Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 34

SUNDAY, Saptembar 21, 2003 THE OAKLAND TXJBUNE 2 LOCAL A call to help celebrate libraiys birthday POOLING -v. i ,7 a -'i I iVA 1 4.. 'L -J J-'t; A SKETCH of the Oakland Free Library where Ina Coottxith served as librarian from 1874 until 1 892. THE OAKLAND Public Library will be etle-' braUngtta 125than- ntversarrln November. Birthday organizers are putting out the call for stories, testimonials and photos from the community to commemorate this important mfleatonc.

fiaHanH fHfawu fan help us celebrate by telling words and photos what the U-brary means to them, how it has made positive difference In their lives, says Kathleen Hirooka. library community relations coordinator. Are there library ataffers who have been especially helpful or inspirational? Now is the time to hear from folks so we can create the displays showcasing our dilatory -throughout the coming year. Those Interested In participating should visit any llbraiy branch and ask for the Speak Ouf form or go to the Web site www.oaklandllbrary and dick on the 125th anniversary logo in the top right-hand corner. Partld- pants are asked to share their thoughts In 100 words or less.

Photos can be black-and-white or color, and should be at least 4-by4J COOUIITH Inches and Include a caption describing die entry. Deadline 'for submissions Is Nov. 14. One early library staffers Influence on patrons has lived on through the decades. Ina Donna Coolbrlth, dty librarian from 1874 to 1895, has been called one of the remarkable figures from California's early days.

She was one of those pioneers who packed several ca reers Into a single lifetime, say the flies, like her larger-than-life friends: Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Gertrude Atherton and Jack London." Born In Illinois In 1841, the niece of Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Ida Coolbrlth escaped the massacre that killed her uncle and father, and MKISCSi-Siar YH8 MEI takes a turn during the 24-hour swinvft4hon at the King Pool In Berkeley on Saturday. PartUpantaf swam an hour each in an effort to keep BerMey1 pubic pools open year-round. The last swimmer should finish the 24-hour event at 11 am today, Her influence on Oakland youth is well-known, particularly the effect she had on a young Jack London, who would recall in later years after literary success had found him in a letter addressed to his early mentor: "Do you know you were the first cme who ever complimented me on my choice of reading I was an eager, hungry, thirsty little kid and one day at the library I drew out a volume on Pizarra in Peru (I was 10 years old). You got the book and stamped it for me, and as you handed It to me you praised me for reading books of that nature. Proudl lfyou only knew how proud your words made mel FOr I thought a great deal of you.

You were a goddess to me At the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, held in San Francisco, Coolbrlth was proclaimed the official poet laureate of California. She continued writing and associating with literary figures of the era until her death in 1928 at 87. Today, a garageis located jhjBaaaaaiBiBfiE eeL, ltet A11EI LANDMARKS made her way west with her mother and sister when she was 1 1. Once In California, her mother remarried. Ida assumed her mother maiden name, Coolbrith, and renounced her Mormon felth, say the files.

After a brief marriage and divorce at age 18, Ida, who was already making a name for hersdf as a poet, moved from Los Angles to San Francisco and took a Job with The Overland Monthly. In 1874, Coolbrlth as sumed a new position the Bay with the fledgling Oak- land Library Association as "11-brary hostess In the newly built wood frame building on Broadway and 12th Street Coolbrlth would walk to die Ik brary from her new home a cottage on 15th Street between Jefferson and Clay streets which she shared with her mother and newly orphaned niece and nephew. Soon after, the association turned over the sponsorship of the library to the city, and die modest structure was moved to a meant lot next to City Hall at 14th Street near Washington Street. In 1878, a bill was Introduced In the Legislature permitting incorporated dtles to levy a tax for free libraries, and appoint trustees to govern die new institutions. The one-story building was razed so a ground-floor reading room could be added.

Oakland was second only to Eureka in establishing a free public library for Its citizens. Coolbrlth worked from 9 In the morning until 9 at night 6 days a week, for a salary of $80 per month. Coolbrlth was considered by the trustees to symbolize culture, befitting Oakland's stature as the -'Athens of the KSIIb donTI see my rssdd iiJmW HIM bmJ Aa La IP IMRBIim Michael Ncary PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT garbage fees, Neaiy said. The sewer fee has been in place far years, but It hasn't kept pace with Inflation and is no longer enougi for the dty to maintain and Improve Ha 1,000 miles of sewers, Neary said. The aging sewers reached a crisis level In the ndd-1980s, so the dty embarked on a 25-year plan to replace the ptyes in the areas with the worst wet- weather overflow problems.

About 200 miles of pipeline have been improved since then, and by 2010, about one-third of the system win hate been ra the system placed. I I I I HO Portal to Portal HOTravalTIme HU llneeafie Hhkeee nomm FH1IM Martyn Consulting (510) 528-9080 vWT mSm Hnawww.MftyC atn where Oakland's first public library mce stood, and Ina Coottiriths modest home Is now the site of the high-rise Elihu M. Harris Stale Building. A plaque dedicated to her hangs in the Main Library's front lobby. It was -placed there by members of the Ida Coolbrlth Circle, a group of her disciples who first organized on Sept 26, 1919.

The circle continues to meet to this day, says Library History Roan Librarian Steve Lavoie, proving that her influence and inspiration most definitely live on. For more information on "Speak out for the Oakland Public Library, call 238-5713. Next time: The curat display at Sw HMoiy Room kacM locd attention to the plghl of animals. XI Oakland Tours Programs wake of downtown Oakland continue. For a Ming of free upcomingtoun on Wednesdays and Saturdays, through October, cal the 24-liour hotikw, 238-3234.

Wednesday's toilll tha Old Oakland HUoric HHrict. The tour on Saturday is Preservation 1- rorK. system, parts of which have already exceeded the typical 50-year lifespan, he said. According to city staff, Oakland has low sewer rates compared with surrounding areas, which now average $20.22 per monthly month. Singje-famlly rates are $37.08 In Piedmont, $25.65 In San Francisco and $24.85 In Berkeley.

Oakland's rate Is $11.89. Only Emeryville, with rates of $8 per month for avenge use, Is lower. In June, EBMUD also adopted a rate increase. Water rates will go up 3.75 percent per year over the next two years, for an average of $1.90 for the pe- NORTHERN ASSOCIATES, INC. MartgageRcalty Canpuy Wt Opt Dn By Providing Full Ptnumliitd Service iM1 1 Ut A 2nd Mortgage Hrfimmmee Fee hasnt kept pace with inflation, official says ITltflMWilWBII.

WtlANttfrcraftStfEWtil) ORE 1018887411. 311 DONATE Track, Van, R.V. Boat SEWER, from Local 1 The City Council approved die increase, but still must take a second vote on It at its meeting Sept 30 for it to take effect The dty tried to use the same method three years ago for a storm drain tax, whim would have been a new fee. But after a public outcry that led almost 20,000 people to submit protests not a majority, but a significant number who took the time to write the council decided to scrap die idea antTty" stead ordered a master plan on the storm drainage system. A draft of that plan should be completed in January, said Mi-chadNeaiy of the Piddle Works Department The "majority protest method of raising taxes la allowed under Propoaltioo 18, which exempts water, sewer and 1 I I I 1 800 CALIFORNIA BOYS GIRLS CLUB.

wby tUnfon! gel bi Sewer fees were Increased 19 perctat between 1997 and 2000, but have not been raised since then, Neary said. The public works agency has been borrow! ling money from other aerdees to keep on schedule. The Increases win generate $1 million more to the dty this fiscal year, a total of $19.4 million, and $43 million more in 2004-2005, for a total of $92 7 million "We don't see any reason why this won't get us where we need to Neary said. Even so, Oakland mhy even-tually have to replace more of Its I I I to get up to speed to homp. YOUR GAR 89 Youth 1 Hi lAMbliRk Costumcs jl2 ML.

2003 NILES A in Fast-paced auction ahead! JAZZ FESTIVAL AncablfBu. JobDafritjid I Log on to Saturday, September 27, 2003 11 am 9 pm 37270 NflesBlvd, Fremont ShedDaitlaniitfiribtme v. i close, -i-y, i A 2M4MS5SW S10-74MSSS IlSArissMtitaAtlhaDf i i I 4, I.