Library Happenings

EVENTS ONLINE CATALOG LIBRARIES

Read the Library's New Strategic Action Plan

After a year-long, community-centered strategic planning process, the Library has a Strategic Action Plan for 2024-2028 with new Mission, Vision and Values statements as well as new Strategic Priorities. Thank you to all of you who participated via community meetings, surveys and interviews.

"The power of community voices drove this process forward," shares Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services. “While building upon our past, we are looking to the future. We now have a plan for moving forward, together.”

Strategic Plan

Deadline Extension:
Apply by Friday, May 10 to Fill the Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) Vacancy

Apply

Bay Area Book Fest Family Day Programs are all at the Library!

 
Central
Saturday, May 4
10:30am-5pm

Celebrating themes including “Star Wars: May the 4th be With You” and “National Free Comic Book Day,” program highlights will include:

  • 90+ youth and YA-oriented authors in talks, panels, and book signings

  • Panels on Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Mystery, Superheroes, Sci-Fi, Family, Coming of Age, Black Joy, Latina Expressions, AANHPI Stories, Youth Poets and much more!

  • Story Time readings with favorite children’s authors and 25 exhibiting children’s book authors - check out the impressive line-up!

  • Showcase of original work by the students of the Graton Writing Project, the Festival’s annual partnership with Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

  • Flash Fiction workshop for young writers, hosted by Grant Faulkner, formerly with NaNoWriMo

  • Free comic giveaway

  • Star Wars “May the 4th be With You” Cosplay - come dressed in costume!


Book Fest Details

Free Comic Book Day is Next Saturday

Free comics will be available for children, teens, and adults at all library locations, while supplies last. Also in honor, of Stars Wars Day (May the 4th be with you!), we will have a few Star Wars themed crafts and activities.

May Event Highlights

Tarea Hall Pittman South

Drum it Up: Story Time & Craft

Wednesday, May 1

3:30pm

Dog Man Comic Book Afternoon

Friday, May 3

4pm

Bike Mechanics: Fix A Flat Workshop

Saturday, May 4

11am

Author Talk: Defying Displacement with Andrew Lee

Tuesday, May 7

6pm

Gentrification is uprooting communities around the world and inspiring new forms of resistance that may very well transform it. Lee will discuss gentrification’s historical roots and global scope while sharing the analyses emerging from interviews with over a dozen activists across the US.


Sing A Story with SF Opera: Hansel & Gretel

Saturday, May 11

4pm

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Docent Talk: Galileo

Wednesday, May 14

6pm

Energizer Station for Bike to Wherever Day

Thursday, May 16

7am-6pm

Concert: In the Stax with Marisha Ashanti

Thursday, May 23

6pm

Drawing Class for 4th & 5th Graders with Illustrator & Author Robert Liu-Trujillo

Saturday, May 25

2pm

Central

Discussion Club: Psychedelics

Monday, May 6
6pm

Line Dancing

1st & 3rd Tuesday
1-3pm

Drum it Up: Story Time & Craft

Wednesday, May 8

3:30pm

NEW DATE! Reading with Berkeley's Poet Laureate


Monday, May 13

6pm

Join us for a poetry reading and conversation with Aya de León (Berkeley Poet Laureate), Julia Segre (Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate), and Serena Griffin (Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate). 



Help with Energy & Water Bills: Spectrum

Wednesday, May 15
11am-1pm

Crafting a Home Death: Practical Tips & Insights

Saturday, May 25

2pm

Author Talk: Organized Living with Shira Gill


Saturday, May 18

2pm

Author, professional organizer, and certified life coach, Shira Gill, will be in conversation with local prop stylist, Leila Nichols.


West

The Completely Abridged History of East Bay Music

Wednesdays @ 6:30pm

Join us for this humorous and immersive three-day music residency that distills six decades of mind-altering, revolutionary-starting, beat-making, and life-affirming music that originated from our very own East Bay.

May 8 - '60s & '70s
May 15 - '80s &'90s
May 22 - '00s & '10s

Decoupage Vases: CraftLab

Wednesday, May 15
4pm

Indian Folk Painting

Tuesday, May 21
6pm

Author Talk: Lio Min


Saturday, May 18

3pm

Min will read from and talk about their moving young adult book Beating Heart Baby. This program is for teens and young adults--but all are welcomed!


North

Author Talk: American Book Award Winner & Pulitzer Prize Finalist Tommy Orange in Conversation with Caro De Robertis


Friday, May 10

6pm

***In order to accommodate a large audience, this event will be held near North, at the Hillside Club - 2286 Cedar Street. The event will be livestreamed on the Library's Instagram @berkeleypubliclibrary

Homeschool Families: Summer Reading Info Session

Thursday, May 9
1pm

Author Visit Story Time: Oliver Chin

Saturday, May 11
10:30am

Concert: In the Stax Music Series with Dan Badgley

Tuesday, May 14

6pm

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Drop Off: May 15-16
Pick Up: May 17

Puppet Show: Rabbit & Coyote are Friends?

Saturday, May 18
11am

Teen Tie Dye Party

Wednesday, May 29
2:30pm

Claremont

Movie Night Series with Popcorn!


Wednesdays at 5pm


May 1 - Minari

May 8 - Columbus

May 15 - Everything Everywhere All at Once

May 22 - Next Goal Wins

May 29 - The Paper Tigers

Worms: the Hardest Working Pet You Will Ever Have

Saturday, May 11
3pm

Communication Strategies for Early, Middle and Late State Dementia

Monday, May 13
10am

The Science of Well-Being

Monday, May 13
12noon

Poetry Circle

Thursday, May 16

6pm

Benvenue Beats Mini Music Festival: AAPI Rhythms


Saturday, May 18


We will close down the street in front of Claremont for this open-air event to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with music and community:

2:00 - Jiten Daiko

3:00 - Leung's White Crane Lion Dance

4:00 - Manilatown Ancestral Ensemble

The Library will be at the Berkeley Bay Festival this weekend. See you there!

Celebrate the San Francisco Bay at the Berkeley Marina. Enjoy live music, performers, food, hands-on educational activities, and free boat rides. Over 30 environmental and wildlife conservation organizations from around the Bay will share their exhibits with the public.

Bay Fest Info

Reminder:

All Library locations open one hour late, 11am, on Friday, April 26 for an all staff meeting.

All Library locations will be closed on Monday, May 20 for Malcolm X Day and Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.

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

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