FRIENDS of the OAKLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Welcome friends and fellow advocates for quality school libraries!

This extraordiary new PLACE@Prescott library was restored by FOPSL. It opens this fall and will be dedicated to Ida Louise Jackson, the first African American teacher in OUSD hired at “Prescott School” in 1925.

We are excited to share our commitment to ensuring that all Oakland Unified School District students have access to a quality school library.

Public school libraries and professional school librarians have suffered from budget cuts and continue to be at risk if funding does not improve.  Many OUSD school libraries have been forced to close, collections have become outdated or unavailable to students and teachers due to lack of library staff.

Regardless of these challenges, the resources provided by a quality school library are paramount to success in reading, especially in disadvantaged communities.

This amazing library at Reach Academy was completely renovated by FOPSL in 2010.

Since 2009, twelve  OUSD libraries have been completely renovated and/or restored with the  help of community volunteers under the direction of the OUSD district librarian, Ann Gallagher.   We are delighted to add the library at Global Family and the library shared by Rise Community and New Highland elementary schools to “Our Success Story.”  In addition, Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries has participated in restoring, supporting, updating and/or providing volunteer staff at several additional libraries: ClevelandElementary, Bridges Academy, La Escuelita, Fruitvale Elementary, Parker Elementary, and Roosevelt Middle School.  All of these schools have beautiful libraries!

Molly Kistin, a FOPSL volunteer, read a local Cinderella type story to an eager pajama clad group at the Brookfield Family Reading Night in February. The Brookfeld library is currently being refurbished with an updated collection and new furniture.

In 2013, Melrose Leadership Academy, Brookfield, West Oakland Middle School, Sobrante Park and Roots International will see new libraries.  FOPSL will update and/or provide additional resources to the libraries in OUSD’s Balance Literacy Cohort: Sankofa, Emerson, Redwood Heights, Acorn Woodland, REACH, and Think College Now.

Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries are dedicated to putting books back in the hands of OUSD students, one library at a time.

Please take some time to learn more about who we are, what we do, where we are going and how YOU can help.

           If you are interested in becoming part of the solution, please come join us!

                   Libraries Restored by FOPSL 

Sankofa Elementary School Aug 2009 – Sep 2009            

Madison Middle School Oct 2009 – Nov 2009

Frick Middle School Oct 2009 – Feb 2010                             

Marshall Elementary School Nov 2009 – Sep 2010

REACH Academy Elementary School Feb 2010 – Nov 2010                                     

Howard Elementary School Sep 2010 – Jan 2011

Garfield Elementary School Nov 2010 – Mar 2011              

Grass Valley Elementary  School  Feb 2011 – Aug 2011

PLACE @ Prescott Elementary School Oct 2011 – June 2012                                 

CUE @ Lockwood/Futures Elementary Schools Oct 2011 – June 2012

Global Family Elementary School  Nov 2012 – Jan 2013

Rise Community/New Highland Elementary Schools Sep 2012-Mar 2013

Guess which book in this collection is requested most often?