As part of its master facilities planning process, library staff and members of Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, the firm helping to prepare the plan, are returning to every neighborhood branch and the Main Library to present recommendations and receive a third round of input from residents. These open houses will take place the first two weekends in June with refreshments and free activities for children.

"Oaklanders told us they wanted more collections and services when they voted for Measure Q in 2004," said Library Director Carmen Martinez. "Since then, more people than ever before are using our libraries and circulation has risen by 15 percent to 20 percent. The challenge now is to have facilities that have enough space to accommodate people's demands for more computers, multi-media materials, meeting spaces and other requests. The Master Facilities Plan is intended to address these needs and offers us an exciting vision for bringing Oakland's libraries into the 21st century."

The Draft Master Plan is based on an extensive needs assessment process that included community surveys and focus groups. The open houses will help ensure that more people are made aware of the plan and have an opportunity to help shape the future of their local library.

The open house schedule is as follows:

10:30 a.m. on June 3: Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Ave.; Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave.; and Golden Gate Branch, 5606 San Pablo Ave.

2 p.m. on June 3: Eastmont Branch, Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft, Suite 211; Elmhurst Branch, 1427 88th Ave.; Martin Luther King Jr. Branch, 6833 International Blvd.; and Lakeview Branch, 550 El Embarcadero.

1:30 p.m. on June 4: Main Library, 125 14th Street (West Auditorium), and Piedmont Avenue Branch, 160 41st St.

10:30 a.m. on June 10: Brookfield Branch, 9255 Edes Ave.; West Oakland Branch, 1801 Adeline St.; and Temescal Branch, 5205 Telegraph Ave.

2 p.m. on June 10: César E. Chávez Branch, 3301 East 12th Street, Suite 271; Montclair Branch, 1687 Mountain Blvd.; and Melrose Branch, 4805 Foothill Blvd.

1:30 p.m. on June 11: Main Library, 125 14th Street (West Auditorium) and Asian Branch, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388 9th St., Suite 190.

For more information about the open houses or the Master Facilities Plan, please call 510-238-3271 or visit www.oaklandlibrary.org. A copy of the first draft of the Master Facilities Plan is available on this site. Look for the link in the top right-hand corner of the home page.