April Library Happenings
Spring Break (for all ages!)
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March Library Happenings
March Event Highlights
Curator Talk for Roots, Removal and Resistance: Japanese Americans in Berkeley
North
Thurs, March 6
6 pm
Celebrate Nowruz, Persian New Year: Concert & Talk
with Sirvan Manhoobi & Behsheed Mirja
Central
Sat, March 8
2 pm
Expert Panel: Spring Cleaning Disposal Best Practices
Central
Sat, March 8
11 am
A Wicked Sing-A-Long
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, March 8
2 pm
Art Docent talk: Bay Area Artist Wayne Thiebaud (1920-2021)
West
Thurs, March 13
2 pm
Author Visit: Stories for Grandparents of Transgender Grandchildren
North
Sat, March 15
11 am
Learn Strategies and Winning Moves with Larry Snyder, National Chess Master
Claremont
Saturday, March 15
10:30 am
The Pain Clinic: Learn Self Massage & Alignment Techniques
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tuesday, March 18
6 pm
A Very Fairy Afternoon (All Ages): Crafts & Whimsical Photo Shoot
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Friday, March 21
3:30 pm
Honoring Cesar Chavez (All Ages): Film Screening, Crafts & Snacks
West
Saturday, March 22
2 pm
Building Your Fire Weather Plan
Claremont
Sat, March 22
3 pm
Living Big in a Small Space: Introduction to Tiny Homes
West
Saturday, March 29
2 pm
Teen Event Highlights
Talk with a Teen Therapist: AMA (Ask Me Anything)
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, March 4
6:30 pm
Suffrajitsu & Suggragetto: Fighting for the Vote
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, March 29
3-6:30 pm
Explore the world of Suffrajitsu, the jiu-jitsu self-defense art used by the Suffragette Bodyguard, and test your strategy skills with Suffragetto, the historical board game of protest and resistance.
Enjoy tea and biscuits, make crafts and screen documentaries on suggrage and resistance.
Teen & adult attendees are encouraged to don their finest Edwardian protest attire—hats, gloves, and sashes are most welcome!
Local Director Visit & Screening
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, March 29
3-6:30 pm
Alex Zajicek’s Sorry, We're Dead is a film for a new generation of creatives, challenging expectations and delving deep into an absurd and comedically original subconscious. The film embodies a rare and refreshing representation of Asian American artists without tokenizing the protagonist or essentializing her experiences. Its creative and tonal consistency is striking, embodying an unwavering chaos and erraticism that adds nuance to Lana’s depressive spiral while teasing out the queer tensions inherent in the struggle to make art beneath repressive and restrictive systems, and the decision to persevere nonetheless.
-Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2024, Grand Jury “Best Narrative Feature” award
Berkeley Combat Robotics Presentation for Teens
North
Tues, March 11
4:30 pm
Children Event Highlights
LEGO Coding with UC Berkeley's Lego "Brick by Brick" Club
Central
Saturdays - March 1, 8, 15 & 22
4 pm
Origami for Children
North
Mon, March 3
4 pm
Reading Buddies
Kids in Grades K-3 are paired with teens through the Youth Literacy Project
North
Thursdays
4:30 pm
Bilingual Music for the Whole Family
with Juan L. Sanchez
West
Fri, March 7
11 am
Berkeley Combat Robotics Presentation for Grades 3-5
North
Tues, March 11
3:30 pm
Author Aida Salazar presents Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, March 15
10:30 am
Ballet Story Time
with BlackBox Studios
North
Sat, March 22
11 am
More Library Happenings
Line Dancing at the Library
Central
Tues, March 4 & 18
1 pm
Learn to Understand the Berkeley City Council Agenda
Central
Tues, March 4
6:30 pm
Story Sharing for Older Adults
North
Thursdays in March
1 pm
Chess at Central
Central
Thursdays
3 pm
Family Game Night
West
Thurs, March 6
5:30 pm
Line Dancing with Carah
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, March 8
12 pm
Plumbing 101
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Saturday, March 15
12 pm
Learn to Sew Aprons
West
Wednesday, March 19
4 pm
mak-'amhm: Cafe Ohlone
Cafe Ohlone @ Hearst Anthropology Museum
Wednesday, March 19
3:30 pm
Anne of Green Gables Watch Party
North
Saturday, March 29
12 pm
There are many more library programs happening in March:
New Online Collection
With your Berkeley Public Library card, get unlimited access to more than 7,000 of the world’s top newspapers and magazines as soon as they’re available on shelves with the PressReader App.
Just added to the collection are popular titles like The New Yorker, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Glamour, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Pitchfork, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
Library Night @ the Giants: April 7
The Friends of the Berkeley Public Library is partnering with the San Francisco Giants for a fun night at the ballpark on April 7!
Buy your tickets through this link and come be with other Library & Giants Fans. $10 from each ticket will go right back to supporting library programs... a home run!
Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...
Thank you Foundation & Friends!
All Libraries are closed on Monday, March 31. Stream movies, read eBooks & magazines, listen to eAudiobooks and music 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
February Library Happenings
February Event Highlights
Freedom is a Mighty Fine Thing
North
Sat, Feb 8
4pm
Join the author of Go Girl: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure, Elaine Lee for a presentation on Black Travel in the United States and abroad including travel destinations to commemorate the Civil Rights Act which just celebrated it's 60th anniversary. Lee will be joined by Evelyn C. White, journalist and author of Alice Walker: A Life.
Mbira Music of Zimbabwe
Feb 8, 10:30am @ Tarea Hall Pittman South
Feb 15, 2pm @ Claremont
Feb 22, 10:30am @North
Feb 22 2pm @ West
Zimbabwe's beautiful mbira has been used for healing, personal meditation, celebrations, and sacred ancestral communication for over 1,000 years.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Central
Sat, Feb 8
1:30-3pm
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with lion dancers, dance troupes, crafts and more! Outside the Central Library between Harold Way and Shattuck Ave.
Don't Know Much About... Animals
with the Oakland Zoo
Central
Mon, Feb 3
5pm
Dungeons & Dragons
for 6th - 12th graders
@ Claremont - Tues, Feb 4 & 11, 3:30pm
@ West - Tues, Feb 25, 5pm
@ North - Fri, Feb 14 & 21, 4pm
Podcasting
West
Part 1: Sat, Feb 8 @ 3pm
Part 2: Thurs, Feb 20 @ 5pm
Film Club: Summer of Soul
Documentary of the Legacy of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival
West
Tues, Feb 11
5:30pm
Afrofuturism: Imagining a Better Tomorrow
with Bay Area drag artist Kai Kai
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, Feb 12
6pm
Edible Mushrooms of Northern CA
North
Sat, Feb 15
11am
Geshe Tashi Dhondup Talk On Compassion
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, Feb 18
6pm
Guest Poet: Kimi Sugioka
Claremont
Sat, Feb 22
2pm
Children & Family Event Highlights
Haitian Dance: an Experience Designed to Uplift, Inspire & Inform
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, Feb 15
4pm
Very First Concerts: Wild Woodwinds
Sat, Feb 1
11:30am @ Central
1pm @ Tarea Hall Pittman South
Creative Art Play
with MOCHA, the Museum of Children's Art
Fridays 3:30-5 @ Central
Saturdays 10:30-12 @ West
Reading Buddies
Kids are paired with teens through the Youth Literacy Project
Central
Wednesdays
4:30 pm
Read to a Dog
Ages 5-12 - please register
Claremont
Feb 6, 13 & 20
3:30pm
Black Families: Black Futures
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Feb 8
3pm
Panel discussion with Doula'd By Janae, Healthy Black Families, Black Girls United, and Karen Smith of We Wield the Hammer.
Family Dance
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, Feb 12
2pm
Asheba: Caribbean Music for Children
North
Thurs, Feb 13
4pm
I Want to be Big: Author Talk and Book Activity
Central
Sat, Feb 15
10:30am
Children's author, illustrator, and educator Tiffany Golden shares her book, I Want to be Big. We'll sing a couple of songs and Tiffany will teach us how to play a special game based on the book.
Black Parents of Berkeley Writing Circle
Tarea Hall Pittman south
Thurs, Feb 20
5:30-7:30pm
Mandarin Story Time
Ages 2-6
Central
Sat, Feb 22
2pm
Afro Futurism Workshop for the Whole Family: Author Event, Crafts, Music & More
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Feb 22
6pm
Village Rhythms African Drumming
Claremont
Fri, Feb 28
4:15pm
Black Banjo and Fiddle Fellowship Concert
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Fri, Feb 28
4pm
Support @ the Library
Benefits Lawyer
with Berkeley's Homeless Action Center (HAC)
Central
Mon, Feb 3
3-5pm
Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's
Claremont
Mon, Feb 3
12pm
Plannering Club
North
Tues, Feb 4
4pm
Bring your planner, desk calendar, digital dailies, and stacks of post-it notes. Together we will trade agenda tips and tricks, planner side by side, and learn about a new resource each month!
Berkeley READS Adult Literacy Drop-in Tutoring & Computer Lab
Central
Tues, Feb 4
10am
Need Medical Care? Connect to Community Resources
Central
Tues, Feb 11 & 25
10am-3pm
Eviction Defense Center
Central
Thurs, Feb 13
10am
United States Postal Service (USPS) Recruitment
Central
Tues, Feb 18 11am-2pm
Fri, Feb 21 11am-2pm
Need help paying your energy bill?
Central
Wed, Feb 19
11am-1pm
Transportation & Mobility with the Center for Independent Living
North
Fri, Feb 21
11am
Learn About Bike Maintenance plus Free Tune-up
Tool Lending LIbrary
Sat, Feb 22
10am
Cyber Security: Learn About Online Safety
Central
Tues, Feb 25
5pm
*Also: tech help is available at all our libraries each week. To learn more, click here.
Adults (and Teens) Get Crafty Too!
Chinese Brush Painting for the Lunar New Year
West
Tues, Feb 4
11am
Book Folding Craft
North
Thurs, Feb 6
6pm
Fiber Arts Group
Where Knitting, Crochet and Sewing Meet
Central
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
3:30-5:30pm
Collage Club
Central
1st & 3rd Fridays
4pm
Sashiko Patchwork Mending
With Cirrus the Traveling Tailor
North
Tues, Feb 11
4pm
Beginning Embroidery
North
Tues, Feb 25
4pm
There are many more library programs happening in February:
New e-Book Collection!
Ready to Read Romance
Just in time for Valentine's Day, browse the new collection of Romance e-Books.
There are more than 1,000 e-Books to start with and more will be added regularly. These are always available – no holds!
The collection has a diversity of romance genres: African American, Historical, LGBTQIA, Suspense, RomCom, Sports, Western, Romantasy, Paranormal and more. It includes more than 20 major publishers represented such as romance leaders Harlequin, Kensington, and Sourcebooks Casablanca. Key authors include Diana Palmer, Janet Dailey, Susan Mallery, Fern Michaels, Alyssa Cole, Brenda Jackson, Sylvia Day, Mary Jo Putney, Rochelle Alers, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Beverly Jenkins, Shelley Shepard Gray and Meg Cabo.
New to the Libby app and/or e-books? The library has tech help available at all locations.
Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...
Thank you Foundation & Friends!
All Libraries are closed on Monday, February 17. Stream movies, read eBooks & magazines, listen to eAudiobooks and music 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
January Library Happenings
Happy 2025! January Event Highlights
Bullet Journal Into the New Year
Claremont
Fri, Jan 3
3 pm
Planner Your Life
North
Sat, Jan 4
1pm
Create Calendars in Canva
Central
Tues, Jan 7
5pm
Art Talk: Mary Cassatt at Work
West
Tues, Jan 7
11:30 am
Author Talk: Haben Girma & Mychal Threets Discuss Disability Stories
West
Sat, Jan 11
2 pm
Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate Kickoff Party
Central Teen Room
Tues, Jan 14
6pm
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate at this special event. There will also be live performances from teen poets, judges, and our 2024 winners. Refreshments provided. All ages are welcome, though some content may be more appropriate for teens and up.
Lunar New Year
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, Jan 29
6pm
January 29th kicks off the celebration for the Year Of The Snake. Together, we’ll learn about ways to celebrate, why lunar new year lasts two weeks, and astrological implications for this Earth Snake year for all Zodiac signs. We’ll also write red packet affirmations for friends, family, and ancestors.
***Save the date for the February 8th all-day Lunar New Year Celebration at Central with lion dancers, crafts and more.
Film Screening, Refreshments & Discussion: Counted Out. Math is Power.
Oxford Auditorium
2020 Bonar Street
Thurs, Jan 30
5:30pm
Hosted in partnership with Berkeley Unified School District
Featured Book Discussions
Repulsive Reads: New Monthly Horror Book Club
January's book: Rouge by Mona Awad
North
Thurs, Jan 23
5pm
Virtual Book Discussion: All Fours by Miranda July
Virtual
Wed, Jan 29
5pm
Music at the Library
Old-Time Tune Monthly Jam
with fiddles, banjos, guitars, mandolins & all "reasonably compatible" instruments
Central
3rd Tuesdays
6pm
"Punk Rock & Hardcore" with the Berkeley Record Club
Central
Tues, Jan 21
6pm
Health & Wellness Talks
Alzheimer's Effective Communication Strategies
Claremont
Mon, Jan 6
12noon
Dynamic Mindfulness
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Jan 18
3pm
Healthy Living for Brain & Body
Claremont
Mon, Jan 27
12pm
Strong Aging: the Science of Healthy Muscle, Strength & Aging
West
Sat, Jan 25
4pm
Tech Learning
Podcasting 101
North
Sat, Jan 11
1pm
Learn about eBooks, eAudiobooks & More
Central
Wed, Jan 15
1pm
Learn Mobile Device Basics
Central
Thurs, Jan 16
11am
Cyber Security
Central
Thurs, Jan 30
1pm
Resume Support
Resumes: Best Practices Plus Ways to Stand Out & Increase Opportunities
Virtual
Tues, Jan 14
5pm
“What’s Your Story?” Claim the Keys to Your Strongest Resume, LinkedIn Profile, and Interviewing
Virtual
Tues, Jan 28
5pm
More January Events
Figure Drawing
West
Wed, Jan 15
4pm
Backyard Chickens
North
Sat, Jan 18
12pm
Recycling Tips
West
Sat, Jan 18
3pm
Budgeting: Needs, Wants & Growing with Interest
Claremont
Sat, Jan 18
3pm
Special Story Times
Naturalist Story Time with East Bay Regional Parks
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Mon, Jan 13
3pm
Author Visit Story Time: Sara T. Behram
North
Thurs, Jan 23
4pm
Children & Family Event Highlights
Magic Show Spectacular
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Jan 4
10:30am
Family Photo Fun Crafternoon
Central
Sat, Jan 4
3pm
Musical Instrument Petting Zoo
North
Mon, Jan 6
10:30 am
Homeschool Fun Club
West
Mondays
2pm
Robotics Build for Grades 3-5
with Berkeley High School Robotics Team
Central
Sat, Jan 11
11am
-or-
North
Sat, Feb 1
11am
Make Cards for Hospitalized Kids - all ages welcome
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Jan 11
2pm
Workshop: Managing Tantrums
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Fri, Jan 31
10:30am
There are many more library programs happening in January:
Volunteer at the Library
Making a New Year resolution to volunteer more? We would love your help!
The Library has a wonderful group of enthusiastic volunteers who work with the public as Technology Helpers, Computer Class Helpers, Knitting instructors and other positions.
Or, from the comfort of your phone or computer, you can become an "Online Library Champion" and volunteer to like, comment on and share Library social media posts to get out the good word about library happenings.
Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...
Thank you Foundation & Friends!
All Libraries close early at 6pm on Dec 31. All libraries are closed on Jan 1st & Jan 20th. Stream movies, read eBooks & magazines, listen to eAudiobooks and music 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.