Posted on May 5, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

We Keep Finding Stuff!

More found objects - some art, some notes, and an amazing rejection letter.

Here are some more items found in library books (or in the library)!   We've got some good ones today!

But first- I've gone a bit "Found Item" crazy lately and have made some buttons and magnets created out of the items we've found and posted here!  So, look for me when the library is out and about (Nerd Nites, for example).  I'll bring these along and you can have one for your very own with a teeny small donation to our amazing wonderful supportive Friends of the Oakland Public Library.

For now, let's check out some items...

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Friends?

Dear Nathan.  This is probably my favorite find ever.  Sorry, Nathan.

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Posted on April 24, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

Card Catalog Poetry

Check out some amazing poems created by awesome Oaklanders on old card catalog cards.

Earlier this month I had the great pleasure of participating in Oakland Nights Live, showing off some of the Found Items that have been featured on this blog.  Since it's National Poetry Month in April, I gave the audience a chance to create some poetry to be shared here and they so totally stepped up to the plate with some amazing pieces.

All of these poems were created on card catalog cards that we normally use for scrap paper around the library.  These particular cards came from the LP collection, and as you'll see below much of the poetry was inspired directly by what was on the card.  Some poems are funny, some cryptic, and some are just touching.

(BTW - we still have vinyl!  Want to see what we've got?  

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Posted on April 18, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

It's been a lovely National Library Week

Check out these staff recommended titles for teens. Great for adults, too!

We hope you've enjoyed your National Library Week.  We sure have!  And I have good news for you...we still have National Library Week Booklets left.  You can get one of your own at your closest Oakland Public Library Branch throughout April.

Lest anyone think that we don't have any amazing books for teenagers, I thought I'd share some Staff Reading Recommendations of books you can find in our teen collection.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Although Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is made up of many sad and heartbreaking themes, the book is enjoyable because of the writing

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Posted on April 16, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

National Library Week Continues...

Check out these great titles in our Children's collection. Staff recommendations are a sample from our National Library Week Booklet.

On Monday, I posted a sneak peek at some of the staff reading recommendations in our National Library Week booklet.  Today I've got some recommendations for you from the Children's section, but they aren't just for children.  There are many more where these came from - just pop into your closest OPL branch and pick up a booklet of your own!

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
Two sisters go to live with their eccentric aunt in a creep house, in a town filled with secrets, near an abandoned church that calls to them like a siren't song...Their terror (and the readers')

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Posted on April 14, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

It's National Library Week!

Find some great books to read this National Library Week when library staff members recommend some of their favorites.

It's National Library Week! 

You may have been by your local library recently and discovered already our beautiful booklet full of staff reading recommendations for readers of all ages!  If you haven't, you should.   Throughout this week, I'll give you a little teaser of some of the reviews you'll find in the booklet.   Today's titles can all be found in the adult section at the library.  I'll post some great children and teen titles later this week!

A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson

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Posted on March 24, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

What have we found lately?

Check out some more amazing items found in library books!

It's been far too long since my last post of amazing found items.   The best thing that's happened in that time on the topic of items found in library books is that I was able to reunite a library staff member with a missing love letter!  Yep, that's right.  A lost item found!  The love letter in question was given to me by someone who had found it in a book, and I recognized the "to" and "from" names on it and thought perhaps it might belong to a certain staff member.  When presented with it, the staff member blushed and claimed it.  I won't show it to you here, but just know that it's possible - reunions can happen!

Perhaps you'll recognize one of these items...

The following two items were found in a single envelope in a book.  I find the contrast between the two letters quite interesting.

  

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Posted on March 20, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

Oakland Wiki + Oakland Public Library = True Love

Oakland Public Library and Oakland Wiki are working together to help you share what you know about Oakland.

Oakland Wiki is a community website about Oakland that anybody can contribute to.  Including you and me!  We are so very excited about this that we are hosting a series of neighborhood "edit parties" where Oakland Wiki volunteers will help you share what you know about Oakland.

It's very easy.  You don't even need to have computer experience.

You can add information about:

  • What your neighborhood is like
  • Your family's history and experiences
  • Cultural events and history
  • Fun things to do
  • Anything else you think other people should know about Oakland

Come to one or come to them all!  Most of these have a focus for topics to write about, but you can feel free to come and learn about Oakland Wiki and write about

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Posted on March 17, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

War Ink - Recruiting Tattooed Veterans for Groundbreaking Exhibit

OPL is helping to recruit Iraq and Aghanistan veterans with memorial tattoos of their combat experiences. Can you participate?

War ink LogoOakland Public Library has joined other local libraries to recruit participants for a ground breaking exhibition of War Ink: OIF/ OEF Veteran Memorial Tattoo Artwork.

We’re looking for 18 veterans from San Francisco County down to San Benito County to participate in this effort. If you are a veteran who has a memorial tattoo of your combat experience, please contact Jason Deitch (jasonadeitch@gmail.com | 510-593-8423) directly with your name, contact information, city of residence, branch of service, and, of course, a photo of your tattoo(s). 

This will be for War Ink, an online exhibit of Iraq and

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Posted on March 14, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

The Old and The New

OPL is examining our past at three branch history events. Attend all three and get a prize!

Local history buffs take note!  Three Oakland Public Library branches – Montclair, Dimond, and Brookfield – are offering talks to examine and discuss the history of each respective branch.  Attend all three and you get a small prize.  A PRIZE!  WOOHOO!

 

(Note:  Prize will absolutely NOT be a stuffed bird.)

 

 

These particular branches were chosen because they are each scheduled to undergo improvements over the next couple of years. Funded by private donations, the interior improvements are expected to make these locations more welcoming to the public. When looking towards the future, it is always nice to also remember the past. So, come join us to learn more about the history – and perhaps a bit about the future – of each of these neighborhood libraries.

The

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Posted on February 24, 2014 by Sharon McKellar

Library User Spotlight - Meet Dominic!

Meet Dominic - a bicycle-riding, comic-loving library supporter!

Dominic Lucchesi is a great friend of the library.  He's also a District 1 resident and a worker-owner of Pedal Express - the East Bay's only bicycle courier company.  Monday through Friday, you can find him riding the streets of Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville making deliveries of all kinds.  On the weekends, you can find himpicking over the comic book collection at the Temescal Branch Library, or checking out something useful at the Tool Lending Library. 

Thanks to Dominic for answering my questions!  Anything in parentheses

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