Library Happenings

EVENTS ONLINE CATALOG LIBRARIES

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.

Register Now - May 23 @6pm

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 Fae Myenne Ng in conversation with Dr. Harvey Dong

Central, 5th floor
Saturday, May 13

2pm


Ng is the author of bestseller and PEN/Faulkner Fiction finalist Bone and American Book Award winner, Steer Toward Rock. She has recently released her memoir, Orphan Bachelors.

Ng has been the recipient of fellowships from the Rome Prize, American Academy of Arts and Letters, Guggenheim Foundation, Lannan Foundation, NEA, Radcliffe Institute, Bellagio Center, and Rockefeller Foundation.

Dr. Dong teaches Contemporary Asian American Community Issues and Chinese American History at UC Berkeley, is the co-founder of Eastwind Books of Berkeley, and editor of Eastwind Books' publications.

Author Workshop: Meditative Drawing with Kenneth Tan

Central, 5th floor
Saturday, May 13

3:30pm


Join Tan, author of Crescenciana: A Memoir in Words and Illustrations, for an activity drawing banigs, Filipino woven mats, with simple line patterns inspired by Filipino culture. The process of drawing patterns can be calming, meditative, and fun! All skill levels are welcome.

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.

This Saturday! All Day

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

Saturday Event Info


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

Free Comic Book Day Events

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. 

Register Now

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!

Event Calendar

Programming 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

 
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!

Check out Travel Books

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...

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