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Celebrate Peace Day with Origami Cranes at the Berkeley Public Library on Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Contact: Debbie Carton
Ph: 510-981-6326

On Peace Day, people all over the world stop to remember the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- and do what they can to see that it never happens again.

Since 1995, the Berkeley Public Library has celebrated Peace Day with a reading of Eleanor Coerr’s Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.  This year’s program will take place in the 4th floor Children’s department of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge (at Shattuck) on Tuesday, August 9, from 4-6:30 p.m. Coerr’s critically acclaimed children’s book tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Hiroshima resident who was two years old when the bomb fell. Sadako died ten years later from leukemia caused by the radiation from the bomb.  Before she died, she tried to fold 1000 paper cranes, as legend has it that doing so will make your wish come true.  Sadako folded 644 cranes before her death.  Today people everywhere fold cranes and send them to the statue of Sadako Sasaki which stands in Hiroshima’s Peace Park.

Members of Berkeley Public Library’s Playreaders groups will read aloud the story, accompanied by original music composed for the occasion by celebrated koto players Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and Brian Mitsuhiro Wong.  After the presentation, audience members are invited to join in folding paper cranes.  There will be plenty of help for those who have never folded a crane before, but persons who know how to fold cranes and can show others are especially welcome.

For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6236.  This program is sponsored by Teen Services, Children’s Services and the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.  For accessibility information, call 510-981-6107, TTY (510) 528-1240, http://berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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Ready to research your family history but not sure where to start?

Contact: Shani Leonards
Phone: 510-981-6148

Be an Expert: become a genealogical super sleuth at the Berkeley Public Library

Wednesday, August 31, 2:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. at the Central Library’s Electronic Classroom Join us for a free Genealogy Workshop on how to use Ancestry.com, an online resource that offers searchable census tracts, immigration records, photos, stories and more.   Berkeley Public Library has resources to help you find your great, great uncle and the rest of the branches on your family tree.   For more info please call 510-981-6148 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, materials in large print or Braille, or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs. FAMILY HIST 8-11

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Do you like music?

Contact: Shani Leonards
Phone: 510-981-6148

You know the Berkeley Public Library has a great collection of CDs and vinyl, but did you know that with Music Online you can use your computer or smart phone to access over 40,000 rock, jazz, classical, opera, world or folk albums?

Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Central Library’s Electronic Classroom

Join us for a free introduction to Music Online, the library’s streaming database that let’s you listen to music from home. For more info please call 510-981-6148 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, materials in large print or Braille, or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least three working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

Music Online Event Flyer

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