For Immediate Release: March 1, 2007

Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma Author,
Headlines National Library Week

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Oakland, CA. – The Oakland Public Library celebrates its 15th Annual National Library Week Celebration with a variety of free events headlined by Michael Pollan, author of The New York Times bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, on Thursday, April 12, 7:00 pm at the James Moore Theatre, Oakland Museum of California, 10th & Oak Streets. He will be joined onstage and interviewed by Carol Ness, who writes for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Food Section. A booksigning follows courtesy of A Great Good Place for Books. The Michael Pollan event is being co-sponsored by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Museum of California. There are no advance reservations.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma tackles the age-old question of what we should have for dinner. To find out, Pollan follows the various food chains that sustain us, employing his unique blend of personal and investigative journalism to reveal the political, economic, environmental and ethical impacts of four different meals. Michael Pollan is currently the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at UC Berkeley. His previous books include The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World, A Place of My Own, and Second Nature. Pollan is also the recipient of many journalism awards, including the James Beard Award for best magazine series in 2003. Carol Ness delights in writing about food – its pleasures and pains – for the San Francisco Chronicle. This includes reporting the results of taste tests of everything from peanut butter to soy sauce; penning features on winter tangerines or other seasonal treats; following new food trends like crudo and salumi; or exploring issues that Pollan touches on in his work, such as the sustainability of the food supply and conscious eating.

Besides the Pollan event, a number of other programs are being planned for National Library Week in April. As a tie-in to the Bay Area-wide National Library Week theme, “Your Library—Click It!,” Oakland is sponsoring programs that feature several online resources available through its Web site, oaklandlibrary.org. “Business Info Online” is a demonstration of how to research company history and financial information using the powerful business tool, Mergent Online, on Thursday, April 19, 6:30 pm at the Main Library, 125 14th Street, 510-238-7075.

“Health on the Web Workshop,” is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 pm, in the Main Library’s Computer Lab, 510-238-3138. Librarian Barbara Bibel, Kaiser’s Ysabel Bertolucci, and Debbie Sommer from the California Healthcare Foundation will share how to find and evaluate Web health resources such as MedlinePlus and California Healthcare Foundation’s Web resources. Mergent and several online health resources are among thousands of articles, ebooks, audiobooks, auto repair manuals, homework help, and consumer information available free to Oakland Public Library cardholders on Oaklandlibrary.org.

“On the Wings of a Story: Second Annual Storytelling Festival,” a family event, will celebrate National Library Week with stories in words, dance, and song. Sponsored by the Urban Librarians Project, this event takes place Saturday, April 21, 1:00-3:00 pm at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street, 510-238-7352.

For children, Oakland is hosting the following National Library Week events celebrating the magic of stories and songs:

Yolanda Rhodes, Storyteller : A culturally rich blend of stories from the African Diaspora.

Lakeview Branch Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Tuesday, April 17, 1:00 pm, 510-238-7344

Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Avenue, Thursday, April 19, 1:00 pm, 510-597-5049  

Cric-Crak Presents a Farcical French Folktale : Don’t miss “One Perfect Peach and Three Sacks of Truth,” the tale of a young man who outwits a dishonest king and wins the hand of a princess.

Golden Gate Branch Library, 5606 San Pablo Avenue, Monday, April 23, 7:00 pm, 510-597-5023

Brookfield Branch Library, 9255 Edes Avenue, Thursday, April 26, 1:00 pm, 510-615-5725

Bookmaking Workshop : Celebrate National Library Week by making a book at this free craft workshop.

Eastmont Branch Library, Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Avenue-Suite 211, Wednesday, April 11, 3:00 pm, 510-615-5726

Charlotte ’s WebRead-Aloud: In honor of National Library Week, join us in reading Charlotte’s Web aloud, all week long.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch Library, 6833 International Boulevard, Monday, April 16 – Friday, April 20, 3:30 pm, 510-615-5728

Gary Lapow Musical Program : Library favorite Gary Lapow returns with a great program of music that will keep your feet tapping in time to his upbeat songs.

Eastmont Branch Library, Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Avenue-Suite 211, Thursday, April 19, 10:30 am, 510-615-5726

Oakland Public Library events are always free. For more information, contact the host library or call (510) 238-3134. Please refrain from wearing heavily scented products to these programs. To request sign interpretation or other accommodation, please call at least five working days prior to the event you plan to attend. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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