LibraryAware October 2024

October Newsletter!!

Spooky things are afoot at the

Library!!!

Featured Resource

Mango Languages gives you 24/7 access to over 70 world languages and more than 20 ESL courses. These practical, self-paced courses make it simple to brush up on that high school French, rekindle your lifelong dream of visiting Ireland, or simply build on your high school Spanish.

Costume Exchange

Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Costume Swap at the library!

Starting October 1st, bring your gently used costumes and accessories to the library and exchange them for a ticket for entry to the Costume Swap on October 20th.

October Programming

For Adults

Make It. Tuesday, October 1st & 15th, 4:30PM | Main Library. Bring your own project and materials. Limited instruction available. All fiber crafts welcome.
Alameda Writers' Group. Saturday, October 12th, 1PM | Main Library. We provide 5 short prompts for your choosing for warm-up or inspiration. Join us in person or on Zoom.
Doing Death Differently. Wednesday, October 9th, 6:30PM | Main Library. Join us for an evening of inquiry into the one life event that awaits us all. Doing Death Differently is a workshop series hosted by Alameda-based death doula, Sarah Hill. From pragmatic preparations to pondering the mystery, Sarah will gently guide us through these essential conversations.
Mug Swap. Wednesday, October 9th, 5PM | Main Library. Do you have a lot of mugs? Bring your extra mugs (limit 4 please) to the library starting October 2nd receive a ticket and then swap with your neighbors’ mugs on October 9th. Free take-home tea on day of swap while supplies last! Any left over mugs will be donated.
Costume Exchange. Saturday, October 20th, 1PM | Main Library.
Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Costume Swap at the library! Starting October 1st, bring your gently used costumes and accessories to the library and exchange them for a ticket for entry to the Costume Swap on October 20th.
Movie Night. Wednesday, October 30th, 5:30PM. Main Library, Stafford Room. October Pick: American Fiction. Rated R. Snacks will be provided!

Book Clubs

Alameda Great Books Group. Main Library. Family Study Room. Second Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM. This month's pick: Othello by Shakespeare.
A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book. Islandia Clubhouse. Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00PM. This month's theme: Banned Books.
Main Library Mystery Book Club. Fourth Monday of the month at 6:00pm. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: Runner by Tracy Clark.
Bay Farm Mystery Book Club. Fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: Runner by Tracy Clark.
A Novel Idea. Main Library. Tuesday, October 22nd, 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.

For Teens

Teen Advisory Board. Tuesday, October 1st, 4:30PM | Main Library. Are you a teen in 7th-12th grade? Do you want to share your interests and help with library projects? If yes, then why not join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB)? You can gain valuable experience and earn volunteer hours as a member.
Teen Book Club. Wednesday, October 2, 4PM | Main Library. Teens choose what we read each month. Free copies of the book while supplies last. Next up: Chloe and the Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine.
College 101: Navigating the College Experience. Saturday, October 5, 1:30PM | Main Library. Presented by Study Smart Tutors, join us for a session focused on helping you understand the college experience! We will discuss first-year experiences, financial aid, and ways in which a student's family can assist in navigating their college journey. Registration is required.
Dungeons & Dragons. Monday, October 7th & 21st, 6PM | Main Library. Looking to get into Dungeons & Dragons? No experience needed. Character sheets, dice, and rules explanations provided.
Teen Book Reviews. Teens in the 7th-12th grades are invited to write book reviews for the library. Please visit the website for more information.

For Children

What's Happening at the Main!

Science Wonders Workshop: Saturdays, 3PM | Main Library. Join the Science Wonders Workshop! This program is presented as a series of 3 weeks. Each program is from 3-4pm on a Saturday. Participants will be enrolled to the group that fits their age group of 6-8 yrs or 9-11 yrs. Participants MUST attend all 3 dates. Registration Required.
Local Author Visit with Amber Menjivar. Wednesday, October 2nd, 3:30PM | Main Library. Join us for a reading "Small Heart, Big Beats" with author Amber Menjivar and a DIY bracelet activity!
MOCHA: Hispanic Heritage Art Activity: Friday, October 4th. 3:30PM | Main Library. Let's celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a related art activity lead by teaching artists from MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art). Program begins at 3:30 p.m. Open to ages 5-12. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call 510-747-7705 or email childref@alamedaca.gov for more information or to register for the program. Please email us your name, child's name and age, and a good contact number.
Loteria!: Sunday October 4th, 1-3PM | Main Library. Join us on Sunday, October 6th from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Main Library to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Lotería! We'll have prizes, Mexican candy, and conchitas while supplies last. ¡Acompáñanos para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con el juego de Lotería! Visita la biblioteca el 6 de octubre de 1:00 pm a 3:00 pm en la Main Library. Tendremos premios, dulces mexicanos y conchitas. Disponibilidad limitada.
Big Truck Bonanza. Saturday, October 12, 1PM | City Hall Parking Lot. It's back! Big Truck Bonanza, the library's touch-a-truck event will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 1-3pm in the City Hall parking lot! Meet trucks from various City departments, like Alameda Police, Alameda Fire, and Alameda Municipal Power. It's going to be BIG!
Family Movie Matinee. Sunday, October 13th, 2PM | Main Library. Join us for a sensory-friendly, family focused movie matinee! October Selection: Kung Fu Panda 4.
MOCHA: Filipino Heritage Art Activity: Friday, October 4th. 3:30PM | Main Library. Let's celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a related art activity lead by teaching artists from MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art). Program begins at 3:30 p.m. Open to ages 5-12. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call 510-747-7705 or email childref@alamedaca.gov for more information or to register for the program. Please email us your name, child's name and age, and a good contact number.
Tween Crafternoon. Thursday. October 24th, 3:30PM | Main Library. Family Study Room. Tween Crafternoon is a free, drop-in program where kids in 4th through 6th grades can unwind, unplug, create, craft and socialize. Join us as we demonstrate and provide supplies for a different STREAM centered activity each time we meet, or bring your own project to work on in a shared space.
Costume Exchange. Saturday, October 20th, 1PM | Main Library, Stafford Room. Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Costume Swap at the library! Starting October 1st, bring your gently used costumes and accessories to the library and exchange them for a ticket for entry to the Costume Swap on October 20th.

What's going on at the Branches?

Build with L EGO: Every Thursday, 3:30PM | Bay Farm Branch. We will provide the LEGO building blocks. Use your imagination and creativity!
Spooky Stuffy Sleepover: Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, 10AM | Bay Farm Island. How spooky is the library after the lights are turned out at night? Send your favorite stuffed animals to our Spooky Stuffy Sleepover at the Bay Farm Island Library and they will find out! Drop off your stuffy anytime during open hours on Tuesday, October 15th.
Skull Detectives: Wednesday. October 16th. 3PM | West End Library. Who's skull is this? Come unleash your inner archaeologists with EB Parks. We will be learning about basic skull anatomy and discover which animal it belongs to!
Spooky Crafternoon: Wednesday. October 23rd, 2PM | West End Branch. Join us for a fun afternoon of slightly spooky crafting. This is a drop in program for children 4 and up.
Play Doh Playtime: Saturday, Saturday, October 26th, 10AM | West End Branch. Join us for Play-Doh Playtime, where kids can squish, sculpt, and be as creative as they like! Ages 2+ and their caregivers.

Storytime Schedule

Special Storytimes in October!!

Bilingual Storytime: hora de cuentos para niños pequeños. Tuesday, October 1st, 10:30 AM | West End Branch. Join us for our bilingual toddler storytime where your tot will learn stories, songs and fingerplays to help and develop word and sound recognition. Recommended for ages 1-3. Hora de cuento presentado en Español e Inglés. Storytime presented in Spanish and English
Ballet Storytime: Saturday, October 12th, 11AM | Bay Farm Island.
Join Miss Avala and Tutu School Alameda for a special storytime! We'll read ballet stories, practice twirling, and best of all, wands will be provided. This program will be held in the Leydecker Event Center next door to the Bay Farm Island Branch Library.
Bilingual Storytime: Tagalog & English. Tuesday, October 19th, 10:30 AM | West End Branch. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts celebrating Filipino Culture featuring the Kababayan Kids.

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Bay Farm Island Branch:
- Preschool Storytime: Every Monday at 10:30AM, ages 3-5
- Family Storytime: Every Tuesday at 7PM, all ages
- Toddler Storytime: Every Thursday at 10:30AM, ages 1-3
Main Library, Children's Programming Room:
- Preschool Storytime: Every Tuesday at 10:30AM, ages 3-5
- School-Age Storytime: Every Wednesday at 3:30PM, ages 5-8
- Mother Goose on the Loose: Every Thursday at 10:30am, ages 0-2
- Toddler Storytime: Every Friday at 10:30AM, ages 1-3
- Toddler Storytime: Every Saturday at 10:30AM, ages 1-3
West End Branch:
- Family Pajama Storytime: Every Monday at 7PM, all ages
- Toddler Storytime: Every Tuesday at 10:30AM, ages 1-3

Staff Picks

Dawn is reading...

Queens of the jungle : meet the female animals who rule the animal kingdom!
by Carly Anne York

"A biologist and animal behaviorist presents this illustrated guide to amazing female animals, who are some of the strongest, bravest and fiercest animals in the world, in which she provides numerous?—?and inspiring?—?examples of girls getting it done. Illustrations. "

Isak is reading...

The bromance book club
by Lyssa Kay Adams

"Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He's recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it's the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he's let his pride and fear get the better of him. Welcome to the Bromance Book Club. Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made upof Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife"

Rosemary is reading...

Come fly the world : the jet-age story of the women of Pan Am
by Julia Cooke

"A lively, unexpected portrait of the jet-age stewardesses serving on iconic Pan Am airways between 1966 and 1975"

Mia is reading,,,

Cleopatra : a life
by Stacy Schiff

A Pulitzer Prize winner weaves together sex and celebrity, empire and politics in a story that is as contemporary as it is ancient, capturing fully for the first time the operatic power of Cleopatra's life and reign. By the author of Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov). Reprint. A #1 best-seller.

Jena is reading,,.

Attuned : practicing interdependence to heal our trauma-and our world
by Thomas Hèubl

"A visionary guide for tapping into our collective human consciousness to help heal our traumatized world"

Trina is reading...

The women
by Kristin Hannah

"When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being agood girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America"

Vicky is reading...

Group Living and Other Recipes
by Lola Milholland

A child of hippies that opened their homes to guests and unusual visitors furthers their experiment for a new generation in a communal organization that reimagines how group living can create a new concept of home and family. 35,000 first printing.

Looking for more recommendations?
Check out these book lists created by AFL librarians!