HOOT March 15, 2020

Vol 3 # 6

March 15, 2020

Effective Monday, March 16, the Oakland Public Library will close all Library locations, and these closures will remain in effect until further notice. This action was taken as a precaution to help limit the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Getting a Permanent Home for Our Branch Library

City of Oakland has the ball now on the CDC building – we hope

On February 26 the Oakland Board of Education voted unanimously to declare the Child Development Center (CDC) building next door to our branch library as non-surplus and to explore a joint occupancy lease with the City of Oakland. As the Friends of PAL wished, this resolution opens the way to a long-term lease for the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library.

Next moves are up to the City. The staff from the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Superintendent’s office has contacted the City of Oakland to discuss this possibility and is due to report back to the Board of Education by May 31. This is our hope: that the City (responsible for the libraries) will enter into long-term lease with the OUSD (the owners of the CDC building).

Next Steps: Friends of PAL encourages our supporters to contact Dan Kalb now -- (510) 238-7001 or dkalb@oaklandca.gov -- to thank him for his efforts so far, and ask how we can help as the City develops the budget for long-term occupancy of the Piedmont Avenue CDC. In addition to Dan, the Friends are very grateful to members of the Library Advisory Commission and other library supporters who personally contacted individual Board members before the meeting.

It’s now up to our community to keep the momentum going with the City of Oakland and ensure that it can secure funding for:

Increased rent and staffing. OUSD's Property Information Sheet for the Piedmont CDC building suggests a "mid range" rent of $230,000/year--which is $200k more than the current rent on the portable building. OUSD is facing budget cuts for next year and beyond, so Board members are concerned about the City’s ability to make a long-term commitment to this amount, plus regular rent increases.
Staffing would depend on the building plan layout but the annual increase for staff cost could be comparable in scale to that for rent (about $200k or more).
Renovation and move-in costs. OUSD estimated a basic $538,532 repair cost to make the building usable, but there is also a big unknown: whether the Division of the State Architect (DSA) will require code upgrades—that would depend on what alterations are proposed to the existing building. Both seismic and foundation code requirements have changed significantly since the original 1970 design, so if upgrades are required under DSA oversight, that would increase both costs and the time needed for construction.

Friends of PAL may also wish to step up our fundraising after our nonprofit status is finalized.

By Arleen Feng, member of the Steering Committee of Friends of Piedmont Avenue Library

PAL supporters at OUSD

Planning our presentation

CDC Building with Friends' signs

Our Trip to the School Board Meeting

We’re so fortunate at Piedmont Avenue branch library. We have a helpful, dedicated, knowledgeable crew that helps without complaints or criticism, with all sorts of library issues, in a challenging space. Those of us who attended the February 26 meeting of the Oakland Board of Education saw how different it could be.

We saw a room full of people with differing kinds of complaints standing in line for the microphone so they could voice them to the Board while some audience members yelled out contradictions and others marched through the auditorium carrying signs and banners. School closures, contamination and other issues had motivated many to demonstrate their concerns. The Board members listened attentively, asking occasional questions, and, when the fire alarm went off – twice -, didn’t interrupt the business at hand or change the agenda.

The six of us from Friends of Piedmont Avenue Library and Jamie Turbak, Oakland Public Library Director, used to the easy going and polite exchanges in our meetings, were taken aback. It was planned for us to speak during the open public comment period instead of waiting till the Piedmont CDC item at the end of agenda. When it was our turn, three of us stood, and, one at a time, spoke into the mic to say why we think Piedmont Avenue Library should be given priority to move into the vacant building, previously a Child Development Center site, next door to our branch library.

We’re glad the School Board members listened to our voices and those of our supporters, and agreed to investigate how to pursue a joint use for the Piedmont Avenue School and our library!

While there is still much work – both administrative and physical – to be done, we know this is a big step toward getting a more spacious and more appropriate space for our library. Watch this space for future developments.

By Ruby Long, a neighbor whose work has appeared in local and national publications.

Love & Gelato

by Jenna Evans Welch

Love and Gelato is possibly one of my favorite books of all time and will always be. It is about a girl who went to Italy when she was about 16 (I think). She went to live with her father because she mother had died of cancer. Plot twists; she didn’t even know who her father was until her mother started talking about him soon before she died.

Also, her dad lives smack-dab in the middle of the WW2 cemetery where he lives and works. She is spending the summer there and possibly the school year if she wants. But, it seems she doesn’t. Until she meets Ren, or Lorenzo. She immediately becomes friends with him…or possibly more.

Then she goes to a party and meets her future classmates. She meets the amazing British beauty, Thomas, and it becomes all the more complicated.

This is a book of love, drama, adventure, exploration, mystery and some of the best gelato you’ve ever tasted. Out of 10, I would rate it an 11. It is so good, anyone could read it.

By Sophia Bylin, a seventh grader at Edna Brewer Middle School

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

One of my favorite books that I have read is the Land of Stories series. The book is about two kids, Alex and Conner. They are facing problems in the Land of Stories. The Land of Stories series is just the perfect book for people that like action and fantasy.

I read these books about a year ago and it’s been my favorite book series ever since.

By Alexis Bylin, a fifth grader at Crocker Highlands Elementary

Spring Book Sale April 16 -19, 2020

Thursday 4/16 - Members' Preview -

50% off. You can join FOPL at the sale & get that discount!

A sale for all book lovers.

Special sale opening hours: 10:30 - 5:30

721 Washington St, Oakland

What's Happening at the Library

Effective Monday, March 16, the Oakland Public Library will close all Library locations, to help limit the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19 ). These closures will remain in effect until further notice.

All programs are canceled while our library is closed. The Friends will send out a notice when the library reopens.

Events previously scheduled for March 15 –

April 30, 2020.

Toddler Storytime – Every Wednesday at 10:15am

Songs, active rhymes and stories especially for ages 18 months to 3 years old.

Preschool Storytime – Every Wednesday at 11am

Stories, songs and rhymes for kids ages 3 to 5 years old.

Build Fridays – Every Friday at 3:30pm

Design, build and explore every Friday after school. Legos and Duplos every week, plus building surprises. Come see what we have this week! Will it be Keva planks, marble run, or something new?

Baby Café – Every Saturday at 10:30am

Bring your baby or toddler to Baby Café for coffee and playtime! Siblings welcome.

Most Saturdays we meet at the library and make new friends, but on the second Saturday of each month, we meet at the Piedmont Gardens retirement community, for music and playtime with seniors in nursing and memory care.

Kids' Writing Group – Every Tuesday in March at 2-6pm

You can write and illustrate a book! Every Tuesday in March, drop in and write with other kids or by yourself. You can:

draw and write in a blank book
illustrate and add words to a digital template, then print it
publish your work online with Biblioboard
send your book to Children's Fairyland for their Young Writers' Contest
just have time to finally work on your own project!

The library will provide printing, digital templates, blank books, art supplies, online publishing, encouragement, and tea.

Bring your ideas and maybe friends, siblings, and favorite art supplies.

Friends of the Piedmont Avenue Library (PAL) Meeting Wednesday March 18 at 6:30pm

Please join us. We are moving forward in our campaign for a permanent home and need your help.

Meditation: For Stress Reduction Saturday March 21 at 2pm

We are living in a high-anxiety world where peace seems like an elusive commodity.

Yet, waiting within you is a 'portable paradise,' a lush garden of personal peace and joy that you can visit at will, 24-7, simply by sitting in meditation!

Dr. Marshall Zaslove will offer simple, effective techniques and will demonstrate the most practical methods of controlling and calming the mind for better meditations and many other health benefits. As a result, stress is reduced, and that permanent place of peace and joy is found within.

Come and make a Pom Pom Friend! Wednesday April 1 at 3pm

Looking for a little fuzzy friend? Then we have the perfect craft for you at the Library. Come and create a Pom Pom Friend to bring home or share with a loved one.

Play-Well TEKnologies at Oakland Public Libraries Friday April 3 at 3:30pm

Kids are natural engineers. We help them realize it.

Kids dive into our classes and exercise their innate gift for building. They come away understanding fundamental principles of engineering and physics. The experience boosts their confidence, creativity and ability to collaborate. Kids can't get enough.

Oakland Public Libraries are happy to once again host Play-Well TEKnologies, whose engineers are experts in helping children find their creative side through building with LEGOS ®. Join us.

U nless noted, all these activities and events take place at the Piedmont Avenue Branch ,

80 Echo Avenue, Oakland CA 94611

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