Berkeley Public Library Foundation

Programs: Design and development plans for the new teen space at the central library continued to move forward. The allocated space will double in size from the current area and contains unique features proven successful in other recently renovated libraries. We sponsored teen groups to meet with the architects to provide input on the final designs. A space use review team was formed to design a dynamic service model to better serve the teen users in the new space. The final designs are completed, and construction begins in the spring of 2019. The foundation has committed $600,000 toward the $1. 8 million needed for the first phase of the central improvements project. Berkeley builds readers gives preschoolers an early start by bringing story-time

events featuring books, library staff and volunteers to childcare centers and development centers. The project now serves 8 outreach sites or 439 children ages 2-4 in 20 classrooms, an increase from 7 locations and 18 classes in 2017. Reaching primarily underserved children, volunteers visit sites once or twice a month. In addition to regular visits children at head start(3 locations), berkeley unified school district early childhood development centers(3 locations), la academia de bahia and centro vida receive free books annually. Readers and their families are invited to participate in other special literacy events such as head starts daddy and me day. While the focus of the project is children, parents and childcare workers also receive information about the family and adult literacy services available through the library. The project has an extensive waiting list and plans

to double the number of sites in the coming year. The bplf provided support for the commons, a redesign of an underutilized space at the central library. The space adds flexibility for programming, comfort for patrons, and provides 40 new places for people to sit, work, study or do group projects. Bridging the technology gap is an essential function of the library. Bplf funded the purchase of a laptop lending machine that is now located near the new commons. Our grants support the new furniture and fixtures not covered by library budget.