People
often leave books on park
benches, in coffee shops, at
airports or by the pool. The
Oakland Public Library is
inviting readers to leave a
book at the library.
"Buy A Book for the
Oakland Public Library"
is a program that allows
anyone, for the price of a
book, to help the library
survive the present budget
crunch.
"Because
of three things -- loss of
revenue, less funding and
contract raises -- the city
needs roughly $40 million in
cuts," said Oakland City
Council member Jean Quan.
"That is the worst-case
scenario. The city has already
frozen all purchasing for
public libraries, to save the
branches."
Although funds for buying
books have been drastically
cut, Buy a Book organizers say
that, with the public's help,
city libraries will be able to
keep the latest bestsellers
and other useful titles on
their shelves.
"The
budget cuts have brought
attention to the
libraries," said Luan
Stauss, owner of Laurel
Bookstore at 4100 MacArthur
Blvd. in Oakland. "'Buy A
Book' allows people to respond
one book at a time."
Stauss began forming
"Buy A Book" when a
customer came in and told her
about the books that were
needed at the Oakland Public
Library's Dimond Branch on
Fruitvale Avenue. She got in
touch with Mary Schrader, the
children's librarian at the
Dimond Branch.
"We formalized a wish
list for the branch, and I
posted it here in our
bookstore," said Stauss.
"People come in and buy a
title on the wish list and
then leave it. About once a
week, when I have several
books for the branch, they
come and get them."
Assistant branch librarian
Eve Buchner said it's a
win-win situation.
"We need the books,
and when someone purchases a
book for us it's a tax
write-off for them, and the
bookstore makes a sale,"
said Buchner.
"The 'Buy A Book'
program is a wonderful
opportunity for the community
to help keep current titles on
the book shelves," said
Oakland Public Library
Foundation president and
Piedmont resident Connie
Shapiro.
"The budget cuts run
deep," Shapiro added.
"And it's possible there
will be a need for more. This
project gives book lovers a
chance to share the love of
books with others who wouldn't
find some of these books on
the shelves, except for their
generosity."
Wish lists have become
popular at local bookstores,
including Cody's Books in
Berkeley and Oakland's Marcus
Book Store on Martin Luther
King Jr. Way and Walden Pond
Bookstore on Grand Avenue.
"I have posted the
wish lists from the Melrose
Branch, Cesar E. Chavez
Branch, Dimond Branch and the
Alameda County Juvenile Hall
on 150th (Avenue)," said
Stauss.
