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— By Erica Siskind, Rockridge Branch Children’s Librarian L 355 63rd Street | Lower Rockridge SOLD OFF MARKET Erica Siskind does a song about sea creatures during storytime. Sidewalk Service is now happening at most branches of the Oakland Public Library, wi...

By Alona Rivord

“He is self-effacing,” said Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind, who has worked with Howe for 22 years. “He is a soft-hearted person who is sweet with people. He is respectful and empathetic to his colleagues and the public.”

By Erica Siskind

... FORL) and talked to students about this special story format that interconnects the histories of children’s books, Japanese street theater, and manga and anime. FORL has instrumentally supported our summer reading program for more than a Erica Siskind presents a Kamishibai story, a storytelling form that originated in Japan in the 12th Century, in one of a series of school class visits. /Photo Courtesy of Erica Siskind neighbors ages 11 to 17 who help out with the summer reading program...

By Erica Siskind

by Erica Siskind, children’s librarian We’d like to thank the Friends of the Rockridge Library for the special programs and resources for children they’ve funded this past year. The projects have been much appreciated by our patrons and have enhanced the e...

By Erica Siskind

...get prizes for reading, or just to check out whatever you like, I hope you got a quick peek at the farm diorama in the Children’s Area, too. It’s a favorite with preschoolers. From all the patrons of our library; Thanks, Friends! /Courtesy Erica Siskind

By Erica Siskind

Newsletter Subscriptions To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at the address below. by Erica Siskind Ithe reading they’ve done, giving out prizes, making phone calls to raffle winners, and helping library staff with stamping, labeling, sorting, photocopying, craft projects and set- ting up and putting away after special events. It is an u...

By Erica Siskind

...l: 510/869-4200 Monday and Tuesday: 12:30 - 8 Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10 - 5:30 Friday: 12 - 5:30 Sunday: Closed Your job may include explaining the read- ing game to kids, helping them keep track of To get details and sign up, call Erica Siskind or Gay Ducey at 597-5017 Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed to the above address. Submissions are limited to 600 words; must include the author’s name, phone

...volunteer group. Each month we will plan the next 3 months of tween-choice activities. February Activity: Pen Pals. Art supplies, snacks, and camaraderie provided free to all participants ages 9 to 12 years. More info: Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind, 597-5017. FOR TEENS y y Writers Support/Critique Group: All writers welcome. Bring 15 copies of up to 5 pgs. (double-

By David Brown

...ving a whole library of books that not only need to be stored but need to be accessed at the drop of a hat. Storing the collection of books at the Rockridge library has become a pressing burden to the already busy librarians. Gay Ducey and Erica Siskind found that their precious collection of books, used for the branch’s popular story time sessions, lived in precarious piles on a book truck. As a stopgap measure, Ms. Siskind provided a pasteboard bookcase she brought from home until somet...

Mora into on children’s programs: Erica Siskind, 597-5017.

... last year’s Pen Pals, and see how many people will be doing National Novel Writing Month this November. Snacks served. Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday evening (9/13 and 9/27), 6:30-7:45pm, in the Children’s Area. More info on children’s programs: Erica Siskind, 597-5017. FOR TEENS y

By Sarah Washburn

... schools, so there are lots of kids in this library. They have a lot of pride in their library. On my second day, a little boy asked me if I was new. When I told him I was, he said, ‘I hope you really enjoy it here.’ And I am enjoying it.” ERICA SISKIND, Children’s Librarian Temporary homes: Temescal Branch (W), West Branch (Th), Main Library (T/F/Sa) “Temescal is a classic example of Carn­ egie Library architecture: well-preserved, ornate, elegant, and quaint. It feels tiny, but they fit...

...borhood branch, visit www. RockridgeFriends.org. Ed. Note: the Rockridge Library will be closed for interior renovations this spring. The announcement, dates, and details will soon be posted to www.OaklandLibrary.org. room. Three cheers to Erica Siskind (Rockridge Children’s librarian), Nina Lindsay (Children’s Services Coordinator, Oakland Main Library), and the teen library volunteers who made popcorn for a full hour to feed the hungry masses. Their super powers made the event a rousing...

children’s programs: Erica Siskind, 597-5017 FOR TEENS y y Tues, 4/19, 7pm. New York Times economics columnist, Robert H. Frank: Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy. y y Teen ‘Scape: Play video & board games; make crafts; do homework. Snacks provided....

.../15, 3/22, 3/29 from 10:30am to noon. Pre-register at 597-5085. ■ ■Chabot Star Lab: Tues, Mar 22, 7pm. Come into the dome of the Chabot Space & Science Center’s mobile planetarium to hear stories about the stars. All ages welcome. Details: Erica Siskind, 597-5017 CALLING ALL ‘TWEENS: 6:30 - 7:45pm. A monthly, tween-directed writing, reading, crafts, and community volunteer group. Each month we will plan the next 3 months of tween-choice activities. March 8 and April 12 Agenda: Pen Pals, F...

...ading, crafts, and community volunteer group. Each month we will plan the next 3 months of tween-choice activities. Art supplies, snacks, and camaraderie provided free to all participants ages 9 to 12 years. More info: Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind, 597-5017. FOR TEENS LIBRARY HOURS Tues, 12:30 to 8pm. Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm. Fri, 12 to 5:30pm. Closed: Sun and Mon; also Tues, 1/19. Diesel Book/Poetry Readings & Events FREE and open to the public. y y Sat, 1/16, 7pm. Carlos ...

...ing, crafts, and com- munity volunteer group. Each month we will plan the next 3 months of tween-choice activities. Art supplies, snacks, and camaraderie provided free to all participants ages 9 to 12 years. More info: Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind, 597-5017. FOR TEENS y y Sun, 12/6, 12:30 to 2:30pm. Winter Cookbook Extravaganza: Presenting their new cookbooks (and of course bringing some excellent food) will be

...nd Reality TV. y y Make Valentines: Tues, 2/10, 4:30 - 6:00pm. Bring a list of your classmates –make a valentine for everyone. All materials provided. Ages 6 to 13. (Kids under 9 years old must bring an adult.) Contact Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind for more information. FOR TEENS y y Fri, 1/16, 6:30 pm. Tara Ison: Reeling Through Life: How I Learned to Live, Love, and Die at the Movies. y y Sat., 1/17, 7:30pm. Literary Karaoke Night: Bring something from home or grab a book off one o...

By Carl Schmitz

...pportunities for seeing art. On permanent display at the library are two colorful sets of quilts. Four quilts were made by children under the guidance of artist Ellen Oppenheimer and another pair, according to Children’s Services Librarian Erica Siskind,

mail or identification that shows your current address. Then, sign a portable electronic device use agreement and you’re ready to use an available laptop inside the library. Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind shared how a family benefitted from the lending program: “A mom with her four- and seven- year-old children came into the library. They didn’t have a computer at home, and the mom needed to type a resume, fill out some online work applicat...

... ■Rockridge Branch Children’s Librar- ian Gay Ducey has been named manager of the West Oakland branch. We will remember Gay’s amazing story hours and the special gift she has for working with children. She will be missed. Land Use Cmte. ■ ■Erica Siskind is now the Children’s

time, on a schedule we’ll work out together. Please call Erica Siskind or Gay Ducey at 597-5017 to set up an orientation. The library is at 5366 College Avenue at Manila. Summer Reading Land Use Notes from page 5 from page 3 The Summer Reading Program Our program celebrates a child’s private relationship with...

By Gay Ducey

 Are there community issues you’d like to see covered in The Rockridge News?  Do you have questions about newsletter Librarians Erica Siskind and Gay Ducey distribution?  Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News Tblock captain?  Would you like to write a letter to the Editor? Contact us at one of the following: he best part of Summer Reading is that kids get to choose whatever...

...65 or www. dieselbookstore.com. Concerts at the Chimes ó Summer Volunteers, ages 11 to 16, needed to help run the Summer Reading Program. Each volunteer must attend an orientation with a parent or guardian. To get details and sign up, call Erica Siskind or Gay

...ent for additional information.  Nominate and Vote for Your Favorite Books Rockridge Library Hosts Kids’ Book Week Celebration For the most up-to-date information about applications on file at the city, go online at www.oaklandnet.com. by Erica Siskind Dwill be announced at an awards ceremony Tuesday evening, November 22, during a special Pajama Story Time, where every- one is invited to come dressed up as their favorite character in a book. Refreshments will be served. Anthony Chabot Sc...

... Dance Performance by Adigun Sipho of Angola: Saturday, 8/2 at 3pm FOR YOUNG ADULTS: NOTE: Teen Advisory Council has no summer meetings. Teens may volunteer at the Library to help with the Summer Reading Program. Details: Susan Stutzman or Erica Siskind at 597-5017. FOR ADULTS: • LAWYERS IN THE LIBRARY: Free legal advice. First Saturday, July 19, 11am to 2pm., Colby Park, 61st Street at Colby. Join neighbors from the lower Rockridge area for a potluck picnic. Bring a main dish, salad, des...

... Performance by Adigun Sipho of Angola: Saturday, 8/2 at 3pm l For Younc Aoutts: NOTE: Teen Advisory Council has no summer | meetings. Teens may volunteer at the Library to help with the Summer Reading Program. Details: l Susan Stutzman or Erica Siskind at 597-5017. | For Aoutts: ¢ Lawyens In THE Lisrany: Free legal advice. First U Thursday of each month, (8/7), from 6 to 8pm. fl Sign-up begins 5pm. l l [Rockridge Toastmasters I Tuesdays, 7pm, Veterans Building, 200 Grand Ave., Oakland. I...

... friends and colleagues. Gay Ducey, who has been acting head librar- ian, is also a children’s librarian, and the two have worked together on projects in the past, including Head Start training. Pat has also worked on special projects with Erica Siskind, Gay’s partner as Rockridge’s children’s librarian.

... at the Library. All ages welcome. FOR TEENS NOTE: Volunteers Needed: If you are 11 to 16 years old, and have some free time this summer, consider volunteering to help with the Summer Reading Program which begins Saturday, June 14. Contact Erica at 597- 5017, or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. ■ ■Sun., 5/4, 3pm. Poetry Flash presents The Blooms- bury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry with Susan Cohen, Lucille Lang Day, Julia B. Levine, Colleen McKee, Melissa Stein, and Lisa Gl...

adult to Tea. Best for ages 4+. Please RSVP at the Children’s Desk, or email Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org Summer Reading Program: All ages read to get prizes this summer! Storytime: Tursdays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Chess Club: Wednesdays, 4 p.m. All ages & skill-levels welcome. Build.Make.Play Crafs: Tursdays, 4 p.m. A...

...ic and Stories; Saturday, 6/10 10:30 am. Little Explorers Farm Animals; Thursday, 6/22 2:30-4:30 pm. Kamishibai-Making Workshop: For people ages 8 and up who like to write, draw, and tell stories; Fridays, 3:30-5 pm in June & July. Contact Erica to register for this series of 6 weeks of hands-on work at esiskind@ oaklandlibrary.org. law office of dave karlinsky 725 washington st., suite 313 oakland, ca 94607 (510) 788-5700 www.davekarlinskylaw.com For Teens Practicing exclusively in the a...

By Robert Firehock

...rs in the back parking lot. In case of rain, we will meet upstairs inside, where masks are still required. Rockridge Library is accepting Junior Volunteers to help with the Summer Reading Program and Drop-In Crafts. Please send an email to Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary. org, or stop by the library to sign up. Volunteers must commit to 5 (or more) shifts of 2.5 hours per shift, over June and July — sign-up for

...f Freud's early life and their impact on his theorizing and explores how psychoanaly­ sis has developed post-Freud and how Freud himself might have extended his thinking into the 21st century. • Thursday, 11/14, 7pm. Katherine Silver: Echo Erica for details about this event; esiskind@ oaklandlibrary.org or (510) 597-5017. FOR TEENS

routine library tasks. Email Erica at esiskind@ oaklandlibrary.org, or stop by the Children’s Reference Desk to sign up for an orientation. • Rock Painting: July 17, 3:30pm: Paint rocks and turn them into magnets. • Henna: July 19th, 3:30pm: Learn about the ancient art of henna. He...

tasks. Email Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org,

...and more. Or register online at oaklandli- brary.org/services/cards-and-visiting/summer-op!/ teen-summer-passport. For ages 12-19. = Teen Volunteers ages 11-16: to help with the Summer Reading Program and other routine library tasks. Email Erica at esiskind@

...oon: 4/14, 3:30-4:30pm. Bookmaking and poetry.Register in advance for Free Workshop to make a 90-Second Newbery Film: Sat, 4/21, 10am-4pm. Learn to condense a novel into a brief retelling, act it out, and make a film. Ages 8 to 14. Contact Erica at esiskind@

Register in advance for a free, all-day workshop on Sat, 4/21, 10am-4pm to makea 90-Second Newbery Film: learn to condense a novel into a brief retelling, act it out, and make a film. Ages 8 to 14 only. Contact Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org or 510-597-5017.

• Young Writers National Novel Writing Month: People ages 9 to 12 are invited to write a novel in the month of November. We’ll meet every Wednesday afternoon, 2:30-5pm, or come by any time. RSVP to Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. • • Active Indoor Games: Saturday, 11/18, 10am-12pm. Kids ages 2 to 7 with LOTS of energy are invited to run around inside the library. We’ll have a variety of activities. Adults can play along or sit in the bleache...

...2 are invited to write a novel in the month of November. We'll meet every Wednesday afternoon, 2:30-5pm, or stop by anytime. Sign up & attend Opening Day session on Wed., 11/1 (especially if you want a sticker, pencil, & notebook). RSVP to Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org.

Summer Volunteers wanted, ages 11 to 16 to help with the Summer Reading Program and general library tasks. Contact Erica (Children’s Librarian) to reserve a spot: 597- 5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org.

...-Second Newbery Film Makers Workshop: to make a minute-&-a-half- long group film that retells the story of a Newbery-Award-winning book. Sign up now for 8-session workshop; meets Tuesday- Friday, 3:30-5pm, 8/2-8/16. Stop by, call, or email Erica at esiskindOPL@gmail.com or 510/597-5017 to reserve a spot. Best for ages 8 to 12.

...mes (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays, 10:30am. All story times followed by Play Time; parents and caregivers invited. SPECIAL EVENTS Summer Volunteers wanted, ages 11 to 16 to help with the Summer Reading Program and general library tasks. Contact Erica to reserve a spot: 597-5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. LIBRARY HOURS Tues, 12:30 to 8pm. Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm. Fri, 12 to 5:30pm. Closed: Sun and Mon: also Tues, July 4. Diesel Book/Poetry Readings and Events FREE and open to the ...

...ear your silliest hat to have high tea; light refreshments inafancy setting. Proper introductions and table manners. Ages 5 to 12. If you don’t have a silly hat, make one when here. Please register at the Children’s Reference Desk or email Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org.

...) for New Sibling Workshop on Sat., 10/17, 11:15am-12:15pm. Bring your toddler or kindergartener for songs and stories. Share questions, answers & ideas, to prepare for big changes. Everyone gets song booklet and a board book. 597-5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. y y Wed, 10/28, 6:30pm. Alex Mar: Witches of America. y y Tues, 11/3, 6:30pm. Ian F. Svenonious: Censorship Now!! y y Wed, 11/4, 6:30pm. Escape From Reality: Freud’s Bar talks (while enjoying drinks and snacks) by local Bay A...

Special Events: NOTE: Volunteers Needed: If you are 11 to 16 years old, and have some free time this summer, consider volunteer- ing to help with the Summer Reading Program (it’s fun and it looks good on your college applications). Contact Erica at 597-5017, or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. Summer Reading continues: Get all your reading done by Aug 9 to be included in the last Grand-Prize Raffle (make sure to come pick up your prizes). Crafts every Thurs: through Aug. 14; 3:30 to 5pm (best...

... ■Fri, 5/18, 7pm. Annual event for Students in UC Berkeley Extension’s Post- Baccalaureate Writing Program: poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) Treats from historic recipes. RSVP to reserve a spot; Erica at 597-5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. FOR TEENS ■ ■Sun, 5/20, 3pm. Poetry Flash with Julie Bruck and Sunnylyn Thibodeaux.