Friends of the Piedmont Avenue Library

PAL is reopening this Tues, April 20 for in-person service! And with that, we will also be welcoming our new Branch Manager, Leni Matthews yay and welcome, Leni! We will now be open 10am-1pm on Tuesdays - Saturdays for "OPL Express" service, where the whole branch will be open for browsing and our signature friendly service. This transition also means we no longer offer Sidewalk Service, as of April 17. In accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols, visitors will be required... to wear masks, get screened for a temperature at the door, and maintain social distancing. Capacity will be limited, and there will be no seats inside. We will continue to quarantine returned materials for 24 hours before putting them back on the shelves. We can't wait to welcome you all back safely!

Exciting update on a new home for PAL! At this week's Oakland Unified School District Board meeting, the Directors approved a resolution that is a small step towards making the former Piedmont Child Development Center (CDC) into a permanent and larger home for the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library. The next procedural step is for OUSD to release an RFP to convert the CDC building into a public library. Meanwhile, City of Oakland staff are estimating the cost of renovation, and... City Council will soon review the Capital Improvement Program, which we hope will include planning funds for this project. We will keep folks posted on more ways to help soon. Many thanks to Sam Davis, Oakland School Board Director, District 1, Vancedric Williams, the entire OUSD Board of Directors, Piedmont Avenue Merchants Association, PANIL, Piedmont Ave Elementary School Reading Partners, our many wonderful community advocates, and the incredible parents and faculty of Piedmont Avenue Elementary School for all of your support to get us here!

Show your support for PAL by submitting an e-comment for tonight's Oakland Unified School District Board Meeting, where we expect the OUSD Board of Directors will approve a resolution initiating procedures that can make the former Piedmont CDC at 86 Echo Ave. into a larger home for the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library. https://ousd.granicusideas.com//60734e71244398a257000329-v Use this link before 6pm today to voice your support for Item V.14 on the agenda (select "Support").... In your e-comment please say how you relate to the Piedmont Avenue library (neighbor, library user, student or parent at Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, etc.). You can reference this packet that Friends of PAL sent to the OUSD Directors, if you'd like to add more reasons to bring the library to the CDC. https://drive.google.com//17o-QjmUh82mAQfkXZERYkafeNr/view