The Library Community

How do climate change and severe weather events affect our lives in the Bay Area?

How do we become stronger, smarter, and more resilient?

The Oakland Public Library is one of fifty libraries nationwide to host a reading, viewing, and discussion program on climate change, called Pushing the Limits: PLACE (Public Libraries Advancing Community Engagement). Come to the Golden Gate Branch to explore adaptation strategies and building resiliency at this "science-cafe-meets-book-club."

At each meeting, we will view a short video and learn from local organizations playing active roles in adapation and resilience. We will also discuss the book "Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution," by Peter Kalmus. Pick up a copy at Golden Gate.

To encourage the conversation and provide context, we are joined by Brian Garcia, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service serving the Bay Area. An expert in weather- and water-related impacts of our region, Brian partners with Emergency Managers in the area to help their communities

Here at the library, we are engaged in a strategic planning process and through that process, we have developed a new mission statement, a vision statement, core values, and three-year goals.  

You've probably seen "explore, connect, and grow" on some of our materials recently, including our last annual report and all of our summer program materials.  That's because our mission is, "Your Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow," and we take it quite seriously.

Hopefully our core values aren't a surprise to you, as we aspire to infuse them into everything we do.

And what about those three year goals?  Well, in no particular order, we are working to:

The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017 is coming up quickly! This is the first eclipse to be visible in the continental U.S. in almost 40 years. More details here: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/. 

In such an eclipse, the Moon gets in front of the Sun and blocks some or all of its light. In Oakland, we will have a partial eclipse, with 76% of the Sun’s area covered by the Moon. For us, the eclipse will begin at 9:01 am, and reach maximum at 10:15 am. By 11:37 am, the Sun will be uncovered once more.  Such a partial eclipse -- where some of the Sun’s bright surface is showing -- is not safe to look at with the naked eye (or sunglasses). You must use special eclipse-viewing glasses or project an image of the Sun! 

Your Oakland Public Library is a distribution site for safe viewing glasses through a partnership with

This February, Oakland Public Library is offering a series of Know Your Rights workshops, in partnership with the ACLU of Northern California.

As our communities grapple with the uncertain future of immigration reform, the threat of a Muslim registry, a surge in bias-related crimes, and a groundswell of activism by citizens concerned about justice, safety and equity, we have a great deal to learn and do -- together.

Beginning with three workshops -- for immigrants, transgender residents and citizens exercising free speech through protest – Oakland Library and the ACLU will provide information to help you protect yourself, your family and your community.

Over the coming year, the library will continue to offer programs and