Contact: Debbie Carton
Art & Music Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6236
Celebrate Peace Day with Origami Cranes at the Berkeley Public Library
Berkeley, July 25, 2016— On Hiroshima Peace Day, people all over the world stop to remember the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- and do what they can to see that it never happens again. Since 1995, the Berkeley Public Library has remembered the bombing with a reading of Eleanor Coerr’s Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. This year’s celebration is Tuesday, August 9, from 4:00-6:30pm in the fourth floor Children’s Room at the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge (at Shattuck). For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6236
Coerr’s critically acclaimed children’s book tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Hiroshima resident who was two years old when the bomb fell. Sadako died ten years later from leukemia caused by the radiation from the bomb. Before she died, she tried to fold 1000 paper cranes, as legend has it that doing so will make your wish come true. Sadako folded 644 cranes before her death. Today, people around the world, fold cranes and send them to the statue of Sadako Sasaki which stands in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.
Members of Berkeley Public Library’s Playreaders will read the story aloud, accompanied by original music composed for the occasion by celebrated koto players Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and Brian Mitsuhiro Wong. After the performance, audience members are invited to join in folding paper cranes. There will be plenty of help for those who have never folded a crane before. Those who know how to fold cranes and can show others are especially welcome to come. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6236. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org.
The Central Library is located at 2090 Kittredge St. and is open: Monday, noon – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, and Sunday 1:00-5:00pm.
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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