Posted by: montclairlibrary | June 20, 2011

Henna tattoos for teens

Henna tattoo photo by Flickr user pahlkadot

This Saturday, June 25 from 3:00-4:30 PM, the Coburn family will offer free temporary henna tattoos for teens ages 12 – 18. Come learn about this ancient art.   Tattoos last for about 8 -10 days.

Also on at the library this week:

Tuesday, June 21 from 6:00-7:30 PM, talk to a Financial Advisor regarding Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Education Saving Options, Asset Allocation Strategies and Wealth Planning Issues. Laura Russell-Jones is a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, and specializes in helping women, business owners and professional people better manage their investments and retirement planning.

Wednesday, June 22 at 10:30 AM, Bonnie Lockhart takes kids of all ages on a trip around the world through music and dance as part of the summer reading program.

Thursday, June 23 11:15-11:45 come enjoy our regular preschool storytime for kids ages 3-5.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | June 14, 2011

Teen Summer Passport Program

Starting June 18th (through August 13th), teens ages 12-18 can pick up a Teen Summer Passport at any branch of the Oakland Public Library and get it stamped when they explore recommended Bay Area Hot Spots.

In addition to visiting local attractions, teens can collect passport stamps by writing short reviews of the books they read, attending library programs (see a list of upcoming library programs for teens here), producing a self-portrait for their passport or volunteering.

Well-traveled teens can win prizes and enter a drawing for a chance to win an iPod Shuffle, a digital camera or a computer (drawing will be August 20th at Main Library).

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | June 7, 2011

Summer reading program is coming!

One World, Many Stories
The Oakland Public Library’s summer reading program gets underway June 18th. Kids can sign up at any branch to read 8 hours during the summer and be eligible to win a free book and other prizes. Parents and older children may read to children who aren’t reading yet.

The theme for this year’s program is “One World, Many Stories.” There will be children’s events in keeping with the theme Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings all summer long at the Montclair branch:

Wednesday, June 22 – 10:30 AM
Come on a trip around the world through music and dance with Bonnie Lockhart. All ages.

Tuesday, June 28 – 7:00 PM
Magician Timothy James performs astounding magic and a funny surprise in a garbage can. For all ages.

Wednesday, June 29 – 10:30 AM
Paper Creations: Pinwheels. Travel to Europe and make a pinwheel!

Wednesday, July 6 – 10:30 AM
Wildlife Associates presents This Living Earth: Join us on an amazing journey across the globe as we meet some awesome animals and discover their endangered habitats, unique adaptations and strategies for survival.

Tuesday, July 12 – 7:00 PM
The Bubble Lady makes giant bubble animals and more! Ages 3–10.

Wednesday, July 13 – 10:30 AM
Shake it up! Make your own musical instruments from recycled materials. Ages 3 and up. Sign-up required.

Tuesday, July 19 – 7:00 PM
Stories & Crafts: Explore the world with stories and crafts from Japan.

Wednesday, July 20 – 10:30 AM
Bang that Drum! Make your own musical instruments from recycled materials. Ages 3 and up. Sign-up required.

Tuesday, July 26 – 7:00 PM
Campfire Time! Park yourself around the library’s campfire for s’mores, sing-a-longs and scary stories. Pajamas are optional. Ages 5 and up.

Wednesday, July 27 – 10:30 AM
Paper Airplane Creations: Make and fly folded-paper airplanes.

Tuesday, August 2 – 7:00 PM
Puppet Art Theater presents: The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Come visit the world through puppets. All Ages.

Wednesday, August 3 – 10:30 AM
Mosaic Paper Creations: Travel to India and make a colorful mosaic.

Tuesday, August 9 – 7:00 PM
Stories & Crafts: Explore the world with stories and crafts from Africa.

Wednesday, August 10 – 10:30 AM
Paper Creations: Tissue Paper Flowers. Travel to Mexico and make your own tissue paper flower. Ages 5 and up.

In addition, regular toddler and preschool storytimes continue throughout the summer!

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | June 5, 2011

Thanks, Montclair!

Friend of Montclair Library set up for the book sale

This post is a bit belated, but we owe a huge thank-you to all the folks who donated books and shopped at our book sale May 14th. We raised a record amount of money, more than any of our previous book sales, and that money goes directly to funding products and services at the Montclair branch. Not only that, but many of your donated books were good enough quality to be taken into the branch’s collection, which library staff estimated saves them $800 a year in books they don’t have to buy. We’re continually amazed at the generosity and support the community has for our busy little branch – we couldn’t do it without you!

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 25, 2011

Books on the loose

Today's BookCrossing releases

“Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” — from The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Just for fun, I decided to release a few of the leftovers from our most recent book sale around the Village through BookCrossing.com, a website where you log a book, write an ID number in the front and release it into “the wild.” Hopefully, someone finds the book, logs its location on the website, reads it (or passes it onto someone else who will enjoy it) and then leaves it out for someone else to find. (It’s similar to the Where’s George website that tracks the travels of dollar bills.) It’s a really interesting experiment — some books travel around the world; others disappear and are never logged again. I’m curious to see where our books end up.

Here are the books I’m releasing today and tomorrow – if you pick one up, please log it at the BookCrossing website so we can see where it’s been. You don’t have to log in or create an account or anything, it can be totally anonymous.

The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
This magical realism tale is set largely in a spice shop in downtown Oakland. Released 5/25/11 at Nelly’s Java.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf
A “lovely, rough-edged book” set in a small town on the edge of the Colorado plains, according to Amazon. Released 5/25/11 at the Montclair Post Office.

Breeder edited by Ariel Gore & Bee Lavender
A collection of fresh, honest essays about modern motherhood by Gen-X moms, edited by the founders of the Hip Mama zine that originated in Oakland. Released 5/25/11 at Tulip Grove baby store.

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
A sweet epistolary novel set just after World War II, where the action is set in motion by a name in a used book. Will be released 5/26/11.

Boonville: A Novel by Robert Mailer Anderson
A strange, entertaining tale of the characters who populate Northern California’s Anderson Valley. Will be released 5/26/11.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
A funny, angst-filled modern take on Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Will be released 5/26/11.

Want to find out what other books are on the loose in Oakland? Click here or use the “Go Hunting” search feature at BookCrossing.com to find books around the world.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 25, 2011

Jewelry-making with Chelsee Robinson – today

Beads

Photo: Marin Webstars

Designer Chelsee Robinson will be at the branch from 3-4:30 today, Wednesday 5/25, to help kids ages 5 and up create beautiful charm bracelets and other jewelry. Materials provided. Free, but pre-registration required – contact the Children’s Librarian at (510) 482-7810 to sign up.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 25, 2011

Libraries in the news

Interesting article today in the Chronicle about how the SF Public Library is using volunteers: S.F. library again open to volunteers

Also, the East Bay Express has an article about the Oakland budget crisis: Libraries on the Brink

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 23, 2011

Even zombies love the library

Everyone’s getting into the act to save Oakland libraries – even our local zombie population, which marched, or rather lurched, down Telegraph Avenue Saturday evening to protest potential library closures. As the zombies pointed out, “libraries feed brains.” Read all about it on the Chronicle website or check out the audio story at Oakland North.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 16, 2011

Art with MOCHA

Art from MOCHA

Photo: Oakland Local via Flickr

Families: Drop by the Montclair branch Wednesday, May 18 at 3:30 pm for an awesome hour of art-making with a guest artist from the Museum of Children’s Art!

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 10, 2011

Oakland budget crisis – what you can do

The options for Oakland’s budget don’t look good – including a worst-case scenario that closes all but four Oakland libraries, including Montclair. News like this can be disheartening, but here are some things you can do to help support the libraries and voice your opinion about the budget in general:
Save Oakland Libraries
1) Call in to KALW’s (91.7 FM) “Your Call” radio show Wednesday, May 11 at 10am when they’ll be discussing “The Value of Public Libraries.” The numbers are 415-841-4134 (Bay Area) or 866-798-TALK (Toll-Free). More info: www.yourcallradio.org

2) Read the OPL’s FAQ about the budget crisis and educate yourself about the issues:
http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/PR/OPL_FAQ_Mayor%27s_11-13_Budget.pdf

3) Sign the petition supporting the Montclair branch we’ll have available at our book sale this Saturday, May 14th (11am-3pm) at the Montclair branch.

4) Attend a City Council budget hearing (5/12 and 5/26 at 5:30pm at City Hall) or the District 4 Town Hall Meeting (5/14 from 11am-1:30pm at Bret Harte Middle School, Auditorium/Cafeteria Area, 3700 Coolidge Avenue.) Mayor Jean Quan and Council member Libby Schaaf will be available at the Town Hall Meeting to hear from District 4 residents and community organizations about issues and concerns. There will also be a special session about the City of Oakland budget.

5) Tell your friends, neighbors, city officials and local news outlets how much your library means to you!

For more great tips and contacts, see the Save Oakland Libraries website, www.saveoaklandlibrary.org.

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