown and try out some of the newest AI technologies, including Chat GPT (text generator) and DALL-E (art generator).

Members from the UC Berkeley Kavli Center for Ethics, Science, and the Public will be there to facilitate a discussion of these new technologies and the governance surrounding them.

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Latin Jazz Concert: Charged Particles

Central, 5th Floor
Friday, July 28
4pm

Join Bay Area jazz trio Charged Particles for an afternoon of funky Latin jazz.

Jazz News Magazine describes their music as “fresh, energized jazz that showcases the trio’s individual technical mastery" and the Los Angeles Times compliments their “tight interplay, spark, and personal flair.”

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Learn to Play Ukulele Tarea Hall Pittman South Saturday, July 1 2pm *We will have a limited number of ukueleles available. Feel free to bring your own!

Teamwork Thursday: Bring Your Own Work or Project Claremont Thursdays 6pm

Free Bike Repair North Friday, July 7 10:30am Tarea Hall Pittman South Thursday, July 20 12noon

Death Cafe - Discussion Group West Saturday, July 8 1:30pm

Resumes Workshops via Zoom Tips to Add Zest, Impact & Memorability Tuesday, July 11 5pm Resumes + How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Tuesday, July 25 5pm

Collage in Community & Listen to Coltrane

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Thursday, July 13
6:30pm

Board Game Night for Adults North Wednesday, July 12 5pm	Cafe Ohlone Talks: Cooking Demonstration via Zoom Wednesday, July 12 6pm
Poetry Circle Claremont Tuesday, July 18 6pm	Queeraoke Central Tuesday, July 18 5:30pm West Thursday, July 20 5:30pm

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Film at the Library

Come watch great films with your neighbors! Claremont has weekly film screenings for adults and a special animated afternoon for kids. West has a film & discussion club for adults and a summer movie series for kids. Tarea Hall Pittman South has bi-weekly film screenings this summer. Want to stay home and stream great films for free? We have recommendations.

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Teens: Become Berkeley's First Ever Youth Poet Laureate

The Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate Program is a project to elevate and amplify Berkeley teens’ voices through poetry. Teens will get a chance to explore their civic voices, join a cohort of young writers, and help nurture a writing environment at the library and in school this Fall.

One person will be named Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate for 2024!

Applications accepted July 1 – September 5.

More Information

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Teens: Stranger Things Party North Tuesday, July 18 4pm!

Dungeons & Dragons Club for Ages 14-22 West Tuesday, July 25 4pm

  

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Lunch at the Library

Ages 18 and under: Through August 10, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (except July 4th) lunch will be served at the Central Library from 12noon - 2pm.

Also, join activities like art and writing workshops, story times, cooking demos, films, and more. For example, on Thursday July 27, stay for comedy, juggling and hambone body percussion with Unique Derique.

Presented in collaboration with Berkeley Unified School District. Funding provided by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library and the CA State Library.

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More Summer Fun for Kids

Art Play with MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art) Central Tuesdays 1-3pm

Family Game Night West Thursday, July 6 5:30pm

Traveling Reptile Show Tarea Hall Pittman South Tuesday, July 18 3:30pm

Cascada de Flores: Concert "The Wizard & the Mermaid" in English & Español

Claremont
Friday, July 14
3pm

 

Gamelan Sekar Jaya: Balinese Music and Dance

Claremont
Saturday, July 22
3pm

Evening Story Times Central Mondays @ 6:30pm North Thursdays @6:30pm *Feel free to wear your PJs!

Musical Instrument Petting Zoo - 100+ instruments! West Saturday, July 22 2-4pm

Cartooning for Kids Tarea Hall Pittman South Saturday, July 22 3pm

Learn String Tricks (ages 7 & up)

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tuesday, July 25
4pm

 

Germar the Bilingual (Español & Spanish) Magician West Friday, July 28 3:30pm

Award-winning Magician James Chan - 15 years old! North Saturday, July 29 11am

Don't Forget to Sign up for Summer Reading!

Adults, Teens & Kids: join us this for reading and learning fun this Summer (ends August 5th).

Read (or listen to) books, do activities, come to library events, and win great prizes too. Free sign-up books, too, while supplies last.

There is much more happening in July!

Event Calendar

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Programming is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. Thank you, Friends!

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Library Services Updates

• The Library's website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org has a plug-in that quickly translates it into 100+ languages.
• All locations open late on Friday, June 30 at 11am for an all staff meeting.
• All Library buildings are closed on Tuesday, July 4.

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For more event info, book recommendations and other fun things...

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Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, California 94704
510-981-6100

berkeleypubliclibrary.org

 

The Berkeley Public Library has launched a strategic planning initiative to better serve community needs as we look to the future. We want to know what you think and welcome all community input! Let us know your views through The Berkeley Public Library Community Survey.

Printable Survey - English

Printable Survey - English Large Print

Printable Survey - Arabic

Printable Community Survey - Chinese

Printable Survey - Spanish

Printable Survey - Vietnamese

Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
(510) 981-6100
tmayer@berkeleyca.gov

Berkeley Public Library Launches First Youth Poet Laureate Program
Applications Accepted July 1 – August 5

Berkeley, California (June 28, 2023) – Teens, join the first ever Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate program to elevate and amplify Berkeley teen voices through poetry. Whatever your poetry style is, join the cohort!

Everyone who applies will be invited to participate in ongoing writing workshops in partnership with Berkeley High School, the City of Berkeley, and other local organizations throughout the Summer and Fall of 2023.

In the late Fall, a panel of community leaders with expertise in creative writing and poetry will review applications and the work created by program participants and a Poet Laureate and a Vice Poet Laureate will be announced at a celebration in January 2024. 

Throughout 2024, the chosen Laureate and Vice Laureate will perform at public events and have the opportunity to lead a community art project. Also, the Laureate will be eligible to represent Berkeley in the National Youth Poet Laureate competition.

“All our youth poets will get a chance to explore, write, and learn together as they develop their civic voices and present poems to be considered for the 2024 Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate Role,” says Robyn Brown, teen librarian, with excitement.

Poets should apply between July 1-September 15 at www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/berkeley-youth-poet-laureate-program or a paper application can be obtained at any of the five Berkeley Public Library locations.

Applicants must be 13-18 years old as of January 1, 2024. Additionally, they must live in or go to school in Berkeley for the calendar year of 2024 and not be enrolled in college full-time.

“The City of Berkeley is known for outspoken, artistic, and socially conscious residents, and we look forward to highlighting the teens that embody that spirit,” notes Kirsten Mandalay, teen librarian.

The Berkeley Public Library champions lifelong learning and community connections, both of which play big roles in this program. The goal for this program is to encourage teens to engage with their community in a meaningful way, through literature and the arts.

The program is created in partnership with Urban Word and is the first of its kind in Berkeley.

For questions regarding this program, email youthpoet@berkeleyca.gov.

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
(510) 981-6100
tmayer@cityofberkeley.info
 

Author Visit, Documentary Screening and Punk Concert
James Spooner, Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries & 924 Gilman
 

Berkeley, California (June 16, 2023) – On Saturday, June 24 at 2pm, meet the award-winning author, tattoo artist, illustrator, and filmmaker James Spooner. He will be in conversation with Justin Hall, celebrated San Franciscan academic and cartoonist.

Spooner’s coming-of-age memoir, The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere., depicts his reckoning with identity, racism, clumsy teen love and belonging in an isolated California desert town and in the punk community. It was named in Publisher’s Weekly best of 2022 and received the Alex Award in 2023.

The author talk will conclude with a book signing and then a live musical performance by special guests, Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries, whose punk shows have been described by the Los Angeles Times as “…scaffolded by rage, humor and joy… celebrating queer life while shouting down sexism, racism, fatphobia and homophobia.”

This Library event is being held at Berkeley’s iconic Alternative Music Foundation, better known as 924 Gilman or just “Gilman.”

“We love being able to partner with the Library and provide a space to center artists of all kinds,” says Lexi vdV, community coordinator of The Alternative Music Foundation, “And, we are looking forward to the event so we can get our copies of The High Desert signed!”

The event will last from 2pm-5pm. Walk-ins may be accommodated the day of the event, but reserving FREE tickets is highly recommended: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/author-talk-james-spooner-and-special-guests.

“When I was a teen, DIY punk venues were a lifeline,” says teen librarian Brianna Arellano-Meli. “Having accessible, creative spaces to meet and make friends, see and play shows, and make and enjoy a variety of art practices are values of community building and resource-sharing fundamental to libraries as well. This is going to be a very special, fun and loud community event!”
James Spooner helps host another library event, earlier in the week, as well.

On Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30pm, attend a film screening at the Central Library of his award-winning 2003 documentary, Afro-Punk, that celebrates the contributions and talent of African American punk musicians and activists. A live virtual presentation and Q&A session with him will follow.

Learn more about Spooner’s career and 924 Gilman event details on the Library’s website.

For questions about these the film screening and author event, please contact Brianna Arellano-Meli at (510) 981-6238.

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510.981.6100
tmayer@cityofberkeley.info
 

Free Summer Lunch for Youth at Berkeley Public Library’s Central Library
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12noon-2pm until August 10

Berkeley, California (June 14, 2023) – Calling all youth eighteen (18) and under: come enjoy free lunch every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this Summer at the Central Library on Kittredge, located between Shattuck and Milvia in downtown Berkeley. The Central Library is just a few steps away from Berkeley High School. Lunch is on the third floor in the Library’s Community Meeting Room.

In addition to lunch, youth can play board games, take home a free book, and engage in various other activities like LEGO free-play, crafts and creative writing.

On Tuesdays there will be a special art & crafts session with MOCHA (Museum of Children’s Art) from 1-3pm and on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm there will be weekly cooking shows on a variety of topics with AAVECafe; for example, today’s cooking show is “African Cuisine and the Roots of Juneteenth.”

Menus can be previewed on the Library’s event calendar and are designed to fulfill USDA nutrition standards.  Baby food pouches are available for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years, and snacks are available for caregivers, while supplies last. Note that children under the age of eight (8) should be accompanied by an adult.

“We know that food insecurity continues to be a concern for many families in Berkeley and summer time can exacerbate this issue, because kids and caregivers can't count on the regularity of meals provided in school during the school year,” notes Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services. “Being part of this important community program is just another way to welcome families and youth into our libraries.”

Elaine Tai, Supervising Librarian for Children’s Services at Berkeley Public Library echoes this, “we hope the Library serves as a fun space for tots, kids, tweens, and teens to be able to get lunch and enjoy fun activities throughout the summer.”

The Summer Food Service Program is a program of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, administered in California by the California Department of Education. The Library’s participation is funded in part by the California State Library’s Lunch at the Library grant program supported with funds from the State of California, and with meal sponsorship from Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD). Additional funds for supplies provided by the Friends of the Public Library.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with Berkeley Public Library to provide free healthy nutritious lunches to our Berkeley youth,” says Bonnie Christenson, Director of Nutrition Services at the BUSD.

Events are wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter or other accessibility services, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY). Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

For questions regarding Lunch at the Library at Central, please call Elaine Tai at (510) 981-6231.

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
 

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Summer Reading is for All Ages
Lecturas de Verano
年暑期阅读活动 

Adults, Kids and Teens: Join us for reading and learning fun this summer! Read (or listen to) books, do activities, come to library events, and win great prizes. Free sign-up books, too.

Log Your Progress: "What Counts?"

For Kids

• Read a book or an e-book for 20 minutes
• Listen to a someone else read a book or to an audiobook for 20 minutes
• Attend a library program
• Visit a museum (get free passes with Discover and Go)
• Go on a nature walk

 

 

For Teens & Adults

 

• Read a physical or e-book
• Read a graphic novel or manga
• Attend a library program
• Write a poem or short story
• Make a recipe from a cookbook
• Read a magazine or e-magazine
• Watch a free movie with Kanopy or Hoopla
• Listen to an e-audiobook on Libby or Hoopla
• Read your favorite book from childhood
• Sing your favorite song
• Listen to free music (digitally with Alexander Street, Hoopla, Naxos or check out vinyl and CDs!) 

 

Reminder: Library staff are here to help you find reading materials and to use the online collections and resources.  Just ask us!  Come into our libraries or give us a call at 510.981.6100, option 4.

 

What Could I Win?

Kids: a karaoke machine; gift cards to places like Pegasus Books & Mr. Mopp's Toys and Books; passes to such as the Bay Area Discovery and Chabot Space & Science Museum; a new 8 speed bike, a ukulele & more!

Teens & Adults: a karaoke machine, 924 Gilman Street tickets & t-shirt; gift card from Pegasus Books; a ukulele; a Crystal 17 Key Kalimba; an Otamatone Electronic Synthesizer, a Fujifilm Instax camera bundle & more!

 

Thank you to all our summer reading sponsors who make these prizes possible!

 

 

Free Sign-Up Books

Sign up for summer reading and receive a free book to keep. Sign-up books are available at all Berkeley Public Library locations, while supplies last.

 

Adult Sign-Up Books

Teen Sign-Up Books

 

Kids Sign-Up Books

This Saturday: Summer Reading Party

Central

Saturday, June 10
1:30-4pm

 

There are many events at our Libraries
for all ages & interests this Summer
(really... there are SO MANY)!

Summer Reading is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. Thank you, Friends!

 

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Library Services Reminders:

 

• The History Room at Central is now open to the public on Wednesdays from 10am - 1pm.
• The Library's website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.com has a new plug-in that quickly translates it into 100+ languages.
• All Library buildings are closed on Monday, June 19 for Juneteenth.
• All Library buildings will open late at 11am on Friday, June 30 due to an all staff meeting. 

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For more event info,
book recommendations and other fun things....

Follow us! Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

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Berkeley Public Library

2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, California 94704
510-981-6100
berkeleypubliclibrary.org

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