 |
Oakland Public Library
8/2011 - The concept for the 81st Avenue East Oakland Community Library began in 2004 when the Oakland Public Library received $6.5 million in funding from the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 14) to build a brand new community library in East Oakland. The plan included locating a new library on the same campus as two of Oakland’s New Small Schools – EnCompass Academy and Acorn Woodland School. In recognition of the importance of the East Oakland Community Library project to the growth and sustainability of a fragile neighborhood, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency agreed to match the Proposition 14 funding with $3.5 million in local redevelopment funds. Locating the community library on the school campuses marked a new level of cooperation between the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Unified School District.
The Oakland Unified School District committed the land and a total of $497,065 for site development and construction of the common use areas. Over the next seven years, foundations, individuals and businesses donated more than $3 million for new furniture, fixtures, equipment and books for the new library. Grand opening celebrations took place on January 29, 2011.
The new branch library is 21,000 square feet, earned a LEED Silver Rating and features a children’s room and storytime alcove; a family reading area; a teen zone; a quiet reading area; a computer lab; a community room; a copy center; an internet café; and shared parking with co-located elementary schools and bicycle parking. The Stocker Foundation provided 30,000 toward the purchase of children’s books and a children’s reading festival that took place in June 2011.
|