Use survey, meeting to guide improvements to Berkeley Public Library

City of Berkeley sent this bulletin at 09/06/2023 05:00 PM PDT

September 6, 2023

SERVICES. RESOURCES. COMMUNITY.

News from the City of Berkeley

Use survey, meeting to guide improvements to Berkeley Public Library

Participate in an anonymous survey by Sept 17 or join meeting to help Berkeley Library system stay responsive to the current needs of our diverse community.

Complete a brief survey or come to a community meeting to help Berkeley Public Library best serve all Berkeleyans.

The anonymous online or paper survey, which will be used to build a strategic plan, will ask about how often you visit the library, usage by children, perceived value of various library services, suggested additions, ease of obtaining library resources, demographics, and factors affecting library use.

You can fill out the survey online: English, Español, Tiếng Việt Nam, 简体中文, and العربية.

Or at physical locations:

Community meeting to share input

The next in-person community meeting will be in:

West Branch Library
Community Meeting Room
1125 University Ave.
September 16, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm (Spanish)

You can also share feedback directly by using the “share your thoughts” form at the bottom of the strategic planning webpage.

Improvements by creating strategic plan

Once the survey is done, the information will help the Board of Library Trustees create a strategic plan for the library. The Board will then look at and approve this plan. The plan will lay out a roadmap of improvements that Library staff can implement, track, and report back on to the Trustees and community.

A strategic plan will help to:

Respond to the needs of our users
Make the most of our resources
Stay relevant and adaptable to future changes
Foster connection with community partners
Demonstrate accountability with those we serve

"Every voice matters,” says Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services. “The acute challenges of Library services during a pandemic have been met and it is time to cement a plan for the future that serves Berkeley’s diverse needs now. The power of community voices is driving this process forward."

Stay informed and share comments about this project by visiting the project webpage. Attend the September 16 library meeting or complete the survey by September 17.

Neighborhood parking restrictions in effect for Cal football games, starting Sept. 9

Avoid parking in certain residential areas on Cal football local game days, when increased fines and towing start at 8:00 am.

The scheduled game days fall on September 9, 16, and 30, October 7 and 28, and November 11.

Avoid parking in areas where you don't have a residential permit. If you’re coming from out of town, use BART, AC Transit, or find an alternative mode, like shared bicycles and scooters, that reduce traffic and are better for our climate.

Parking fines for those without residential permits are $225, and tow-away areas have been added in various sections of Residential Parking Permit Zones B, D, F, G, I, and K. See larger images of the enforcement map and parking garage options.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

New siren will signal an emergency, need to seek information

A new outdoor warning system in Berkeley will use a wailing siren tone and voice message to prompt the public to seek emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place information, details of which will be on the City’s emergency map and alerting systems.

The siren and voice message would signal that people in some or all parts of Berkeley should take emergency protective action, which would differ depending on the emergency.

A wildfire might prompt a message to evacuate part or all of the hills. A tsunami message would direct people to get onto land, and out of Marina and the shoreline, away from the Bay. A different emergency might tell particular neighborhood to shelter-in-place.

People in unaffected areas should also stay up-to-date with real-time emergency notifications. An evacuation for one neighborhood might require others to stay off roads. All of us play a role in an emergency.

Start now:

Subscribe yourself and others in your household to AC Alert, a text and email alert system that can be tailored notify you of emergencies in specific locations.

Practice searching for your home on Berkeley’s Emergency Map, which first responders use to give neighborhood-specific protective actions in real-time.

When you hear Berkeley’s new outdoor warning system, use these tools to gather emergency information to help you take action.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Use Berkeley’s Emergency Map to find critical, real-time information by location

Hybrid in-person, virtual meetings continue for City Council

Learn how to use the City’s Emergency Map to quickly see how neighborhoods, including your own, may be directed to evacuate, shelter in place, or take other protective action during a major emergency.

When possible, the City would use the map to also identify evacuation routes, road closures, shelters, or other critical information to guide you to your next step.

This dynamic map is used in real-time by Berkeley’s first responders, connecting the public with the most immediate information available.

The map can be viewed with specific detail down to the address level and includes key landmarks, such as schools and parks. You can plug in your address to quickly see the current emergency status for your home.

Know how to find information for a specific location. No need to memorize specific zone numbers as they may change to adapt to a rapidly evolving emergency.

Explore and learn how to use Berkeley’s Emergency Map.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.