Beale Memorial Library

701 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(view map)
(661) 868-0701

Head Librarian: Maria Rutledge

Hours

Jack Maguire Local History Room Hours

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

Meeting Rooms

• Meeting Room Information
  

Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys

Activities for May 2013

Printable Events Calendar for May 2013 (Adobe PDF)

Day	Date	Time	Event
Volunteer 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.

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