For Immediate Release: January 5, 2009

New Digital Storytelling Station Comes to the Eastmont Branch Library

Residents invited to share their East Oakland stories starting January 20, 2009

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( Oakland, CA)— The Oakland Public Library is seeking residents of East Oakland to share their personal stories and memories using a new digital storytelling station located at the Eastmont Branch Library, Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Avenue, Suite 211. Entitled California of the Past: East Oakland Stories, the Library – in partnership with the ACORN Woodland Elementary School and EnCompass Academy - is hoping to record 3-5 minute mini-documentaries that include photographs, music, letters, and other pieces illustrating each individual story. The stories will then be preserved and shared as part of the California of the Past’s online collection. Each participating storyteller will receive a free DVD copy.“We are honored to be one of only a handful of libraries in California to be awarded a California of the Past grant. The public library is a natural place to bring individuals together to share and preserve our local history – history that might otherwise be lost,” states Carmen Martínez, Director of the Oakland Public Library.

Individuals are invited to relate their stories which could focus on an experience or incident of particular significance to themselves, such as growing up in East Oakland, describing a favorite place to visit, witnessing a local event, being a newcomer to Oakland, etc. The goal of the project is to excavate personal stories of particular importance that will illuminate a piece of California history and pride through the unique voices of our diverse community.

Multi-lingual library staff will help participants create a recording using the digital station, which can be integrated with a variety of media, including audio, video, pictures, and images. The finished recordings can be easily archived and used in a variety of ways.

Tales from California of the Past: East Oakland Stories will be included as part of a public art project being created by artist Rene Yung and funded through the Oakland Public Art Program. Our Oakland: Eastside Stories will be housed and made available at the new East Oakland Community Library currently slated to be open in late 2009.

For more information or to sign up to participate, please call (510) 238-7075 (leave a message) or see www.oaklandlibrary.org. The California of the Past project is being funded by a grant from the California State Library supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian with services provided by MEDIA ARTS CENTER in San Diego. To view the California of the Past Web site, visit www.digitalstorystation.com.

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