For Immediate Release: May 8, 2006

Oakland Public Library Welcomes the Community
to a Series of Open Houses

(Oakland, CA)-- Summer’s here and the Oakland Public Library invites the entire community to join us for a series of open houses to thank them for their support of Measure Q in 2004 and to discuss future improvements to their neighborhood branches and the Main Library. With more materials on the shelves than ever before, a new online catalog system on the way, and libraries open 6 to 7 days a week, the Oakland Public Library is turning its attention to what facility improvements might be needed to continue to meet the community’s needs for current and future library services. As part of its Master Facilities Planning process, library staff and members of Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, the firm helping to prepare the plan, are returning to every neighborhood branch and the Main Library to present recommendations and receive a third round of input from residents. These open houses will take place the first two weekends in June with refreshments and free activities for children.

“Oaklanders told us they wanted more collections and services when they voted for Measure Q in 2004. Since then, more people than ever before are using our libraries and circulation has risen by 15-20%. The challenge now is to have facilities that have enough space to accommodate people’s demands for more computers, multi-media materials, meeting spaces and other requests,” states Carmen Martinez, Library Director. “The Master Facilities Plan is intended to address these needs and offers us an exciting vision for bringing Oakland’s libraries into the 21st century.”

The Draft Master Plan is based on an extensive needs assessment process that included community surveys and focus groups. The open houses will help ensure that more people are made aware of the plan and have an opportunity to help shape the future of their local library. To that end, community meetings will be held at each and every Oakland Public Library.

The open house schedule is as follows:

For more information about the open houses or the Master Facilities Plan, please call (510) 238-3271 or visit the library’s Web site at www.oaklandlibrary.org. A copy of the first draft of the Master Facilities Plan is available on this site. Look for the link at your top right-hand corner of the home page.

###