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Beale Memorial Library Wifi


Beale Memorial Library photo701 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(view map)
(661) 868-0701

Head Librarian: Maria Rutledge



Hours

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
closed 11 a.m. -
7 p.m.
11 a.m. -
7 p.m.
11 a.m. -
7 p.m.
10 a.m. -
6 p.m.
10 a.m. -
6 p.m.

Jack Maguire Local History Room Hours

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
closed 1 - 6 p.m. 1 - 6 p.m. 1 - 6 p.m. 1 - 6 p.m. 1 - 6 p.m.

For an appointment, call (661) 868-0770.

Genealogy Room Hours

The Genealogy Room is open to the public during regular library hours. Genealogical Society Volunteers are available Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Services and Phone Numbers

Arkelian Children's Library (661) 868-0750
Audio-Visual (661) 868-0740
Computer Training Lab (661) 868-0770
Genealogy Collection (661) 868-0773
Information Desk (661) 868-0745
Interlibrary Loan (661) 868-0779
Jack Maguire Local History Room (661) 868-0775
Meeting Rooms (661) 868-0740
Reference (661) 868-0770

Meeting Rooms

Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys

The Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys is a collection of books, films, and other resources chosen with a view to familiarizing the American public with Islam and the cultural heritage of Islamic civilizations around the world. It is intended to address both the need and the desire of the American public for trustworthy and accessible resources about Muslim beliefs and practices and the cultural heritage associated with Islamic civilizations.


Oxford Islamic Studies Online In Library Only  Encompassing over 5,000 A–Z reference entries, chapters from scholarly and introductory works, Qur'anic materials, primary sources, images, maps, and timelines, Oxford Islamic Studies Online offers a multi-layered reference experience designed to provide a first stop for anyone needing information and context on Islam. This resource is only available at the following Libraries: Beale Memorial, Southwest Branch, Northeast Branch, Delano Branch, Wilson Branch, and Ridgecrest Branch.

Activities for May 2013

Printable Events Calendar for May 2013 (Adobe PDF)

Day Date Time Event
Volunteers Needed logoVolunteer Opportunities: Beale's Orientation Meetings are in Gates Computer Lab, 2nd floor. For more information, call 661-868-0745.

Volunteer Orientation: Saturday, May 11, 3 p.m.

Volunteers for all other branches, please call your local branch.
Library Tours: Library Tours are available by appointment. Elementary schools (Grades 1 - 6) please call the Arkelian Children's Library, (661) 868-0750. Secondary schools & adults (Grades 7 and up), please call the Reference Desk, (661) 868-0770.

For all other branches, please contact your neighborhood library.
Wed All 5 p.m. E-Gadget Help Desk
Stop by the E-Gadget Help Desk to consult with a Volunteer Technology Coach and get the help you need to make the most of your new electronic device. For best results, bring the manual for the device if possible. Help Desk, 2nd Floor.
Sat All 2 p.m. Math Clinic & Homework Help
Get help with math, all ages! Registration required: call 868-0770. GMP Room, 2nd floor.
Thu May 2 5:30 p.m. Lego Club - Children's Room.
Tue May 7 & 14 11 a.m. Preschool Storytime - Stories for ages 3 - 5.
Tue May 7 11 a.m. Mother's Day Events
Enjoy Mother's Day themed stories, songs & crafts!
Sat May 7 5:30 p.m. The People I Most Remember
Memories often contain unexpressed tributes to how others - military or civilians - have touched our lives. In this workshop, veterans will write a letter to their most memorable person. Part of the My Military Experience Writing Workshop Series.Tejon Room, 2nd Floor.
Fri May 10 & 17 10:30 a.m. Toddler Storytime - Stories for ages 1.5 - 3 yrs.
Wed May 15 4:30 p.m. Dan Brown, Live from Lincoln Center
An evening of codes, symbols and secrets. Auditorium.
Tue May 21 1 p.m. Family Search.org
Abraham Rodriguez, genealogy researcher, will shar tips & tricks to naivgating the new features of familysearch.org. Tejon Room
Tues May 21 5:30 p.m. What I Gained From the Experience
In this final workshop, we will pull together the thoughts and lessons we have learned from this writing series. Veterans may choose to contribute copies of these memoirs to a library archive dedicated to military veterans of Kern County. Part of the My Military Experience Writing Workshop Series.Tejon Room, 2nd Floor.
Wed May 22 5 p.m. More Than Sad: Preventing Teen Suicide
This film identifies the signs & symptoms of suicidal behaviors in teens; Q&A session to follow.
Sponsored by the Kern County Mental Health Department.Auditorium.
Sat May 25 11 a.m. Adult Creative Writing Workshop
Learn tips & techniques for creative writing. Tejon Room
Thu May 30 5 p.m. Beginner Guitar Class
Bring your own tuned guitar to learn chords & songs. Tejon Room
Fri May 31 3:30 p.m. Family Gaming - Auditorium
 
Free Computer Classes
All classes are held in the Beale Memorial Library, Gates Computer Lab, 2nd floor, 701 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301. All classes except Computer Basics require knowledge of keyboard and mouse. The Gates Computer Lab is closed 30 minutes before and after each class. For more information call: 661-868-0770.

Want to learn more? See the Computers and Technology page for more tutorial resources.
Wed All 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Personal Computer Coach: 1-on-1 Sessions
Space is limited, please call to reserve a time slot with a volunteer tutor. 661.868.0770
Sat May 11 4 p.m. Internet Basics
Learn tips & tricks for finding reliable websites & effective search strategies.

About Beale Memorial Library

Located in downtown Bakersfield, the Beale Memorial Library is the central research library for Kern County. The 127,000 square feet facility is built around a 4,000 square feet atrium and has room for 200 vehicles in the parking lot. Many of the furnishings, art and specialized collections in the new facility were provided through private donations to the Kern County Library Foundation.

The original Beale Memorial Library was dedicated on June 2, 1900, a gift to the city of Bakersfield by Mrs. Mary E. Beale and her son Truxtun in memory of their husband and father, General Edward Fitzgerald Beale. That building was destroyed in the 1952 earthquake. A second Beale Library was completed in 1957; the library moved to the present location in April, 1988.

Federal Depository Library Program logo

The Beale Memorial Library of the Kern County Library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government Documents. Public access to the Government Documents collection is guaranteed by Public Law (Title 44 United States Code).

Facts About the Main Library

Materials Checked out 362,692
Library Holdings 294,466
Weekly Hours Open 40
Year Built 1988
Square Feet 128,165
 
   
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