Spring News & Events

Inspiring Ideas, Librarian-Led Projects, and New Spaces

We’re thrilled to announce our first round of 2026 Mini Grant awardees—nearly $10,000 invested in creativity, access, and community connection across our libraries! These grants for librarian-led projects will bring practical upgrades like a new water bottle refill station and portable record player kits for checkout, as well as exciting art-making and music enhancements, including a 3D printer, a sticker-cutting machine, an embroidery machine, and professional music production tools. The Story Time Band will get an audio boost, teen poets will be celebrated through the expanded Berkeley Youth Laureate project, and patrons of all ages can participate in a Fiber Art Mascot Contest to shape a new, community-designed library icon. We’re also supporting the launch of a fresh “Libraries Are for Sharing” campaign with fun, kindness-driven giveaways, all while expanding hands-on opportunities for music, art, and creative exploration. Thanks to our donors, these innovative projects will soon be turning inspiration into action throughout our libraries!

Sneak Peek: Story Room Nearing Completion!

Foundation donors have contributed over $230,000 toward the renovation of two new spaces to serve children and families at the Central Library. The final touches are being put on this month. We hope to let you know about the grand opening soon!

Libraries Light The Way - Authors Dinner Picture Gallery

Thanks again to all our 2026 authors, sponsors, and guests. Your presence and generosity made the 23rd Annual Dinner gala benefit for the Berkeley Public Library a glamorous success! Check out the gallery of pictures from the 2026 Authors Dinner here.

Berkeley's Mayor Adena Ishii presented a special Proclamation of Appreciation honoring Linda Schacht Gage for her many years of exceptional service as a tireless champion of the Berkeley Public Library. Linda’s visionary leadership, generosity, and unwavering advocacy have strengthened the library system and enriched the Berkeley community for decades. This year’s Authors Dinner marked a meaningful milestone—Linda’s final dinner as presenter—celebrating a remarkable legacy of dedication, generosity, and community impact.

A Gift for Every Generation

Spring is a time for fresh starts—and a perfect moment to bring clarity to the future by creating or updating your will or trust. Writing a will helps you make important decisions with confidence, from caring for loved ones to supporting the causes you value. With our partner FreeWill’s free, secure online tool, you can create a will or trust in as little as 20 minutes. By including a gift to the Berkeley Public Library Foundation, you can help ensure your Library's impact for generations to come while gaining peace of mind today. Learn more about planned giving to benefit the library here.

Berkeley’s largest festival and one of the nation’s most prestigious literary events returns for its 12th year with the theme “Writing The Future.” A three-day celebration of literature, storytelling, and cultural activism on May 29 - 31. Over 300 authors and 120 programs on 21 stages, including Family and Youth Lit Day at Berkeley's Central Library.

Books, birdwatching, author events, art club, chess, sewing, prom dress pop ups, tool lending, mental wellness workshops, puppet shows, science series, film screenings, dance classes, cartooning, writers workshops, and so much more—our library has something for everyone!

The Library Foundation helps our libraries do more. Thanks to all our generous donors, we can provide grant funding that helps advance new ideas, expand literacy projects, update technologies, and make building improvements that are not covered by tax funding. As public library advocates, we are champions of intellectual freedom and passionate about our Library’s mission to ensure free, open, and safe access to information, resources, ideas, and lifelong learning spaces for all.

Thank you for making a great library extraordinary!

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