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Main Library
Branch Address
125 14th StreetOakland, CA 94612
(510) 238-3134
Branch Hours
Monday:
10:00am - 5:30pm
Tuesday:
10:00am - 5:30pm
Wednesday:
12:00pm - 8:00pm
Thursday:
12:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday:
12:00pm - 5:30pm
Saturday:
10:00am - 5:30pm
Sunday:
1:00pm - 5:00pm About the Main Library
Located between downtown and Lake Merritt, Oakland's Main Library is one of the largest public library facilities in the Bay Area. In addition to large collections of over 350,000 reference and circulating non-fiction and fiction books, the Main Library offers hundreds of current and historic magazines and newspapers, a major collection of sheet music, and thousands of maps.
There are federal, state, and local government publications and a large collection of compact discs, videocassettes, DVDs, and audiobooks. We are also home to the Oakland History Room, a significant resource on the history of our area, a large and active Children's Room, and the TeenZone.
The branch is equipped with 33 computers with Internet access available for public use, available on a drop-in, first-come, first-served basis. Adaptive technology is available, including screen readers and enlargers for those who are blind or who have low vision or learning disabilities.
Main Library Department Phone Numbers
- Check-Out Desk: (510) 238-3144
- Children's Room: (510) 238-3615
- Teen Zone: (510) 238-7332
- Magazine & Newspapers: (510) 238-3176
- Oakland History Room: (510) 238-3222
- Reference Services: (510) 238-3138
Meeting Room
The Main Library's meeting room has a capacity of 121 people, and is equipped with collapsible tables and chairs and a podium.Currently on Exhibit
The Estria Battle: Youth Mural Arts Exhibit
An epic battle took place on the streets of Oakland this fall: The Youth Mural Arts Battle, a public art competition hosted by the Estria Foundation using muralism as a tool for creativity and social change. This year's theme: DREAM of JUSTICE.
For the first time during the annual Estria Battle, six youth organizations competed for the top prize alongside 16 adult artists from around the globe.
Beginning in November 2013, canvases from the Youth Battle will be on display at four Oakland Public Library branches citywide:
Main Library at the TeenZone - Everyday Ritual (Los Angeles) - Winning Canvas!
Cesar Chavez Library - Visual Element (Oakland)
Eastmont Library - Ryse Youth Center (Richmond) & Get Active (Oakland)
81st Avenue Library - Cyphers (Oakland)
Oakland Library will also host monthly urban arts workshops for teens to accompany the exhibits. For information about the workshops, visit www.oaklandlibrary.org/graffitiprograms
Now in its sixth year, the Estria Battle is the nation’s largest urban arts competition. This year’s contest brings the battle back home during Oakland’s annual Life is Living Festival hosted by Youth Speaks.
For general information call: (510) 238-7233
For locations and hours, click here.
Tweet this! @EstriaBattle @oaklibrary
The Youth Mural Arts Battle is sponsored by Montana Cans, Art Alternatives, Purity Organic, Escape CamperVans, Klean Kanteen, Oakland Public Library and the Estria Foundation. Contestants include: Visual Element (Oakland), Get Active (Oakland), Everyday Ritual (Los Angeles), CYPHERS (Phoenix), Precita Eyes (San Francisco), and RYSE Center (Richmond).
On Display From
Sat, 11/09/2013 - Mon, 06/30/2014Currently on Exhibit
Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Main Library
Oakland Public Library's Main Library celebrates National Poetry Month with two building-wide exhibits in April.
See "Poetic Steps," and experience poetry as you climb our stairs from the sidewalk to the penthouse. Nursery rhymes, classics, and Youth Poet Laureate entries -- they're all here.
We're also featuring Concrete Poetry in posters all around the building. What's Concrete Poetry? It's poetry in which the poet arranges the words of a poem into shapes that help convey the poem's meaning.
On Display From
Tue, 04/01/2014 - Wed, 04/30/2014Upcoming Events
| Event Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Lawyers in the Library | 6:00pm |
| Tutoring in the TeenZone | 6:30pm |
| Event Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Job On! Secrets to Job Search Success. | 1:30pm |
| Lawyers in the Library | 6:00pm |
| Tutoring in the TeenZone | 6:30pm |
| Event Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros - Children's Day / Book Day | 1:00pm |
| Event Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Free Computer Help Available! | 10:00am |
| Toddler Storytime | 10:30am |
| I’m Good: A Blog Campaign for Mental Health Kickoff Event | 1:00pm |
| Event Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Free Computer Help Available! | 1:00pm |