Melrose Branch Library - Oakland

Melrose Branch Library - photo by JL Melrose Branch Library (June 2024) - courtesy NAParish

The Melrose Branch Library, located at 4805 Foothill Boulevard, is one of sixteen libraries in the Oakland Public Library system. The branch features special collections in African American fiction, Urban Fiction, Non-fiction, and has a good selection of Spanish language materials.

The branch has 35,000 books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, magazines and newspapers, including a reference, parenting, careers, classics, LGBTQ, and ESL collections. The branch has Adult, Teen, and Children's sections on the main level. There is an elevator on the 48th Ave. side for entry and access to the main level.

The Melrose Branch is one of four Carnegie libraries in Oakland originally announced in 1914, ¹ and designated as Oakland Landmarks on November 4, 1980 (note that the one of the four, the Miller Avenue Branch Library, has since been demolished). The Melrose library was dedicated on September 7, 1916. ² The building was upgraded and retrofitted in 2000. ³ It a beautiful building with marble lined foyer, designed with two rectangles set at angles with a rotunda between, to take advantage of its wedge shaped lot. It is said to be one of the most fireproof of the Oakland branches.

There are computers available with internet access, free of charge. There are three 1-hour computers on the Adult side, One 1-hour computer in the children's side, One 20-minute computer in the children's side, and One interactive children's learning computer with no internet access in the children's side. There is one catalog computer with no internet access. There is also a computer lab that has four computers with internet access. The computer lab is only open on Saturdays. Free computer help is offered in the computer lab. Print jobs cost .15 cents per page/no color printing/no fax or scanner options. Our 81st branch has scanner availability for your needs.

The Meeting Room has a capacity of 75 people. It has tables, chairs, a small stage, and entry to the beautiful garden.

Recurring Events (as of June 2024)

Children & Families
- Mondays: Garden Playdate
- Tuesdays: Storytime and Playtime
- Wednesdays: Build, Make Play
- Saturdays: Art with MoCHA
Teens
- Wednesdays: Make Tiny Art at Melrose
- 1st & 2nd Fridays: Makerspace