We also wish to give thanks to everyone from the community who came to one of our open houses last month. Your input was taken into consideration for the 2006 version of our Master Facilities Plan, which is available on our Web site and at every branch of the Oakland Public Library for viewing. A feasibility study for the potential relocation of the Main Library to the Kaiser Arena is also available there. Both the plan and the feasibility study were favorably discussed at the Life Enrichment Committee's meeting on June 27. Library staff members are tentatively scheduled to appear at the Rules Committee meeting on July 13 with some possible phased-in options for the plan, and further discussion of the Kaiser Arena proposal. For updated information, please check our Web site by clicking on the spotlight, "Master Facilities Plan."

Many of you are already familiar with our annual Children's Summer Reading Program, which encourages kids to spend time relaxing with a good book. This month, we'll be launching a new Teen Summer Reading Game for seventh- through 12th-graders. Teens are invited to read anything that "hooks" them (fiction, graphic novels, manga, Web blogs, etc.), then share their reviews with others. Reviews will be posted over the summer on our Web site (www.oaklandlibrary.org) and printed in a collection, Oakland Teens Tell All!, in September. They'll also have a chance to receive some great incentives, including participation in a drawing for a secret -- and extremely cool -- Grand Prize! For more information, contact your local librarian.

If you need ideas for great reads for teens and kids, pick up a book list at your neighborhood library or check out our Web site (click on "Kids' World" or "Teens") for some recommended titles compiled by our Teen and Children Services staff. For adults, you should browse in the new "Hot Picks" section of your local library, which features the latest, most popular titles.

The library's "Paws and Claws, Scales and Tales" reading game is in full swing this month, with dozens of events to keep kids and their families entertained. The Zoomobile will bring an assortment of unusual animals to the Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Ave. at 10:30 a.m. July 19, while giant millipedes, hissing cockroaches, scorpions and more will invade the Montclair Branch, 1687 Mountain Blvd., at 2 p.m. July 13. Opera Piccola will perform "Hansel & Gretel" at the Piedmont Avenue Branch, 160 41st St., July 31, and the Prescott Circus Theatre kids come to Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., at 7 p.m. July 11. Dance Naganuma's intergenerational dance troupe will also perform at Rockridge Branch at 3:30 p.m. today. Finally, popular storyteller Yolanda Rhodes helps close the month by bringing her multicultural tales to Temescal Branch, 5205 Telegraph Ave., at 7 p.m. July 24.

For some zany humor, the Bubble Lady, Daffy Dave, Magician Timothy James and Juggler Marcus Raymond will share their wacky antics at a variety of libraries near you. Check out our Web site (www.oaklandlibrary.org) for a complete schedule or pick up a copy of the July calendar at your neighborhood branch.