A San Francisco Chronicle article written by Carolyn Jones on Piedmont’s not making annual $350,000 payments to Oakland for access to library services contains several significant errors and omissions.  Specifically, the writer fails to note that the City of Oakland:

• was not using the dollars from Piedmont residents to support Oakland libraries (instead, placing the monies in its general fund)
• recently decided to close the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library near Piedmont
• refused to utilize the dollars from Piedmont to pay the rent on the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library to keep it open
• attempted to charge Piedmont residents for library cards when it offers free Library cards to any California resident
• insisted that Piedmont pay 400% more per person than Emeryville > Click to read more…

The Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood Improvement League (PANIL) hosted a library update meeting on Wednesday, January 12.  Oakland Public Library Associate Director Gerry Garzon’s presentation began with a review of the history of the search for relocation alternatives because of the rent increase under the new ownership.  Library staff  found > Click to read more…

Oakland Public Library Director Carmen Martinez was the featured speaker at the League of Women Voters’ Holiday Lunch Program on Wednesday, December 1.  Martinez was charmingly modest about her appointment by former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown in 2000, claiming she was > Click to read more…

Carmen Martinez, Director of the Oakland Public Library, will be the featured speaker at the Piedmont League of Women Voters’ Holiday Lunch on Wednesday, December. 1, 2010.  This event is open to the pubic and will be held at 104 Monte Avenue, Piedmont, and the program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Ms. Martinez will discuss “The Oakland Library:  Opportunity for All.” > Click to read more…

Either the Branch Library of the Oakland Public Library on Piedmont Avenue will be eliminated or it will move into a trailer. > Click to read more…

A meeting on the status of the Piedmont Avenue Branch of the Oakland Public library was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 to discuss the fate of this local library.  For more information call 510-655-1723 or email FOPABL@aol.com.  Background information on the library is also available on this PowerPoint from Friends of the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library.

The City of Piedmont now has an opportunity to consider how library service funds of up to $350,000 can be best utilized.  > Click to read more…