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June Library Happenings

Library Happenings



Summer Reading: June 2- Aug 5

Adults, Teens & Kids: Join us this June 2-August 5 for reading and learning fun! Read (or listen to) books, do activities, come to library events, and win great prizes too. Free sign-up books, too.

Learn more abouut Summer Readiing

Lunch at the Library: June 6 - Aug 10

Ages 18 and under: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays lunch will be served at the Central Library from 12noon - 2pm. Also, join activities like art and writing workshops, story times, cooking demos, films, and more.

Presented in collaboration with Berkeley Unified School District. Funding provided by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library and the CA State Library.


June Highlights

Author Talk & Concert: James Spooner with Punk Musical Guests

The High Desert  

Alternative Music Foundation @ 924 Gilman
Saturday, June 24
2-5pm

Award-winning graphic novelist and filmmaker, James Spooner, will be in conversation at Berkeley’s iconic 924 Gilman Street with Justin Hall, cartoonist and educator. Spooner's 2022 graphic novel, The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere., is a coming-of-age memoir depicting his reckoning with identity, racism, clumsy teen love and belonging in an isolated California desert town and in the punk community.

This author talk will conclude with a live amplified musical performance by special musical guests.

Earlier in the week, attend a film screening of Spooner's award-winning 2003 documentary, Afro-Punk, followed by a live virtual presentation and Q&A session with Spooner at the Central library on Tuesday, June 20 at 5pm.

Register for 924 Gilman Event


Bay Curious: KQED Host & Author Olivia Allen-Price

North
Saturday, June 10
2pm

Allen-Price will discuss her new book Bay Curious: Exploring the Hidden True Stories of the San Francisco Bay Area.

“After our first story aired—about an abandoned car on Mount Tamalpais—listeners wrote in to tell us how thrilled they were to learn the answer to a question they’d long wondered about. Hundreds of questions poured in overnight. That’s when I knew Bay Curious was onto something.”


Author & TV Host Sonali Kolhatkar in conversation with KPFA host Cat Brooks

North
Wednesday, June 28
6:30pm


Author, journalist and nationally syndicated TV and radio host Sonali Kolhatkar visits for a conversation with activist, playright, and KPFA radio host Cat Brooks to celebrate the release of Kolhatkar's new book Rising Up, available June 27th from City Lights. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event from Pegasus Books.

This event will be recorded for broadcast on KPFA radio. 


Racism & Media Disinformation: Intersex, Transgender, and Tibetan Histories

Central
Monday, June 5
6pm

Presented in collaboration with Pride Asia, Lavender Phoenix, UC Berkeley Departments of Ethnic Studies and Anthropology, and the UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Sexual Culture

Berkeley Poet Linda Lancione: Reading + Q&A

Claremont
Saturday, June 3
2pm


*A free-to-keep chapbook of Lancione's poems are available at all libraries.

 

Art Talk: Ansel Adams de Young Exhibit

West
Monday, June 5
2pm

Art Talk: The Discovery of a Rodin Masterpiece

Central & Virtual/Zoom
Tuesday, June 27
5:30pm

 

East Bay Ohlone Culture, Experiences, and Community

Virtual/Zoom
Wednesday, June 14
6pm

Japanese Language Series for Beginners

Via Zoom
Wednesdays
4:35pm

 

Artist Workshop: Exploring Gelli Printing

Claremont
Saturday, June 3
10:30am

Felt Pride Pins & Pendants (Adults & Teens)

West
Wednesday, June 7
10:30am

-and-

West
Wednesday, June 21

6pm

 

Gardening for Renters

Central
Tuesday, June 13
6pm

Tai Chi on the Lawn

North
Saturday, June 3
10am

Learn How to Line Dance (multi-genres!)

Central
Tuesdays
1pm

 


Research Talks: Popping the Science Bubble

Central & Virtual/Zoom
Thursday, June 20
5:30pm


Every month, learn about cutting-edge research happening at UC Berkeley, directly from the scientists themselves. June topics:


Context in the Brain: How the Brain Enables Context-Dependent Decisions by Thomas Elston, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute

Shedding Light on the Mysteries of Radioactivity: From Discovery to Modern Medical Applications by Alexia Cosby, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab


Music at the Library

Unsung Women of Music with Mark Montgomery French

West
Saturday, June 24
2pm


This humorous and highly immersive talk reveals the awe-inspiring female song makers, beat-shakers, and dealmakers nudged to the margins of music history. Featuring: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Wendy Carlos, Maria Schneider, and more!

Juneteenth Celebration: Zydeco & Cajun Music with the CA Blue Runners Trio
Tarea Hall Pittman  South
Saturday, June 17
2pm
All Ages DRUMMM! Interactive Rhythm Workshop
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Friday, June 23
4pm
   
Loud in the Library: Queeraoke
West
Thursday, June 22
5:30pm
PRIDE Celebration with Queer Japanese Taiko Drumming
Tarea Hall Pittman South - Outside
Friday, June 24
11am
SF Chamber Orchestra Very First Concerts for Kids: Woodwind Quintet
Central
Tuesday, June 17
11:30am
-and-
West
Saturday, June 17
1pm
Carribean Music for Children with Asheba
Claremont
Saturday, June 24
3pm

Unique Derique: Family Comedy & Hambone Percussion
West
Wednesday, June 28
3:30pm

 

Summer Fun for Kids at the Library

Summer Reading - Party in the Street!
Outside in front of Central
Saturday, June 10
2-4pm


Start your summer reading adventure with an all ages celebration:

  • Music with DJ Ivan
  • Crafts with MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art)
  • Story Time Band
  • Free gelato bars from Gelateria Naia
  • Free summer reading sign-up books

Summer reading is from June 2 - August 5.


Family Game Night
West
Every 1st Thursday
June 1
5:30pm
Pajama Story Time
North
Thursdays
6:30pm
Habitot Mobile Museum Pop Up
North
Saturday, June 24
10am
Fur, Scales and Tails Animal Show
North
Monday, June 5
11am
NorCal Bats Presentation
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tuesday, June 6
4pm
Read to a Dog
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Thursday, June 15, 22 & 29
Sign up for time

 


Young chef holding a pot of foodYoung chef holding a measuring cupcartoon garlic bulb as head of a person in a forestcartoon characters in the dark with a torch

Graphic Novel Summer Book Club for Rising 4th Graders
North
Mondays: June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7
6:30pm


Please visit North Branch or call 510.981.6250 to sign up and pick up the first title.


Math Club for Rising 4th & 5th Graders

Central
Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28
4pm

VENOMventure STEM-based Escape Room

Central
Thursday, June 8 - Saturday, June 17
Register for Specific Times

 


Beginning Mandarin for Ages 3-8

North
Saturday, June 10
11am

Offered in partnership with the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco (Milpitas) and the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning. This program is sponsored by the Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco.


Juneteenth Freedom Day Craft Social, Snack & Swag

West
Tuesday, June 13
4pm

Juneteenth Story Time

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Saturday, June 17
10:30am

Storyteller Kirk Waller will share traditional African American stories and songs. Later that day there is Zydeco Music concert for all ages!

Drag Queen Lotería (a game similar to bingo) for Families

Central
Fridays, June 16
1pm

Luna Creative Dance Family Class

Central
Fridays, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
11a

 

There is much more happening in June!

Event Calendar


Friends of the Berkeley Public Library Programming is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. Thank you, Friends!

Library Services Updates:

  • The History Room at Central is now open to the public on Wednesdays from 10am - 1pm.
  • The Library's website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.com has a new plug in that quickly translated it into 100+ languages.
  • All Library buildings are closed on Monday, June 19 for Juneteenth.
  • All Libary buildings will open late at 11am on Friday, June 30 due to the all staff meeting.

For more event info,
book recommendations and other fun things...

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Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, California 94704
510-981-6100

berkeleypubliclibrary.org

Author Visit, Open to the Public, is Culminating Event in Library’s First Racial Justice All-Staff Read

Berkeley, California (May 17, 2023) – Join library staff in welcoming New York Times bestselling author of The Sum Of Us, Heather McGhee, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 6pm. Due to seating capacity limitations, the program is being moved from a Library branch to the Northbrae Community Church located at 947 The Alameda. Reserve free tickets via the Library’s event calendar.

McGhee will be in conversation with Savala Nolan, Executive Director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law. A Q&A with McGhee and Nolan will conclude the program.

In addition to attending the author event, library patrons can join the BPL Book Club for a discussion of The Sum Of Us on Tuesday, May 30 at 2pm via zoom.

Hailed as “illuminating and hopeful,” The Sum Of Us spent ten weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, and was named one of the Washington Post and TIME’s Must-Read Books of 2021. It was adapted into a Spotify podcast series, produced by Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company. The Chicago Tribune called it “required reading to move the country forward.”

The Sum Of Us was chosen by the Library’s internal Racial Justice Advisory Group as the first in a series of “all staff racial justice reads.” Library staff came together over three months to read and discuss the book as part of ongoing internal equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives happening within the Library.

“The conversations were incredibly rich,” notes Aimee Reeder, a member of the organizing staff team, “staff could place their own family’s history within the pages of McGhee’s books and speak frankly with one another about this as well as about how staff can individually and collectively work in the Library towards an anti-racist Berkeley.”

picture of author and book jacket

Teen librarians collaborated with Berkeley High School and the Berkeley Technology Academy to make The Sum Of Us an “all teen read.” The Library provided free copies of McGhee’s book for their teen student book clubs. Participating teens have the opportunity to meet with McGhee.

“Seeing the teens engaged with and excited about the book is more evidence that this generation is not afraid to question the status quo and bring new ideas to the conversation,” notes Robyn Brown, teen librarian and member of the organizing staff team. “The book evoked many interesting, challenging, and thoughtful discussions and we are so very excited to have the author here to help keep the conversations with our staff and community going.”

The next Library “all staff read” begins in August and will be offered as a book club selection for patrons as well. The staff group choose Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law (release date is June 1) by Richard & Leah Rothstein. The culminating authors visit – open to all – will take place on November 7.

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Thank you to the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library who provided free copies of the book to staff, teens and book club patrons.

Thank you to the Pace Fund for the generous support that funds this author event.

###

 

May Library Happenings

Heather McGhee and her book The Sum of Us

May Author Visits

Join us for an evening of conversation with New York Times bestselling author of The Sum Of Us, Heather McGhee, and Savala Nolan, Executive Director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law.

The Sum Of Us was chosen by the Library’s Racial Justice Advisory Group as the first in a series of “all staff reads.” It is the BPL Book Club's read for May (open to all patrons) as well as being the “all teen read” in a collaboration with Berkeley High School and Berkeley Technology Academy.

Hailed as “illuminating and hopeful,” this critically acclaimed book spent ten weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. It was also adapted into a Spotify podcast series, produced by Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company.

This event was made possible by the generous support of the Pace Fund.


Author Talk & Book Signing: Briana Loewinsohn

West
Tuesday, May 9
6:30pm

Ephemera: A Memoir is a debut graphic novel by a local author that poignantly blends memoir, magic realism, and graphic medicine.


Author Story Time & Henna Craft: Meera Sriram

North
Saturday, May 20
11am

Berkeley resident Meera Sriram will read from her brand-new picture book A Garden in My Hands and then lead a henna-related craft activity for kids. Sriram is the award-winning author of several picture books including A Gift for Amma, winner of the South Asia Book Award and Between Two Worlds: the Art & Life of Amrita Sher-Gil, an American Library Association’s RISE: A Feminist Book Project selection.


Bilingual Author & Illustrator Children's Program: Vivienne Chang & Eugenia Yoh

Central
Wednesday, May 24
4pm

Chang and Yoh will present a bilingual Mandarin-English reading of their book This is Not My Home followed by an book-making activity that prompts children to reflect on home and culture. Best suited for ages 5-10. This is Not My Home and other books will be available for sale from Books on B.


The Bay Area Book Festival is holding *many* events throughout Central this Saturday, May 6th!


This Saturday, May 6 is Free Comic Book Day giveaways and activities with events and giveaways at all five Berkeley Public Libraries.


More Programs in May

Chinese Brush Painting with Pauline Tsui

West
Thursday, May 18
2pm

Learn how to paint flowers and bamboo with simple and easy steps using Chinese ink and watercolors. Art supplies will be provided. Tsui is an artist, writer, and a docent of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. She studied traditional Chinese brush painting with renowned masters in Hong Kong and attended Mills College of Oakland, National School of Fine Arts in Paris, and Fashion Institute of Technology in New York to pursue degrees in design and western art.

Teamwork Thursdays: Bring a Project
Claremont
Thursdays
6pm
Learn to Read a Sewing Pattern
North
Saturday, May 6
3pm
Eviction Defense Center
Central
Thursday, May 11
10am
Needle Arts
North
Saturday, May 20

3pm

Gardening: Eating What You Grow
Central
Monday, May 22
6pm
Affordable Broadband Sign-up Event
Central
Wednesday, May 24
10am
Aioli Tasting
North
Saturday, May 27
3pm
Container Planting
Central
Monday, May 15
3:30pm
Knitting Groups
@Central: May 9, 3:30 pm
@North: May 10, 5pm

Teens

Green Smoothies After School

Central
Tuesday, May 9

3:30pm

Build Big Bamboo Structures
North

Thursday, May 11
3:30pm

Teen Virtual Reality & Games

West

Thursdays @ 4pm
Finals Self-Care Day

Central
Tuesday, May 17

5:30pm
Dungeon & Dragons Club
West

Tuesday, May 23
4pm

Teen Karaoke Party

West

Friday, May 26
4pm

Kids

Bilingual Espanõl/English Family Fun Fest


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Saturday, May 13


Join us for a morning of bilingual children's entertainment:

10:15 - Magical Moonshine Puppets

11:00 - Music with Mariela

12:00 - Magic show with Germar the magician

There will be limited face painting and glitter tattoos throughout the morning.


Taiko Drumming Outdoor Program

North
Saturday, May 20
3pm


Taiko drumming is an exciting modern art form with ancient roots. With origins in the religious ceremonies and folk festivals of Japan, modern "kumi-daiko" style emerged starting with the work of a single artist in the 1950s and has spread rapidly in Japan and worldwide.

Weekly Programs for Kids in May

Baby/Toddler Story Time
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tuesdays @ 10:30am

Play Day (ages 0-3)
Central
Tuesday, May 9 & 16
10:30am

Birdland Crafternoons
Claremont
Tuesdays @ 3pm
Story Time followed by Stay & Play
North: Wednesdays @ 10:30am
West (Espanõl & English): Fridays @10:30am
Story Time Band in the Park
Virginia-McGee Totland

Thursday, May 4 & 18 @ 10:30am
** on May 11 the Story Time Band will be at Freight & Salvage
Pajama Story Time
North
Thursdays @ 6:30pm

There is much more happening in May for all ages!


Friends of the Berkeley Public Library logoProgramming is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. Thank you, Friends!

Friends of the Library Sale

Central, 3rd floor, Community Meeting Room
Friday, May 12 & Saturday, May 13
10am-4pm

It's back! Shop for nonfiction, fiction and children's books for all ages. The Friends of the Library raises funds for library programing, staff development and more. Thank you, Friends!

Collection Highlight: Travel Books

Collection Highlight: Travel Books

Planning your summer vacation?

Instantly check out 75+ Lonely Planet travel guide e-Books on the Libby app. No need to place a hold and wait in a queue... these are always available to you!


Reminder: All Libraries are CLOSED on Friday, May 19 for Malcolm X Day and Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day.

For more event info,
book recommendations and other fun things...
FOLLOW US:

Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, California 94704
510-981-6100

berkeleypubliclibrary.org