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Main Library Information

Main Library
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125 14th Street
Oakland CA 94612
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directions & public transit | map
Phone
(Information Desk):
(510) 238-3134
Branch Manager: Jamie Turbak
email contact: jturbak@oaklandlibrary.org
Main Library
 
 
 
 
 
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1:00-5:00
10:00-5:30
10:00-5:30
12:00-8:00
12:00-8:00
12:00-5:30
10:00-5:30
Library Holiday Schedule
 

Programs & Services


Public Service Desks:
Check-out desk 510-238-3144 (Check out our new book bags!)
Children's Room 510-238-3615
TeenZone 510-238-7332
Adult reference desks:
Art, Music, History, & Literature 510-238-3136
Magazines & Newspapers 510-238-3176
Oakland History Room 510-238-3222
Science, Business, Social Sciences & Government Documents 510-238-3138
Outdoor Bookdrops
Floor plan of Main Library in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese.
Storytimes Please call the Children's Room (238-3615).
Teen Homework Assistance Program Thursday, 4:00 - 8:00 pm and Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00
pm (September - June), TeenZone
Lawyers in the Library 1st four Thursdays of every month, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Lottery sign-up by 5:45 pm.
Bankruptcy Lawyer in the Library 1st Wednesday of every month, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Lottery sign-up by 5:45 pm.
Tax Assistance February - April every year, senior citizens priority access.
Volunteer @ the Main Library We welcome volunteers when there are available jobs. Contact the appropriate volunteer site: the Computer Lab (238-3176), the Children's Room (238-3616), the Information Desk (238-3134), or the Oakland History Room (238-3222).
Computer Training Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
Saturdays: 10 am - 12 pm (in Spanish), 10am - 12pm (in English)
Call 238-3176 for more information.

For special events, see our Events Calendar

Oakland Public Library Administration Offices (510-238-3283) are also at the Main Library. They are open from 8:30 - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.

Collections

Located between downtown and Lake Merritt, Oakland's Main Library is one of the largest public library facilities in the Bay Area. In addition to large collections of over 350,000 reference and circulating non-fiction and fiction books, the Main Library offers hundreds of current and historic magazines and newspapers, a major collection of sheet music and thousands of maps. There are federal, state and local government publications and a large collection of compact discs, videocassettes, DVDs and audiobooks. We also are home to the Oakland History Room, a significant resource on the history of our area, a large and active Children's Room, and the TeenZone.

Computers

  • Thirty-three (33) computers with Internet access are available for public use. Most of these can be reserved with your Library card. Please call the Information Desk (510-238-3134) for more information, or click here to make a reservation. Oakland Public Library’s Internet policies and procedures are here.
  • Basic Internet classes are offered on the first Wednesday of each month, and an introduction to e-mail class is offered three times a year. Please call the Magazine & Newspaper Room at 238-3176 for registration.
  • Adaptive technology is available, including screen readers and enlargers for those who are blind or who have low vision or learning disabilities. Please call the Information Desk (510-238-3134) for more information or to schedule training.

Meeting Room Information

Meeting Room Capacity: 121 people. Collapsible tables and chairs, podium. For information about policies and rental fees, click here.

Main Library History

The first Main Library (1878-1902) was situated on the north side of 14th Street, facing Washington, on the site of the present City Hall. The second Main Library (1902-1951) still stands at 14th Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and is now the home of the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The present Main Library, which occupies the block bounded by 14th and 13th Streets and Oak and Madison, opened in 1951.

Neighborhood Links & Contacts

Neighborhood groups:

  • Brooklyn Neighborhood Preservation Association
    2106 9th Avenue
    Oakland CA 94606
    510-533-2792
  • Downtown Gateway Association
    570 14th Street
    Oakland CA 94612
    510-763-2100
  • Downtown Lake Merritt Neighborhood Group
    Zach Seal, President
    (510) 219-1541
    http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/downtownlakemerritt
  • Fourth Street Lofts Web Log
    http://fourthstreetlofts.com/blog/
  • Jack London District Association
    http://www.jacklondondistrict.org/
  • Lakeside Apartment Neighborhood Association
    1528 Alice St. Apt. 12
    Oakland CA 94612
    510-763-7173
  • Laney Campus/Channel Park Neighborhood Coalition
    1727 Clemens Rd.
    Oakland CA 94602-1801
  • Northlake Neighborhood Group
    420 Burke St, Suite 420
    Oakland, CA 94610
    510-451-9112
    www.northlakegroup.org
  • South of the Nimitz Improvement Council
    229 Harrison Street
    Oakland CA 94607
    510-893-9829

Commercial associations:

Churches:

Child Development Centers:

  • Alice Street Learning
    250 17th Street, 94612
    510-879-0856
  • Centro Infantil Annex
    314 East 10th Street
    510-879-0818
  • Yuk Yao Annex
    314 East 10th Street
    510-879-0821
  • Yuk Yao Child Development Center
    291 10th Street
    510-879-0824

Recreation Centers:

Other:

Local Schools

  • Bella Vista
    1025 East 28th St, 94610
    510-879-1027
  • Centro Infantil de la Raza
    2660 East 16th Street
    510-879-0819
  • La Escuelita Elementary School
    1100 3rd Ave
    Oakland, CA 94606
    510-879-1210
  • Lakeview Elementary
    746 Grand
    Oakland 94610
    510-879-1300
  • Lighthouse Community Charter
    345 12th St
    Oakland, CA 94607
    510-271-8801
    http://www.lighthousecharter.org/
  • Lincoln Elementary School
    225 11th St
    Oakland, CA 94612
    510-879-1330
  • Franklin Elementary
    915 Foothill Blvd.
    510-879-1160
  • Westlake Junior High
    2629 Harrison
    Oakland 94610
    510-879-2130

Directions & Public Transit Information

The Main Library is at 125 14th Street between Oak and Madison.

By Car:

  • HWY. 80 (from Bay Bridge, or heading South):
    Follow 80 to 580 East to 980 (toward Downtown) to 880 South; take Jackson St. exit as 980 becomes 880. Turn left on Jackson, then right on 14th.
    (NOTE: Do NOT get onto 880 South directly from the Bay Bridge - you will miss the Jackson St. exit.)
  • HWY. 880 (heading North) :
    Take Oak Street exit. Turn right on Oak, then left on 14th.

By Bus & By BART:

  • By Bus:
    14th and Oak:                          Bus #13
    12th and Oak:                          Bus #1, #1R, #14, #18, #40, #88, #618 
    11th and Jackson:                    Bus #59, #59A

  • By BART:
    Lake Merritt Bart Station:          Bus#11, #62 (in front fo Oakland Museum
                                                   and across from Laney College)

  • Click here to plan a trip to the Main Library. If bus schedules or bus maps are needed, you can contact Dennis Lim, Marketing Intern dlim@actransit.org. The website for AC Transit is www.actransit.org or you can also go to www.nextbus.com.

Map of Main Location

 

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Page Last Edited March 17, 2008