For Immediate Release: November 19, 2009

Extended Closure for Thanksgiving Weekend at the
Oakland Public Library 

No Books Due November 26–30

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(Oakland, CA)—The Oakland Public Library will close for Thanksgiving and, in response to the citywide budget shortage, remain closed through the long weekend. The Library will reopen on Tuesday, December 1.

The five-day break is unusually long for the Library, so Library Administrators are taking extra steps to notify patrons of the closures. The Library is asking that patrons not attempt to return books or other checked-out materials during the long break, as Library staff will empty the book receptacles only twice during the break. Book receptacles often fill up and overflow when the Library is closed for several days, which can result in the loss of library materials.

“The Library has traditionally been open to our patrons after the Thanksgiving holiday, but due to the unprecedented budget situation that the City is in, we determined that some additional savings could be achieved if we closed for an extended period,” Library Director Carmen Martinez said. “We hope to be able to restore these days next year.”

To avoid any inconvenience or confusion for patrons, the Library circulation department has ensured that no materials checked out from the Library are due during the long Thanksgiving weekend.

In late December the Library will also close for an extended period, during the week from Christmas to New Year, and a similar policy will go into effect then.

For more information, please contact the Public Services Office at (510) 238-3511.

The Oakland Public library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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