Librarian, Jim Jacobs Planted the Seed for Summer Reading!
Who was Mr. Jacobs? Jim Jacobs was the Berkeley Public Library’s first African American Librarian. He was a man with many talents and interests. He worked at the South Branch (now the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch) from 1960 until he retired in 1990.
Mr. Jacobs also started the Summer Reading program at the Berkeley Public Library in 1964 as the Summer Fun Club at the South Branch. The following year, the Summer Fun Club expanded to all locations.
The Berkeley Public Library dedicates, now and always, the Summer Reading program to the memory of Mr. Jacobs and his legacy.
City of Berkeley proclamation in honor of Jim Jacobs Jr. (October 26, 2021)
Library press release regarding city of Berkeley proclamation honoring Jim Jacobs