Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 12, 2010

Library history in the news

Vintage photo of Montclair branch library

In case you missed it, Erika Mailman’s “Looking Back” column in last Friday’s (May 7, 2010) Montclarion featured the Montclair branch library’s history and architecture, including the great photo above from the OPL’s Oakland History Room.

From the article:

Its storybook architecture hinges on looking like a medieval cottage left to decay gracefully. Photographs of it in 1930, when it was brand new, show rooflines built to look sagging and asymmetrical, its brickwork already “weathered.”

BTW, if you missed Kathleen DiGiovanni’s talk about the history of Montclair and the library last Saturday, mark your calendar now for her OHA walking tour of Fernwood this August.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 5, 2010

Saturday: Montclair History at the Library

View of Montclair in the 1920s

Photo courtesy Oakland Library History Room

Our May History & Mystery series continues this Saturday, May 8th from 1-2pm, with Montclair Village: Oakland’s Early Hill Town.

Oakland Heritage Alliance member and librarian Kathleen DiGiovanni will explore the history of Montclair and your Montclair branch library. This talk and slideshow will cover the early development of Oakland’s “hill district;” Jack Hays and William Dingee; early residential development, including Fernwood; Montclair schools; and the birthday branch.

About Kathleen: Kathleen Leles DiGiovanni is a librarian at the Main Library, long-time Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tour leader and a regular contributor to the OHA News. At the library, Kathleen has logged thousands of hours working in the Oakland History Room, promoting and guiding exploration of Oakland’s history through the library’s rich resources. Kathleen has led Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tours in Montclair Village, Glenview and Lakeside Park — and in August 2010 she will lead a new tour of Fernwood and its Storybook homes. Mark your calendars!

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | May 3, 2010

Tuesday – The Clock Without a Face

Illustration from "The Clock Without a Face"

Photo: McSweeney's

Twelve emerald-studded numbers, each handmade and one-of-a-kind, have been buried in twelve holes across this fine land. These treasures will belong to whoever digs them up first. The question: Where to dig? The only path to the answer: Solve the riddle of…The Clock Without a Face

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – 7-8pm come meet Eli Horowitz and Mac Barnett, co-authors of the exciting new mystery/treasure hunt/puzzle book, “The Clock Without a Face,” for an evening of mystery, detection and shoveling. Books will be available for purchase and special hints will be given out so you can get a head start on your treasure hunt. The “Clock without a Face” is a lavishly illustrated book with puzzles that send readers out in the world looking for real buried treasure.

This event is “best for readers born before 2001 and yet after 1903. Readers beyond either side of that span will still find plenty in the book to enjoy, but might miss some of the jokes.” Kids welcome!

About Mac: Born to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He’s on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers. He is the author of “Billy Twitter’s Blue Whale Problem,” “Guess Again,” and the Brixton Brothers series.

About Eli: Eli Horowitz has edited and designed books and journals for McSweeney’s for the past eight years. Before McSweeney’s, Eli was employed as a carpenter and wrote science trivia questions tenuously linked to popular films. He was born in Virginia and now lives in San Francisco.

PS – In case you missed it, check out this article about the book from last week’s Chronicle.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 30, 2010

Oakland History – May 1

College Avenue near Shafter, Rockridge District, 1930

College Avenue, looking north toward Shafter Ave, 1930. Photo courtesy Oakland Public Library.

Our first month-of-history-and-mystery event is tomorrow:
Saturday, May 1, 2010 – 1-2pm
80 YEARS IN OAKLAND: A VISUAL SURVEY
Steve Lavoie

Historian, author and librarian Steve Lavoie shows historic photos of Oakland and talks about the history of our city and the man who gave the money to build the Montclair Branch back in 1930, Chauncey W. Gibson.

About Steve: Steven Lavoie is a librarian in the Oakland History Room of the Oakland Public Library, author of “Historic Photos of Oakland,” and all-around Oakland expert. He served as librarian and staff writer at the Oakland Tribune, where he contributed columns, features and editorials. Lavoie holds two degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and has lived in Oakland since he relocated here from a remote northern suburb to shorten the trip to Oakland A’s games.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 21, 2010

Children’s storyteller 4/27

Día de los niños/Día de los LibrosOn Tuesday, April 27 at 7pm, the Montclair Branch will be hosting a fun children’s event in celebration of El Día de Los Niños/El Día de Los Libros (aka Día, or Children’s Day/Book Day). Join us for “Around the World in Story & Song” as Storysong Productions presents storyteller & singer Mara and her interactive stories and songs from many different cultures. Día emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 20, 2010

Get a bag for Earth Day

Bring Your Own Bag
On Thursday 4/22, Earth Day, anyone can drop by Oakland’s Main Library, any branch library (including Montclair), the African American Museum & Library or the Bookmark Bookstore and receive a free canvas tote bag, while supplies last. The bags are courtesy of the Public Works Agency, Oakland Recycles and Waste Management of Alameda County as part of their “Bring Your Own Bag” campaign.

Some sobering facts about non-reusable bags:

  • Single-use bags, whether paper or plastic, create waste and litter and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Plastic grocery bags are made from oil – a non-renewable resource.
  • Fewer than 5% of plastic bags are ever recycled.
  • Paper bags are made of mostly virgin pulp from trees.
  • One reusable bag replace 1,000 single-use bags over its lifetime!
  • If Californians cut 1/2 the consumption of disposable bags, we could save 2,000 barrels of oil a day.

(Note: The bag you receive may or may not look like the ones pictured here.)

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 12, 2010

It’s National Library Week!

National Library Week - April 11-17

April 11-17 is the American Library Association’s National Library Week! National Library Week is an annual celebration that highlights the value of all types of libraries and librarians. This year’s theme is “Communities Thrive @ Your Library,” emphasizing that libraries are the heart of their communities.

“The richest person in the world – in fact all the riches in the world – couldn’t provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library.”
— Malcolm Forbes

And Tuesday, April 13 is National Library Workers Day, so be sure to give your local library staff an extra “thank you”!

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 12, 2010

Head for the Hills to support Montclair Library

Head for the Hills 5K Run

Saturday, May 1 at 8:30am, join the fun and run through the gorgeous Oakland Hills in the first-ever Head for the Hills 5K Run/Walk! This exciting, family-friendly, community event put together by Aurora School benefits the children of our community and 25% of all proceeds go to the Friends of the Montclair Public Library (thanks!).

The course begins and ends at Aurora School (40 Dulwich Rd., Oakland, Ca 94618) and winds through the picturesque streets of Upper Rockridge. Their famous Family Fun Fest begins after the run at 10:30am.

Registration forms, waivers and additional info are available on the Aurora School website.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 2, 2010

Library closed April 6th

Just a quick reminder that all OPL branches, including Montclair, are closed Tuesday 4/6 as a cost-saving move. The Main library will be open. Montclair re-opens as usual Wednesday 4/7.

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Posted by: montclairlibrary | April 2, 2010

April = National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month

Welcome to National Poetry Month!  Rainy April days are a great time to hit the library and check out some poetry books – there are lots of options, from nursery rhymes to children’s poetry like Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein to grown-up stuff both old and modern.  You’ll find most poetry in the 811 section of juvenile or regular non-fiction.

If you can’t make it to the library, you can visit the Academy of American Poets site to search for poems, browse poems by occasion,  sign up to have a Poem-a-Day emailed to you during April, or even get the poetry iPhone app.

“A poem can be made of common household ingredients. It fits on a single page yet it can fill a world and fits in the pocket of a heart.” -Lawrence Ferlinghetti, from Poetry as Insurgent Art (New Directions, 2007)

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