The Neighborhood Libraries CampaignBerkeley Public Library Foundation

Four Branches

One Goal

“Berkeley’s public libraries are open to everyone, and people here make great use of our services. We’re proud to have one of the highest, per capita, utilized libraries in the state. That really speaks to the way our patrons value our Central and Branch Libraries and how much they depend on us.”

— Donna Corbeil, Director of Library Services

“The best things that the Berkeley Public Libraries provide are the after-school and summer programs for teenagers. After school is when we’re all vulnerable to reckless procrastination and trivial drama that comes along with middle or high school. Having something to do with our free time, that we’re actually interested in, is the grandest gift anyone can give us.”

— Jasmine Dominguez, Student Worker, North Branch

Last year, 767,000 patrons visited Berkeley’s four neighborhood libraries!

Berkeley Loves Its LibrariesBerkeley has always put its public libraries at the center of city life. Most recently, Berkeley voters generously passed Measure FF, a $26 million bond for rebuilding, structurally renovating and improving accessibility at the four branch libraries: Claremont, North, South — including the popular Tool Lending Library — and West, home of Berkeley Reads, the life-changing adult literacy program.

As construction on the four Branches nears, it’s time to look ahead to the next step: the crucial interior improvements — such as computers, lamps, bookshelves, magazine racks, tables (new and restored), and chairs for adults and children — that are by law not covered by the bond measure.

The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign, a $3.5 million drive led by the Berkeley Public Library Foundation, will improve seating and table space, replace or refurbish furniture and fixtures, add necessary safety upgrades, and modernize our technology, from computer stations to check-out machines.

The campaign sets one common goal for our four Branch Libraries: to ensure that our treasured community institutions are equipped to meet the needs of all Berkeley residents, now and into the future.

Help us make the Libraries feel like home.

Where Neighborhoods Become Communities

We all remember our earliest trips to the library. Whether we grew up in small towns, big cities, or somewhere in between, public libraries helped us understand the outside world — through books and media — while discovering something deep within ourselves: that spark of imagination and awareness that connects us to our own potential.

Neighborhood libraries are oases of freedom where children learn to love stories, where teenagers begin to widen their horizons, where adults take a break from busy lives to browse for something new, where the elderly can relax in comfort.

Neighborhood libraries give equal access to all — especially those who face economic challenges — by providing help, information, and services for free.

Each of Berkeley’s four unique neighborhood libraries has filled its shelves and set up its programs to meet the needs of patrons seeking to deepen personal interests, access crucial resources, and strengthen their connections to the community.

Come on in. Pull up a chair.

“Before I retired, I used to subscribe to a great many magazines. Now I come here to read them while my son uses the computer. The collection here is wonderful, and the library is kept spotless. I’m a retired librarian myself, and I can see that this is an excellent branch, and a nice place to sit and read.”

— Betty Merritt, Patron, Claremont Branch

“I really love the North Branch — it’s so gorgeous. When I walk in, I feel like I’ve entered another time period. I particularly like the new fiction section. The librarians are so knowledgeable and helpful. I’ve gotten to know them, and they start to recognize the kinds of books I’ll like.”

— Debbie Cohen, Patron, North Branch

Last year, neighborhood library users checked out 875,000 items — books, DVDs, other media, and more.

21,600 people came to kids programs at our neighborhood libraries last year!

Claremont Branch“A branch library improves the quality of life in the community. We’re a place where the community can celebrate itself.”

— Karen Joseph-Smith, Claremont Branch Manager

The bond funds used to renovate the warm and inviting Claremont Branch will provide for a comprehensive and necessary seismic upgrade. The building’s interior will be completely redone, opening up congested areas — including the “hold” and check-out areas — to better serve dedicated patrons. Claremont’s regulars include a well-educated student population, many of whom are immigrants, along with neighborhood families who value the library and enjoy its services.

The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign will help furnish Claremont’s popular community room, which hosts the library’s active schedule of children’s story hours, teen movie nights, adult civic meetings, long standing book clubs, and other programs for people of all ages. The current teen area will be expanded, comfortable reading spaces created, and more computers will be added. Claremont’s collection — strong in travel, art, bestsellers, literary fiction, magazines, and newspapers — will be more accessible with the help of this Campaign.

North Branch“Connecting people, young, old, and in between, with literature is a joy. Doing so in this historic building is even better.”

— Rachel MacNeilly, North Branch Manager

This beloved landmark building, with its rotunda and arched doorways, will be carefully expanded to keep up with a strong demand for library services. Plans include a long-envisioned wing that will provide a new multi-purpose room and staff area, allowing for a better flow around the check-out desk. The teenagers who fill the library on school days will gain more room. Better noise separation will be established between teens and the adult reading room.

The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign will add comfortable seating around the historic fireplace, refinish original oak tables and chairs, and restore many notable features to their intended beauty. New wiring and dedicated space will accommodate more computers. Improvements like these will help ensure that North Branch continues to meet the needs of its devoted users while preserving all that makes it such a special building.

“I’m new in the area. I come into this branch to use the WiFi connection so I can keep up my blog and comment on other websites. I travel a lot — I’ve probably been to 80 libraries in the past few years, and I’ve found that the people who work here are especially nice, even when things are busy and full.”

— Bob Patterson, Patron, South Branch

“I do a lot of handyman work, and I’ve been coming to the Tool Library since the beginning. They have knowledge of the tools, they make people feel welcome, and they help everyone with their projects. It’s an extension of the books in the library. You go in there needing something, and you come out happy.”

— James Philips, Berkeley Resident

The Tool Lending Library put tools in the hands of 10,000 Berkeley residents last year!

65,850 computer reservations were made at our neighborhood libraries last year!

South Branch“We know our regulars and they know us. It’s like a family here.”

— Jeri Ewart, South Branch Manager

Historically the smallest of the neighborhood libraries, South Branch will be completely rebuilt from the ground up — significantly increasing the space for its collections and services, creating more workable areas for staff, and modernizing the onsite Tool Lending Library. This stunning new building, made possible by bond money, is set to become a jewel of the neighborhood.

South has always been a refuge in a densely populated part of the city. Locals make good use of the children’s room and community meeting room. Seniors from a nearby center are regular visitors. The collection is strong in African American and Chinese American literature, mystery novels, topical documentary DVDs, and books on home repair to supplement the Tool Lending Library. The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign will fill the new, improved South Branch with everything required to meet the needs of the neighborhood.

Tool Lending Library“We build trust with people. They know us, and we get to know them.”

— Robert Young, Tool Lending Library Specialist

The Tool Lending Library puts home improvement, gardening, and other tools in the hands of Berkeley residents, who check them out for free like they would books, music, or media. Since its inspired origin in a trailer parked at the sidewalk, to its current place as a cornerstone of the South Branch, the Tool Lending Library has become an indispensable, only-in-Berkeley institution.

Designed to help everyday people make basic improvements without spending money, the Tool Lending Library serves Berkeley’s renters and owners, those just starting out and those past retirement, and families up and down the economic ladder. The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign will be a boon for the Tool Lending Library, allowing for better storage and display of tools, improved safety for workers, and easier access for all those who depend on this vital service.

“When I came here three years ago, I was nervous and scared to ask questions. But everyone here had a great attitude. I’m disabled, and it’s hard for me to learn, but I got help here. Since then, I started up the Berkeley East Bay Track Club, and I’m the head coach, working with kids ages three to fourteen. I still come back and use the computer to check my email and keep up the club’s website. The folks here always make me feel at home.”

— Ralph Walker, Former Student, Berkeley Reads

The new West Branch is being designed as one of the first Net-Zero Energy U.S. libraries — another Berkeley achievement! Rooftop solar panels, connected to the electric utility grid, will produce more energy over the course of a typical year than is required to operate the building. The result: significant financial savings and a zero carbon footprint.

Last year, over 200 adults improved their reading and writing skills at Berkeley Reads!

Our Branch librarians answered nearly 30,000 reference questions last year!

West Branch“We make everyone feel comfortable here. When you walk in the door, we notice you.”

— Marge Sussman, West Branch Manager

The most diverse and urban of the neighborhood libraries, West Branch serves an international community — including the vibrant Indian and Latino populations that live and work nearby. Bond money will fund the proposed replacement of the current building with a brand new building, giving West Branch more space for library programs and better accessibility. The new, brighter, more inviting building will have greater visibility on University Avenue, reaching residents not yet making use of this neighborhood resource.

The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign will provide more computers, better seating and table space, a better-designed separation between adult and teen areas, and improved space for the Berkeley Reads adult literacy program, one of the touchstones of this branch. These improvements will contribute to West’s reputation as a friendly, safe haven amid the clamor of city life.

Berkeley Reads“We’re opening up worlds to people who have felt shut out.”

— Linda Sakamoto-Jahnke, Berkeley Reads Literacy Coordinator

Located at West Branch, Berkeley Reads, the adult literacy program, provides reading and writing support to adults who test at an eighth-grade reading level or below — and provides hope for those who need it most.

The adults who walk through our doors every day are people who have been denied the chance to reach their potential. Many were neglected or abused as children, without a safety net to catch them. Some are new citizens looking to make a better life. Berkeley Reads understands that literacy means empowerment: the means to get a job, navigate the bureaucracy, cope with parenting and health issues, and meet life’s daily struggles.

Berkeley Reads is centered at West Branch, but students can meet with tutors at any public library. It’s one way our neighborhood libraries work together toward common goals, making life in Berkeley better for all.

Recognizing and Honoring Campaign Donors

By recognizing your generous gift at one of the four branches, we hope to inspire future generations of library patrons. Donors may commemorate their gift or memorialize a loved one through a range of special opportunities.

Help Fill Your Neighborhood Libraries With Life

Libraries remind us all of our potential for learning, for growth, and for connection. But without generous supporters like you, our neighborhood libraries will remain in a constant struggle to meet the needs — adequate seating, working technology, well-lit reading areas — that make up the day-to-day library experience.

This Campaign is about more than tables and chairs — it is about the people who depend on the library for everything from access to books and tools, to using the Internet, to learning how to read and write.

When you give to The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign, you’re affirming your commitment to one common purpose: bringing the power of the library to the people in their neighborhoods, right now and into the future.

Can we count on your contribution today?

Your campaign gift can be tailored to meet your needs. We welcome outright monetary gifts or pledges to be fulfilled over three years. Your gift can be made by check or credit card, or by transferring stock. We also welcome bequests and trust gifts.

To discuss the tax benefits of various kinds of gifts, please contact David Snyder at the Berkeley Public Library Foundation.

“Libraries are central to the vitality of our neighborhoods. They give kids a place to go after school. They bring opportunities to the public and provide access to technology. In our digital age, libraries are more important than ever — bringing people together and breaking down isolation in our culture. By giving to The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign, you are helping to guarantee that future generations in Berkeley will continue to benefit from the knowledge, experience, and skills that our neighborhood libraries make possible for every one of us.”

— Linda Schacht Gage, Chair, The Neighborhood Libraries Campaign

Berkeley Public Library Foundation2090 Kittredge StreetBerkeley, CA 94704

www.bplf.orginfo@bplf.org

510/981-6115

Four Branches • One Goal