For Immediate Release: July 15, 2008

Oakland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program to
Close with Fun Finale at the Oakland Museum

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(Oakland, CA)—It’s fun for the entire family as the Oakland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program draws to a close with a big party at the Oakland Museum of California. The celebration links two fantastic summer events, the library’s Summer Reading Program and the Oakland Museum of California’s Family Explorations for a double dose of culture, entertainment, fun, and learning. The celebration will take place on the grounds of the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, on Sunday, August 10, 2008, from 12:30 to 4:30 PM.

Entertainment will include Magic by Alex, featuring Alex Ramon, the young, award-winning illusionist who has gained renown by performing on Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show. Mr. Ramon, a Bay Area native, has delighted audiences around the world with his mind-bending magical tricks.

Representatives from the Insect Discovery Lab – each having six legs or more! – will also be on hand to scare up an audience. The lab hasn’t announced which creepy characters will make an appearance, but it could include walking sticks from Malaysia, millipedes from Africa, or scorpions. Daring kids will want to get an up-close look at these fascinating arthropods.

UC Berleley’s Cognitive Control and Development Lab will set up its display to demonstrate how the human brain works. Fun ‘brain games’ will get kids thinking about what’s going on up there in the old noggin.

Children can also get their faces painted by a clown, participate in hands-on art activities, listen to stories, or enjoy free frozen treats provided by Dreyer’s. And, to give credit where it’s due, the library will conduct a ceremony to honor all Summer Reading Program participants who succeeded in reading eight hours or more this summer.

The 2008 Summer Reading Program has been a popular and fun way to encourage library patrons to ‘Catch the Reading Bug’ during the summer months. Participants have benefitted not only from the pleasure of reading, but also from a summer’s worth of free events featuring puppets, magic tricks, music, wildlife, crafts, and more. In 2008, adults were invited for the first time to join what had already been an enthusiastically attended program for children . Weekly raffles gave participating readers a chance to win prizes ranging from admission to local attractions to coupons for local businesses.

The Oakland Public Library Summer Reading Program is supported by grants from the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and the Stocker Foundation. The Oakland Museum of California’s Family Explorations, held every Sunday in summer, is made possible by the Chevron Corporation.

For more information, call the Oakland Public Library’s Children’s Room, at 510-238-3615, or visit www.oaklandlibrary.org. To request sign interpretation or other accommodations, please call at least five working days prior to this event at the number above or 510-834-7446 (TTY).