Dear Peralta Families and Community:

Several organizations are helping us rebuild our library with book drives. Capture the Dream, a local non-profit (www.capturethedream.org), has organized a book drive (info below). Park Day School has a book drive and Oakland Public Library staff (including a Peralta alum) have already visited with two deliveries of books. Scholastic books is dedicating the an upcoming book sale to Peralta. Barnes and Noble (Jack London) is donating a percentage of purchases when shoppers mention Peralta for the next two weeks.

As with all of the outpouring of support for our school, the help with our library has been heartening. On the first day of school, the shelves were not bare (although it doesn't yet look like a real library either).

We especially need the following things, in good condition:

Reference books, including dictionaries, thesauruses, and atlases;

Non-fiction books (especially about animals and science);

Recess books and games. The library is used by many children during lunchtime when sports books, fun books (how to draw, make paper airplanes, do magic tricks, etc), and almanacs are very popular. Crayons, markers, and colored pencils are also in high demand during lunch. Many children also enjoy the Sports for Kids Illustrated and other children's magazines - we would love a subscription for the remainder of the year.

Books can be dropped off at:

Carter Middle School (the temporary Peralta School)
4521 Webster Street, Oakland
School Hours: M-F
* Please drop off at the Library 8-4pm
Note: Carter will be closed for Spring Break the week of April 8

Laurel Book Store
4100 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 531-2073
laurelbookstore@earthlink.net
Store Hours: M-F 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

A Great Good Place For Books
6120 LaSalle Ave.
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 339-8210
M-W 9:00-6:00, Th-Fri 9:00-7:00, Sat 9:00-6:00, Sun 9:00-5:00

Pendragon Books
5560 College Ave, Oakland
(510) 652-6259
M-Th 9am-10pm, F&S 9am-10:45pm, Sun 10am-10pm

Barnes and Nobles Jack London Square
98 Broadway Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 272-0120
Click for store location
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9-11pm

Barnes and Nobles (Jack London) is collecting donated books and giving a percentage of each sale when a shopper mentions Peralta. If you are shopping at Barnes and Nobles over the next 2 weeks, please ask for a voucher, which they have at the store (or print them out from the link below).

Click here for the Barnes & Noble voucher:

Please spread the word. It's a great time to clear some books out of your kids' shelves -- especially a spare reference book. They will be much appreciated and used. We can also provide a receipt, as contributions are tax-deductible.

Thank you for your ongoing support!