Berkeley Hero Tarea Hall Pittman was the voice of "Negroes in the News" on KDIA radio, led the NAACP, California State Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the California Council of Negro Women. And is the namesake for our Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library 😍 #WomenInHistory

We're not 😭, you're 😭 🥲 this is a wholesome story. Tomorrow, Wednesday 3-18, is Transit Employee Appreciation Day. We're here to thank our Transit Employees at @bart.gov 😍you are appreciated!

RELATABLE. I'm just sayin'.

Alice Waters, a famous Berkeleyan, has inspired a food revolution, started and sustained edible schoolyards, published many books, and won an impressive number of awards for food, advocacy, and other honors. She encourages us to cook simple, good quality food and to eat well. #Women'sHistoryMonth

Our friend @bodleian.ox.ac.uk lined up Oscar fashions with Medieval fashions in a remarkable way! 😍

June Jordan: American poet, essayist, teacher, and activist. June encouraged the use of Black English in her writing and poetry teaching others to treat it as its own language and a way to express Black culture. #WomensHistoryMonth

We're a bit partial to stories about the West... like Biddy Mason who was born into slavery in Georgia, was moved to CA and petitioned the court for her freedom in 1856 and won. She settled in Los Angeles, worked as a nurse, midwife, real estate entrepreneur, and philanthropist. #WomensHistoryMonth

TBT: old photo day! Children's Room, Berkeley Public Library, 1905-1929 Collection: Berkeley History Online Owning Institution: Berkeley Public Library Source: Calisphere Date of access: March 12 2026 16:32 Permalink: calisphere.org/item/ark:/13... We offer access to Calisphere 😍

Ina Coolbrith was the first California Poet Laureate, the first librarian in Oakland, where she met a young Jack London and inspired and encouraged his reading. 🥹Her story is peppered with famous names (Mark Twain, Isadora Duncan, Benjamin Ide Wheeler, and more!) and her poetry earned her acclaim.

This famous woman in history: Julia Morgan: the trailblazing architect at the turn of the 20th century whose works are throughout Berkeley and far beyond. Here is one of her inspiring quotes alongside one of the many books about Julia Morgan:

Happy International Day of Awesomeness! Our list of Awesomeness: Books! Audiobooks! E-Books! Graphic Novels! Library Events! Public Libraries! @volvo-cars.bsky.social ! Wait just a minute, who is running this account?!

🕑Y'all know to set your clocks forward an hour, tonight, right? 🕒 We wouldn't want you to miss an important date tomorrow at the cafe. Daylight Savings Time Begins Again on Sunday, March 8th.

Up for an afternoon matinee? Stop by @THPS branch for Sinners at 230pm. An Oscar nominated film.

If you haven't learned about Abigail Adams this might be the time to read about a prominent woman in United States history. A famous abolitionist and feminist, she had a strong influence on John Adams' presidency and politics. On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams:

Whether you read by listening to an audiobook while you do dishes or sit down and focus on a book in print, it's all reading. If 2020 impacted your reading and changed what you read or how you read, it's all good. We want you to know: reading is here for you however you need it. ❤️

Celebrating Women's History Month

Strong together.

Well, folks, we're just a place with books right now. Our internet is down, then up, then down. So if you're planning to stop by the library, be sure to bring your library card (and patience) if you want to check out items - we can't look you up right now because our programs are all down.

Have you heard of Reading Buddies? 😍 Teen volunteers from the Youth Literacy Project partner with kids to practice reading aloud. We'll be hosting Reading Buddies at THPS branch the first four Tuesdays of March. Stay tuned for our next location! berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/15532532

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. - Frederick Douglass

Many thanks to the Berkeley Public Library Foundation bplf.org for our new public computer carrel desks at Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library! We get happy compliments every day since they were installed. Thank you for all that you do to support our library. 😍

What should I watch on @kanopy.com ? here's the most popular films of the week to give you ideas 😍

New library card holders be like:

How is your Financial Literacy? Most of us don't quite understand the math.😬Here's help: learn how to make money work for you and meet your goals on Tuesday, March 3 at THPS Branch 6pm for How Money Works with Xiomara Batin. Find out more here: berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/15873699

There are so many young adults and adults of all ages coming in to get a library card! "A library card is the start of a journey." - Barbara Kingsolver

Do you know this literary reference?

Need a break from the work from home vibe? Stop by the library, find a spot, plug in, and work. (Please leave the pets at home).🐈🐈

Tonight's Special City Council #berkmtg starts at 6pm. 📝 Monday, Feb 23 special agenda: berkeleyca.gov/city-... 🎦 Watch live via Zoom: cityofberkeley-info....

Another frequent question we get from parents and guardians: how do I get my kid interested in reading? They don't want to read! Our go to suggestion: ACTION! Find books that have a ton of action like spy thrillers. Less description, more action. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz is a great bet.

We are getting a lot of questions about book recommendations for Advanced Readers (younger kids reading above their grade level). Have you tried Novelist for Kids? It's available from our Berkeley Public Library page. Here's a sample page of Read Alike suggestions for The Hobbit!

Is this your ride next to North Branch? Stop by your local branch library today! Image courtesy of Calisphere, check the alt text for more information.

New to the library? What are "Holds"? If you request an item (such as a book, magazine, or dvd), you place a "hold" on it to be next in line to check it out. You can request that item to be brought to your favorite branch and it will be sent to your branch. Then pick it up on the Holds shelf!

What a way to celebrate Black History Month @oaklibrary.bsky.social !!

I don't know who needs to hear this right now, but did you leave your stuff at the library? Be sure to stop by the library to pick up your lost and found items. 🧥🎩✏️🥤🥨🦒

My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library. Peter Golkin

Whether you are celebrating Friday the 13th or Valentine's Day, might we suggest a good read?

“My alma mater was books, a good library.... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” ― Malcolm X

Looking for love? Come find love at the library ❤️

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift. - Kate DiCamillo

This is a great time to check out diverse books to celebrate Black History Month! Check out this recommendation from our friends @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social - we've got the book in print and available as an eaudiobook on @hoopladigital.bsky.social app!

All Berkeley Public Library locations will be closed Monday, February 16, for Presidents' Day. But our elibrary is always open! If you'd like to learn more about presidents, check out our online access to Britannica or other fantastic e-library links: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/explore/elib...

This Saturday is a special day, check out all of our events at each location! Whatever you love, we've got you covered! Books, Black History, Ballet, Bikes, Opera, Climate, Prom Dresses, Arts and Crafts, Jazz, Death, and Poetry!

Welcome back to the library, new library card holders! We are so glad you are here. What a wonderful way to participate in your community, to learn about local events, and to enjoy what interests you!

*cough* Libraries! We love books, but even more, we love building community. You might be surprised to find out what kind of fun events we have at the library. Check it out at your local public library. 📚😍

Inspired to read Freedom Riders? We've got it!

When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young. – Maya Angelou

Often it's the quiet kindness of a grown up we meet in childhood that inspires us to pursue goodness, to enjoy art, and to read well. ❤️ Be that kind of grown up that inspires a child.

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

Volunteer #librarians from around the world joined forces to build the Nancy Drew collection on Open Library—volunteering their time to organize series, verify editions, untangle authorship, and clean up metadata so anyone can discover these books. Learn more ➡️ blog.openlibrary.org/2026/01/30/a...