Berkeley Public Library: January Happenings

Celebrate with us!
 
For the first time, Berkeley Public Library has received the highest rating awarded to public libraries in the United States by the Library Journal: five stars. 

Each year, the Library Journal (LJ) index spotlights the “best of the best” public libraries in the United States. This year LJ reviewed more than 5,600 public libraries and San Francisco Public Library is the only other library system in California to receive a five-star rating in 2020.
 
In addition to the five stars designation, Berkeley Public Library ranked second amongst its five star cohort in number of book volumes in the collection.
 
“Berkeley values its Library as a core community asset and this investment is reflected in our extensive and rich collections, robust programming, and beautiful spaces,” notes Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services. “Staff can be proud of all the hard work and dedication that has contributed to this ranking. We are thrilled to be recognized as a five-star system, and we will build upon this tremendous foundation."
 
Fun Fact: Top Ten Check-outs in 2020
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
3. Educated by Tara Westover
4. There There by Tommy Orange
5. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
6. Normal People by Sally Rooney
7. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
8. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
9. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
10. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 
 
Join a Virtual Book Discussion

The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett

Thursday, January 21
6pm

The Fruit of the Drunken Tree
by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Tuesday, January 26
2pm
 

Berkeley & Portland LGBT+ Book Club

First Saturdays
11am
Authors Event

The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook  
 
Saturday, January 16
2pm 

Co-authors Jeannie Celestial and Art Swenson discuss their book and demonstrate how to cook a delicious Chicken Adobo using an Instant Pot.
 
Sign up for One-on-One Virtual Help
Personal Finance

Wednesday, January 13
Appointments available between 5-7pm
Tech Support

Mondays
January 11 & 25
Appointments available between 10-11am
 
Legal Information

Thursdays
January 7, 14 & 28
Appointments available between 6-8pm
More Virtual Programs
Resume Workshops:
Mid-Career Transitioning
Tuesday, January 12 @ 5pm

Stand Out from the Crowd
Tuesday, January 26 @ 5pm
Ayurveda for Immunity

Saturday, January 9
11am 

Explore the fundamentals of Ayurveda and the body's immunity system.
Covered California Health Insurance Enrollment

Thursday, January 7 @ 2pm
& 
Monday, January 25 @ 6pm
 
Learn about enrollment from UC Berkeley's California Health Professional Student Alliance.
UC Berkeley Scientists Lecture Series

Tuesday, January 19
5:30pm

This month's talk is given by the Mechanical Engineering Department. 
Kids: Meet the Tool Lending Library
 
Saturday, January 23
2:30pm

The Library's tool experts will introduce our younger patrons to a variety of tools in the collection.
Kids: Yoga Series

Thursday, January 14, 21 & 28
3:30pm

Learn simple Yoga poses and breath techniques followed by a story. Join one class or sign up for all three!
New Year, New Time for Virtual Storytime

Wednesdays
10:30am on Facebook
 
In 2021, storytime will start a half hour earlier than last year. Don't worry if you don't catch it right at 10:30am, you can watch it later too! 
Browse the Library's online event calendar for more virtual programs.
 
Programming is made possible by the generous support of the 
Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.
 
Lego Fun on Instagram

Do the kids in your life miss the popular LEGOs in the Library program?
Follow us on Instagram for some at-home fun LEGO challenges coming soon. 
 
What's Your Library Story?
#MyLibraryStory

One of my favorite childhood memories is our weekly trips to the library with a laundry basket - a necessary receptacle so that my siblings and I could all dump in our large stacks of books for my mom to check out.

This practice eventually died out as we graduated to longer chapter books that we couldn't consume as fast, but the memory of the children's section of the library and that pink, plastic laundry basket will always be inextricably linked.
 
(Maybe this is the reason I'd always rather be reading when it's time to do laundry...)
 
-Amy, Berkeley Public Library Patron
 
Everyone has a library story!
Send yours to areeder@cityofberkeley.info.

Every Friday we post a new #MyLibraryStory on 
Facebook & Instagram.
 
Reminder: Updates on Library Services during Covid-19
 The Library will continue to provide updates via this e-newsletter, on social media and in our FAQs on our website:
 
berkeleypubliclibrary.org/coronavirus.
 
For the latest Covid-19 news from the City of Berkeley please refer to:
 
www.cityofberkeley.info/coronavirus.
 
 
PLEASE NOTE:
 
Outdoor Pickup will be closed on
Monday, January 18, 2021
in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Outdoor Pickup will open one hour late, at 11am, on
Friday, January 29, 2021
 
 
Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge St.
Berkeley, California 94704
510.981.6100
www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/