Featured events- 03/10/2012 - Ton Koopman & The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
- 02/27/2012 - Classical at the Freight: Rossini Birthday Celebration
- 02/23/2012 - Michio Kaku: Physics of the Future, How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100
- 02/23/2012 - 2012: a Turning Point? And If So, Which Way?: A Talk by Robert Reich
- 02/19/2012 - Takacs Quartet
Tag Archives: Berkeley Public Library
A fire more destructive to Berkeley than 1991 Firestorm
On the day we remember a catastrophic fire that affected many people’s lives locally, it may also pay to recall another fire which happened 68 years before the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm and which was far more destructive to Berkeley.
The 1991 fire razed 63 Berkeley homes out of a total of more than 3,300. On September 17, 1923, however, a raging fire consumed some 640 structures, including 584 homes in the densely built neighborhoods north of the campus. Although the exact cause was never determined, the fire began in the undeveloped chaparral and grasslands of Wildcat Canyon, and was pushed towards the south west by a strong, gusty, and intensely dry northeasterly wind.
The Berkeley Fire Department, aided by a number of UC Berkeley students, was unable to stop the fire as it approached the north edge of the campus at Hearst Avenue. … Continue reading »
A peek at the renovations at Berkeley’s branch libraries
The Berkeley Public Library has been writing a blog to keep patrons updated on the renovations to the North and Claremont branches of the library. These are photos from that site. The two branches were closed in April 2011. Claremont branch renovations should be done by end of year, according to library director Donna Corbeil, and the North branch will be completed by spring 2012. The library is also posting weekly updates on the construction on its website.
Claremont … Continue reading »
In Berkeley: Thousands of free songs just a click away
It may be one of Berkeley’s best-kept secrets: Residents can access 500,000 classical, blues, rockabilly, rock, world beat, opera and jazz songs through their computers or smart phones.
All anyone needs is a Berkeley Public Library card.
The library subscribes to the Music Online database, which has uploaded thousands of songs from a wide canon.
“It’s one that a lot of people don’t know about,” said Shani Leonards, a supervising librarian at the Central Library. “It’s really nifty and … Continue reading »
Berkeleyans rally to move forward on library renovations
The rally, which took place at 6:00pm before the regular City Council meeting, was organized by a group calling itself New Libraries Now.
“The West and South branch libraries are incredibly important,” said Rachel Anderson who was holding a placard at the rally. “They are the last remaining community centers in the city.” Referring to the Concerned Library Users lawsuit, she said: “I am deeply worried that such a small number of people can have a large amount of power.” … Continue reading »
Hidden Gems of the Berkeley Public Library: La Perla
Berkeleyside recently received an email from reader Bruce Love: “John Seal’s pieces are, at least for me, pretty consistently great,” he wrote. “The Berkeley Public Library DVD collection is pretty darn decent,” he continued. “And, if you use it in combination with the ability to reserve stuff online, it’s downright terrific. A Seal guide to the BPL collection would be nifty.” Berkeleyside’s film writer John Seal didn’t need much prompting. For review this week he has picked “La Perla”, available at the Berkeley … Continue reading »
Say “adieu” to the North and Claremont branch libraries
Even though no firm date has been set for the closure of the Claremont and North Branch libraries, Berkeley is throwing a bon voyage party for the two buildings.
Library patrons and residents are invited to say goodbye (albeit temporarily) to the structures as they are shuttered and extensively remodeled. The party for North Branch is Saturday March 5 from 2 to 5 pm and the party for the Claremont Branch is Saturday March 19 at the same time.
“We are doing a small closing event just to celebrate the next step,” said Suzanne Olawski, the library’s neighborhood services manger.
She has invited the mayor and city council members to the celebrations, she said. There will music and some activities geared for children. … Continue reading »
Meet Berkeley’s newest “branch” library
Berkeley is preparing to close the Claremont and North branch libraries for a year in order to remodel them and improve their seismic safety and disabled access. So what are library junkies expected to do?
Take a look at the new mobile branch library, known in another era as a bookmobile. Now it’s called a BranchVan. It’s idle now, but starting in the spring it will be shifting back and forth to the neighborhoods around … Continue reading »
Berkeley library select artists for two new commissions
The Berkeley library has chosen two artists to create new public works for their North Berkeley and Claremont branches, both of which are to undergo major renovations, after holding a competition for the projects.
On Friday last week six local artists presented possible projects to the library’s Visual Arts Selection Panel as part of the competition which, according to Berkeley Civic Arts Coordinator Mary Ann Merker, attracted 16 initial entrants. The winning entries were those submitted by Berkeley metal artist Eric … Continue reading »
How to keep toddlers (and you) happy over the holidays
By Belinda Lyons-Newman
This time of year presents the opportunity and challenge of finding fun creative things to do with little ones who may be home from preschool or other childcare during the holidays. What better place to be for the holidays than right here in our wonderful city? If you are looking for some fun Berkeley activities with your toddler between now and the end of the year read on for my top picks:
Berkeley reaches partial settlement with library critics
Berkeley and a group called Concerned Library Users have reached a partial settlement of a lawsuit that threatened to delay the reconstruction of the city’s branch libraries.
The City Council voted Monday evening to accept a legal settlement that requires it to repeal an ordinance passed in July. That measure permitted the city’s branch libraries to obtain a use permit, rather than a variance, when remodeling or reconstructing one of the four branch libraries.
Concerned Library Users had argued … Continue reading »
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