For Immediate Release: May 10, 2007

Get a Clue and Catch a Free Show When

Oakland ’s Summer Reading Program Starts June 9

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(Oakland, CA)— Oakland Public Library, portal to the mysteries of the world, invites Oakland’s youth to come Get a Clue @ Your Library this summer. That’s the theme of the 2007 Summer Reading Game, a chance for our city’s youngest sleuths to read their way to great prizes starting June 9 and running though August 11, 2007.

It’s no mystery that the library is a “cool” place to discover great summer reading. To entice young people to use Oakland’s libraries, we’ve lined up a summer’s worth of mysteries, magic tricks, music, wildlife, theater and more. Anyone age 13 and under is encouraged to drop by one of our branches, the Bookmobile, or the Children’s Room to sign-up and start reading your way to valuable prizes, including books and tickets to some of Oakland’s hottest attractions. Pre-readers can participate by having someone read to them.  Children are encouraged to read anything they want for the program, so they can develop their own interests and a love of reading. 

Families can get involved by attending Early Reading Fun, a family literacy night sponsored with a generous $59,700 grant from the Stocker Foundation.  These special literacy programs, planned in partnership with the library’s Second Start Family Literacy Program, will combine crafts and storytime with tips on how families can nurture the next generation of readers. Those dates and time are included below. For a full list of Summer Reading programs, please visit www.oaklandlibrary.org.

On Sunday, August 12, celebrate the finale of the Oakland Public Library's Summer Reading Program at the Oakland Museum from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Admission is free. Look for the Bookmobile, storytelling, arts and crafts activities, a magic show by Timothy James, a scavenger hunt for kids, and a ceremony honoring everyone who completed the Summer Reading Program. The event will be held at the Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak Street.

So what about those prizes? This year’s participants can earn free admission tickets to the Oakland Museum of California, Lawrence Hall of Science, Children’s Fairyland, and the Oakland Ice Center.  Additionally, anyone who completes the game will qualify for a raffle to win more prizes, such as tickets to Oakland A’s baseball games, the Alameda/Oakland Ferry, Chabot Space & Science Center, and more.        

Sponsors of the Summer Reading Program include Friends of the Oakland Public Library, The Stocker Foundation, Alameda/Oakland Ferry Service, Ben & Jerry’s - Jack London Square, California Academy of Sciences, Chabot Space & Science Center, Children’s Fairyland, Renaissance Rialto Theaters (Grand Lake Theater), Hometown Buffet, Lawrence Hall of Science, Oakland A’s Baseball Team, Oakland Ice Center, Oakland Museum of California, Zeum, Raging Waters, Round Table Pizza, and the Exploratorium.

Summer Reading 2007 Highlights

Thacher Hurd Mural Celebration and Summer Reading Kickoff
Main Library Children’s Room, Saturday, June 9, 11 am

Treasure Hunt and Ice Cream
Kick-off Summer Reading with a treasure hunt and ice cream social.

• César Chávez Branch, Tuesday, June 12, 6 pm
• Piedmont Ave. Branch, Monday, June 25, 7 pm

Early Reading Fun
Stories, crafts, or other activities to make learning to read fun. Recommended for pre-readers (toddlers and preschoolers) and their families or caregivers.

• Asian Branch, Saturday, June 2, 11 am
• Dimond Branch, Wednesday, June 13, 10:15 am
• Eastmont Branch, Thursday, June 21, 3:30 pm
• West Oakland Branch/Second Start, Thursday, June 28, 5:30 pm
• Lakeview Branch, Saturday, June 30, 10:30 am
• Rockridge Branch, Saturday, June 30, 10:30 am
• Montclair Branch, Saturday, June 30, 10:30 am
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, Tuesday, July 3, 2 pm
• Melrose Branch, Saturday, July 14, 3:30 pm
• Piedmont Ave. Ave. Branch, Monday, July 16, 7 pm
• Elmhurst Branch, Tuesday, July 17, 10:30 am
• Golden Gate Branch, Monday, July 23, 7 pm
• Main Library Children's Room, Saturday, July 28, 2 pm
• Temescal Branch, Wednesday, August 1, 10:30 am
• Brookfield Branch, Monday, August 13, 5:30 pm
• César Chávez Branch, Saturday, August 4, 11:30 am

Gary Lapow’s Get a Clue @ Your Library: The Musical
Get your imagination into high gear with Gary’s lively songs of mystery, guessing games, and other fun.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, Tuesday, June 5, 2 pm
• Montclair Branch, Monday, July 9, 7 pm
• Golden Gate Branch, Tuesday, July 10, 10:15 am
• Dimond Branch, Tuesday, July 24, 7 pm
• Rockridge Branch, Tuesday, August 7, 7 pm

MOCHA: Harry Potter Craft Program
Come make a magical dragon with the artists from the Museum of Children's Art.

• Brookfield Branch, Wednesday, July 11, 1 pm
• Temescal Branch, Tuesday, July 17, 3:30 pm
• Montclair Branch, Saturday, July 21, 2 pm
• Piedmont Ave. Branch, Monday, July 23, 7 pm
• Golden Gate Branch, Thursday, July 26, 2 pm
• Rockridge Branch, Monday, July 30, 7 pm
• César Chávez Branch, Tuesday, July 31, 6 pm
• Asian Branch, Wednesday, August 8, 2 pm

So come Get a Clue, little gum shoes! For more information, visit your local library, check out our web site at www.oaklandlibrary.org, or call (510) 238-3615.  To request sign interpretation, or other accommodation, call the number above or (510) 834-7446 (TTY) at least five working days prior to the event.  The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

NAME ADDRESSES PHONE
All phone numbers are (510) area code
Main Library 125 14th Street 238-3134
Children’s Room 238-3615
Asian Branch 388 9th Street, Suite 190 238-3400
Brookfield Branch 9255 Edes Avenue 615-5725
César E. Chávez Branch: 3301 East 12th St. 535-5620
Dimond Branch 3565 Fruitvale Avenue 482-7844
Eastmont Branch Eastmont Town Ct., Suite 211 615-5726 7200 Bancroft Avenue
Elmhurst Branch 1427 88th Avenue 615-5727
Golden Gate Branch 5606 San Pablo Avenue 597-5023
Lakeview Branch 550 El Embarcadero 238-7344
Martin L. King, Jr. Branch 6833 International Blvd. 615-5728
Melrose Branch 4805 Foothill Blvd. 535-5623
Montclair Branch 1687 Mountain Blvd. 482-7810
Piedmont Avenue Branch 160 41st Street 597-5011
Rockridge Branch 5366 College Avenue 597-5017
Temescal Branch & Tool Lending Library 5205 Telegraph Avenue 597-5049
West Oakland Branch 1801 Adeline Street 238-7352
*All facilities are wheelchair accessible

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