In this issue: Library Leadership Update ~ What's New at the Library ~ Friends of the Library Spotlight ~ New Faces at the Foundation ~ Tool Lending Library's Adam Broner ~ Rosa Shattuck Circle ~ Authors Dinner Save the Date!
Elliot Warren Appointed Acting Library Director

“My vision for this interim period is to focus on community service and supporting our staff team’s ability to improve services. BPL is an exciting place to work – never boring – and we have staff doing great work.” 

The Board of Library Trustees recently appointed Elliot Warren as Acting Director of the Library following the resignation of Director Heidi Dolamore. Elliot joined the Library staff team as Deputy Director earlier this year, bringing a rich background in strategic planning, community engagement, program development, and progressive change management. Elliot has extensive experience working in all areas of library services including those that serve incarcerated populations. Before coming to Berkeley he oversaw social justice services for Alameda County Library. During his tenure at the County Library, he initiated a User Experience Design task force to engage the community and staff in improving collections practices to make the experience of using library spaces more intuitive and enjoyable.

Elliot also served as Deputy City Librarian of San Mateo Public Library, where he oversaw operations for a three-branch system that includes a 90,000 square-foot downtown main library. He helped modernize technological services, strengthen collections, support kindergarten readiness efforts, and train new staff. His previous professional experience includes Collection Development Manager at Contra Costa County Library, managing the Hercules and San Pablo Libraries, and serving as Children’s Librarian at the Pittsburg Library.
What’s New at the Library
Introducing Kan opy 
Free Film Streaming from the Berkeley Public Library

Kanopy is an exciting new streaming platform for libraries with one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world. It features more than 26,000 films from hundreds of producers, including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, PBS, and thousands of independent filmmakers . Kanopy is committed to diversity, with an amazing array of foreign language films and films on race, LGBTQ themes, and other engaging and relevant topics. The films are also compatible for the hearing and visually impaired.
New Faces at the Foundation
Welcome, Kelly and Melinda!
The Foundation is delighted to introduce two new board members, Melinda Carmack and Kelly Duane de la Vega.

Melinda Carmack is the former Vice President of Development at Earthjustice and a non-profit consultant.

Kelly Duane de la Vega is a filmmaker and producer of television and film. You can check out " Monumental , " streaming on Kanopy .
Meet Foundation Volunteer
Ej Cruz

Our new volunteer Ej Cruz helps us with much-needed updates and improvements on our web page, bplf.org. She is a student at Berkeley City College working toward a degree in Mobile and Web Design.

When not busy volunteering with the BPLF, Ej practices Tahitian dance and drumming. Ej enjoys the writings of Bertrand Russell and was immediately captivated by the prologue of his autobiography, What I Have Lived For.
Meet Development Assistant
Emily Algire

Fundraising and non-profit enthusiast Emily Algire recently started work as the Foundation’s Development Assistant.

Emily comes to us after five years at local public radio station KALW. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at other local non-profits and trekking though Berkeley's unique and beautiful neighborhoods.

Emily's favorite author is speculative fiction writer Octavia Butler, and she recently tore through several short stories by local author Charlie Jane Anders.

Donor Spotlight
The Friends of Berkeley Public Library is a nonprofit membership organization that supports library programs and collections. Booklovers everywhere look forward to the Friend’s giant annual book sale in June and enjoy shopping year round at the Friend’s two well-stocked used-book stores. The large store on Channing Way, a small store inside the Central Library on Kittredge Street, plus a thriving online storefront through Amazon make it possible for the Friends to offer significant resources to help the library year after year.

The Foundation and the Friends work together to support each other’s efforts. The Friends are among the top donors to the BPL’s capital projects including “It’s Time for Central,” and loyal table sponsors of the Foundation’s Annual Authors Dinner. We are so grateful to have such a good “Friend” to the Foundation. 

We hope readers and Berkeley Library lovers everywhere in will want to join the Friends . Membership dues are a modest $25 annually. In return, members get a quarterly newsletter mailed to their homes, a vote at the annual meeting – with lunch! – and the pleasure of being a Friend to a library in need. Just click the Friends logo above or the button below to learn more.
Tool Lending Library
Now in its 38th year, Berkeley’s Tool Lending Library is one of the oldest in the nation. The collection includes 4,000 tools, from hedge trimmers to heat guns to 30 different kinds of hammers. An estimated 10,000 patrons – 10% of Berkeley’s population – make use of this fascinating collection.

Tool Library Specialist, carpenter, and author Adam Broner is always on hand to talk with folks about this amazing resource. He's been with the Berkeley Public Library for 26 years. Be sure to read his chapter about the Tool Library in the new book Audio Recorders to Zucchini Seeds: Building a Library of Things. 
Join the Circle!  

Members of the Rosa Shattuck Circle and their guests met after hours at the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch for a special "Tools and Tapas" reception this month. Guests enjoyed a guided tour of Berkeley’s Tool Lending Library and delicacies from Berkeley’s La Marcha Tapas Bar followed by a program led by Linda Schacht Gage featuring Adam Broner. (see above)

Named for the Berkeley pioneer who secured funds from Andrew Carnegie and donated her rose garden as the site of the library's first permanent home, the Rosa Shattuck Circle is a critical core of donors whose gifts of $1,000 or more annually help support and advance the mission of the Foundation. Circle donors enjoy benefits and access to special events throughout the year like this month’s “Tools and Tapas.”
Founded in 1893, the Berkeley Public Library has grown from a small reading room with 264 books, into a five-story Central Library, four recently renovated neighborhood branches, and a Tool Lending Library. Today the library holds a dynamic collection of over 1.3 million items.