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Berkeley Public Library
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| Location: | 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley, California |
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| Built: | 1930 |
| Architect: | Plachek, James W. |
| Architectural style: | Moderne, Zig Zag Moderne |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: |
82002156 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | June 25, 1982 |
The Berkeley Public Library is the public library system for Berkeley, California. It consists of the Central Branch, the North Branch, Claremont Branch, South Branch, and West Branch.
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The Berkeley Public Library opened in 1893 on Shattuck Avenue with 264 books. In 1905 the library moved to another location on Shattuck Avenue at Kittridge Street, into a new brick building funded by Andrew Carnegie onto land donated by Rosa Shattuck. Immediately following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the population surge that resulted, the library opened four other branches throughout Berkeley. A new central library opened in 1934 at its current site and remained the central branch until it was renovated and reopened in 2002.[2]
The Berkeley Public Library has available a number of self-checkout machines at all branches. Self-checkout machines are placed inside the library in circulation areas and allow patrons to check out the books themselves by scanning their card and placing the books on the scanning pad. This form of checkout allows for all types of media, from books to CDs to DVDs, and provides the patron with a receipt of the items checked out. CDs and DVDs must be unlocked once checked out, using the unlocking device next to the self-checkout machine. Checkout is still available with library staff at circulation desks at all branches.
In addition to this system, patrons can request and renew books over the Internet, allowing them to do so without leaving their homes. This option is also available over the telephone.[3]
The Tool Lending Library, one of the nation's first few such libraries,[2][4] is located at South Branch. To borrow tools, patrons must be over the age of 18 and be residents or property owners of the city of Berkeley.[5]
Some of the offerings of the Tool Lending Library are as follows: screwdrivers, a variety of hammers, drills, biscuit jointers, shovels, ladders, concrete mixers, and free advice. Late fees are $2 per day for small items, and $5 per day for power tools. Lending times are seven days for manual items, and two days for power tools.
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