- What are your hours?
- We are open Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 during the school year, as well as one Saturday a month – please check our homepage for the latest schedule.
- We are usually closed during school holidays and for a month during the summer.
- Occasionally, we will be open at different times which will be announced on the website and an email blast will inform you.
- Where are you?
- 2501 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612.
- Parking: There is limited parking in the church lot. If you shop there, you can also park across the street at Whole Foods.
- What kinds of books are available?
- We carry just about any kind of book for children and young adults, plus some teachers’ materials. We carry board books, picture books, early readers, beginning chapter books, chapter books, books for middle and high schoolers, nonfiction, activity books, reference books, and more.
- We don’t carry textbooks, religious books, used library books, or books that are in poor condition.
- Who can get books?
- Anyone who works for any organization that benefits children in need.
- How many books can I get?
- It varies depending on what we have in stock, although generally in the range of 25-50 per visit. Check the “LIMITS” that are always written on the white board. Most of the time, you can take fewer new books, foreign language books, early readers and beginning chapter books, and more (sometimes unlimited) chapter and middle and high books. You can take the maximum number every time you come; there’s no “lifetime limit.” Some of our clients have built libraries of hundreds or even thousands of books from us over the years.
- What do I do when I come?
- Select your books, sign out and indicate the TOTAL number of books you are taking. We need your name, and school or organization you are representing. It is crucial for us to have this information to apply for grants and provide for record keeping.
- Do you have staff to help me?
- We are staffed by volunteers only. If we’re not too busy, some of our volunteers may be able to help you.
- Are you wheelchair-accessible?
- Yes
- May I bring my children?
- Sorry, no. Our insurance does not permit this.
- Do you have boxes or bags for me to take books in?
- Sometimes, but please bring your own boxes or bags to be sure.
- Can I get specific titles or books by a specific author?
- We get our books through donations, not by buying them, so we never know what we’re going to have in stock. So while we almost always have certain titles or kinds of books, we can’t guarantee the availability of any particular title. And since our books are only arranged by type – chapter, picture, middle and high, nonfiction, etc. – and are not arranged within those classifications, there’s usually no way to tell you where to find a specific book.
- Can I get class sets?
- We sometimes have class sets. We also often have multiple copies of the same chapter book, but they are usually scattered among the boxes of chapter books. Our volunteers may be able to tell you books they have seen multiple copies of, but that’s purely luck of the draw.
- Another person from my organization already gets books from you. Can I get books too?
- We often have multiple teachers from the same school or different people who work for different parts of the same organization, because they are getting books for different groups of children. Please use your judgment.
- I homeschool my children. Can I get books?
- We’re sorry, but our mission is to help organizations that help children in need rather than individual families.
- Do you have parking?
- There is a free parking lot surrounding the church and metered street parking.
- How can I find out about special events?
- When you come, you’ll give us your email address and we’ll put you on our email list. Or you can sign up online here. We send out email blasts whenever there’s something going on. We NEVER sell our list.
- Can I donate books?
- You certainly can. Information about how to donate books is here
- How are you funded?
- We are funded by small grants and donations from generous individuals. Every donation helps. You can donate to the East Bay Children’s Book Project here.