August Happenings
Welcoming Beverly Greene to the Board of Trustees

"I am honored to have been chosen to support an institution that has been so very important to me. I grew up here, have visited and studied at all of the branches, and worked at Central shelving books as a Berkeley High student before I left to attain undergraduate and graduate degrees. I appreciate being able to give back to the Library and to my community and look forward to building on the excellent strategic work the Board has embarked upon.” 
Learn more about Trustee Greene and the Board of Library Trustees, here.
 
Virtual Film Event
Q&A with Tyrus Director Pamela Tom and Film Scholar Karen Fang
 
Thursday, August 19
3:30pm

Stream the highly acclaimed movie, Tyrus, for free all month long and then join the presentation and Q&A. Tyrus offers a historical lens for understanding the current moment’s unprecedented visibility for Asians and Asian Americans in Hollywood, as well as the recent rise in anti-Asian racism and violence.
 
Virtual Talk
The Discovery of a Masterpiece

Tuesday, August 3
4:30pm

Hear Mallory Mortillaro's true story of being hired straight out of college for a part time art cataloging project for a city hall in New Jersey and how it morphed into a search for this mysterious piece's provenance, eventually culminating in its authentication by the world's leading Rodin expert.
 
Virtual Class
Cooking Matters at Home 6-part Series

Thursdays, 4:30pm
 
This popular series is back! Join the live and interactive cooking/nutrition class where participants learn to shop for and cook healthy meals. Ingredients will be provided, so please plan on making an appointment to visit the library to collect them, if you wish. The classes and the ingredients are free, but space is limited.
Outdoor Art Group
Green Sketching on the U.C. Campus
Wednesday, August 18
2pm
 
Bring your favorite journal, art materials or just pencil and paper. Green sketching can be nature journaling, urban sketching, mindful drawing, adding descriptive words to a sketch, or even doodling - whatever gets the pencil moving over the paper! 
 
BPL Online Monthly Book Club
Farm City: the Education of an Urban Farmer

Tuesday, August 31
2pm
 
Participants can pick up the book, free( to keep!) at the Central Library, once registered. The discussion will take place over Zoom and include 15 participants with a waitlist.
Outdoor Cooking Demo
Easy Plant Based Cooking

Saturday, August 14
11am

Join us outside for a plant based cooking demonstration featuring items from the Tool Lending Library's new Culinary Tool Collection!  We will demonstrate making healthier sweet potato fries in one of our Air Fryers and prepare a delicious dipping sauce. 
For Our Younger Patrons
Annual Peace Day Virtual Commemoration

Friday, August 6
4pm

Listen to koto music, watch a Bon Odori Dance, learn how to fold an origami crane, and hear a story about a young girl's experience during the bombing of Hiroshima.
There are many other events happening! 
Please check out the calendar of events.
 
Reminder: Summer Reading Ends August 7th
The summer reading game is for all ages - kids, teens and adults.
It ends this Saturday so there is still time to log your reads!
 
Summer Reading & Virtual Programming are made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.
 
New Library e-Resource: Consumer Checkbook
From auto repair shops to doctors to plumbers to vets, Checkbook helps you find the best local services—and avoid the worst. Staff research prices and provide consumer advice and users also write reviews and provide ratings based on their real-life experiences. Consumers' Checkbook never takes money from the reviewed companies so you can rely on the site to be independent and objective.
 
Get Outside and Explore the City We All Love!

Each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in July we posted clues on the Library's Facebook and Instagram feeds about certain spots that make Berkeley a great place to be! There's still time to join in the fun! If you visit any of these places before August 13, tag #berkeleypubliclibrary for your chance to be entered into a drawing for a gift card from some fantastic local businesses!  
 
Updates on Library Services during Covid-19
Central

Floors 2, 3 and 4 are now open (the 1st floor opened in June). 
 
Planned improvements to the 1st & 2nd floors have been completed during the closure. Updates accentuate and highlight the historical features of the building’s architecture while also:
  • creating comfortable seating
  • improving laptop usage and supporting device charging
  • providing accessible programming and meeting spaces
  • updating the Library’s floors & lighting 
  • offering all gender bathrooms
Come use the computers, browse the collections and see the updates!
 
Central Improvements were made possible by the generous support of the Berkeley Public Library Foundation and its donors, and from Library Tax funding received in previous fiscal years that had been saved for this construction. 
 
Library Hours
 
 
Central
Indoor Services
Monday: 
12noon - 6pm
Tuesday - Saturday: 
10am - 6pm
Claremont
Indoor Services 
Monday - Saturday:
10am - 6pm
North
Indoor Services 
Monday - Saturday: 1
0am - 6pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Indoor Services 
Monday - Saturday:
10am - 6pm
Tool Lending Library
Outdoor Services Only
Monday - Tuesday:
10am - 6pm
Wednesday - Thursday:
12noon - 6pm
Friday - Saturday:
10am - 6pm
 
West
Outdoor Services
Monday - Saturday:
10am - 2pm
Indoor Services
Monday - Saturday:
2pm - 6pm
Staff teams are continuing to make plans for expanding hours and indoor services. The teams are working in coordination with the City of Berkeley, Labor Unions and Public Health. Updates will be announced via this e-newsletter, on social media and on berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
 
Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge St.
Berkeley, California 94704
510.981.6100
www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/