Supporters of a name change for the South Branch Public Library hold placards at a special Board of Library Trustees meeting on May 7, 2015. Photo: Tracey Taylor Supporters of a name change for the South Branch Public Library hold placards at a special Board of Library Trustees meeting on May 7, 2015. Photo: Tracey Taylor The Berkeley Board […]
Berkeley South Branch library
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Library to reconsider proposal to rename South Branch
The South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library at 1901 Russell St. on its opening day in May 2013. Photo: Richard Friedman The South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library at 1901 Russell St. on its opening day in May 2013. Photo: Richard Friedman The Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) will hold a special session Thursday, May […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: The Berkeley Library should apply larger view in naming its buildings
On Wednesday April 22 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Library Trustees will meet at the South Branch Library at 1901 Russell St. to review its naming policy and to hear requests to rename the South Branch to honor Tarea Hall Pittman. The Berkeley Public Library’s Naming Policy strongly favors naming branch libraries only for […]
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Neighbors petition to rename South Branch Library after civil-rights leader
The South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library: a group of neighbors would like to see it named after Tarea Hall Pittman, a civil-rights leader who lived in South Berkeley. Photo: Richard Friedman Update, April 23: The Board of Trustees of the Berkeley Public Library voted against renaming the South Branch after civil-rights leader Tarea […]
Posted inEvents
The It List: Five things to do in Berkeley this weekend
Zac Schuman, Ashley Cowl, Danny Quezada, and Harmony Livingston in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown directed by Christina Lazo. Performed at the Julia Morgan Theater Feb. 19-March 15. Photo: Ben Krantz Studio YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Charlie Brown is coming to town with the opening on Saturday of Berkeley […]
Posted inCity
Lawsuit yields money for historic preservation in Berkeley
Concerned Library Users did not want Berkeley to tear down the old South Branch because they and others considered it historically significant. It was demolished and rebuilt. The settlement funds from a suit filed by the group will go towards other historic buildings. Berkeley residents may soon see the fruits of a legal settlement between […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley’s West Branch library to re-open in December
Berkeley’s West Branch Library under construction. Photo: Eli Wolfe Berkeley’s West Branch Library under construction. Photo: Eli Wolfe By Eli Wolfe Construction continues at a brisk pace at Berkeley’s West Branch Library, which is scheduled to re-open in December, after the holidays. The completion of the West Branch, which is located at 1125 University Ave. (at San […]
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Berkeley Public Library South Branch: The opening
Library staffers, supporters and Berkeley officials (including Mayor Tom Bates, fifth from left) cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library on Saturday, May 11. Photo: Richard Friedman Saturday May 11 saw the official opening of the new South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library on […]
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New South Branch library to open in Berkeley on Saturday
The entrance to the new South Branch library on MLK Jr. Way at Russell St. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel It was four days to D-Day and the place was hopping. Painters rolled on a last coat of paint. IT guys fiddled with computer wire while architects strolled around looking for last minute glitches. Carpenters nailed sheets […]
Posted inCommunity, Events
New South Branch of Berkeley library to open on May 11
The façade of the South Branch in February. Photo: Berkeley Public Library Fourteen months after it was closed and torn down, the new South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library will reopen on Saturday May 11. At 12:30 p.m. local officials and library supporters will gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1901 Russell Street, […]
Posted inCity
Demolition and building at Berkeley branch libraries
Demolition at West Branch. Photo: Berkeley Public Library Demolition began Wednesday on the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library on University Avenue and, within a few hours, the bulldozers had knocked down much of the building. The West Branch, which was constructed in 1923, is being torn down to make way for a larger […]
Posted inCity
Rally planned to draw attention to library lawsuit
Benjamin Bartlett has helped BHS students organize against CLU lawsuit Dozens of church leaders, community activists, students, and library supporters plan to stage a rally outside city hall on Tuesday to call attention to a lawsuit they believe could stop construction of new libraries in the southern and western parts of Berkeley. The group, which […]