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August Event Highlights

Berkeley Barb: A 60th Anniversary Celebration

Central
Wed, Aug 13

3 pm doors open

4 pm program begins

 

Come celebrate, remember, and/or be introduced to the Berkeley Barb— the “social media” of the Counter Cultural / Youth Movements of the nation and the World. Founded in Berkeley in 1965 on the heels of Free Speech Movement, this newspaper was at the center of the massive societal changes of the 1960s & ‘70s.

At 4pm a panel of leaders and former Barb staff will discuss its history, significance and more.

*Issues of The Barb will be on display throughout August at Central.

Zine Fest

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Aug 23
11 am - 5 pm

 

This free, all-day event invites zine enthusiasts, creators, and curious newcomers to immerse themselves in a vibrant atmosphere filled with unique vendors, engaging workshops, and lively music. Discover an array of one-of-a-kind zines and indie publications from talented local artists and writers. Whether you're a seasoned creator or just starting out, our interactive workshops offer the perfect opportunity to hone your skills and connect with fellow zine lovers.

Local Artist Book Launch

Guy Colwell's Go Figure: Figurative Social Surrealist Paintings

Central
Sat, Aug 23
2 pm

Guy Colwell, a resident of Berkeley, is a painter and cartoon artist who is best known for his role in the underground comics scene. His publications include his bestselling series, the groundbreaking Inner City Romance, and Delights: A Story of Hieronymus Bosch, which imagined the creative process of the influential medieval painter.

His new book, Go Figure: Figurative Social Surrealist Paintings, collects 44 "figurative paintings, spanning 1987–2023.


 

More August Events

Games Galore, Retro Edition 

Kids, Tweens & Teens

Central
Fri, Aug 1

3:30 pm

Learn to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Aug 2
10 am

Lucha Libro Family-Friendly Wrestling Event

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, Aug 5

6 pm

Cat Cafe

*Registration Required

 

North
Wed, Aug 6

3 pm

Qué Hacer, Qué Saber: Seguridad, Fortaleza y Cuentacuentos sobre la Diversidad de Inmigrantes y ICE 

North
Fri, Aug 8

4 pm

 

Para niños y familias, este cuentacuentos informativo y pacífico será dirigido por la Poeta Laureada Juvenil de Berkeley, Anita Marie Julca, y se llevará a cabo en español e inglés.

What to Do, What to Know: Safety, Strength, & Storytime on Immigrant Diversity & ICE

North
Fri, Aug 8

4 pm

 

For children and families, this informational and peaceful storytime will be led by Berkeley's Youth Poet Laureate, Anita Marie Julca, and will be in both Spanish and English.

Author Talk: Dr. Shelley Sella
Beyond Limits: Stories of Third-Trimester Abortion Care

Claremont
Wed, Aug 6

6:30 p

Learn All About Obon

North
Thurs, Aug 7
3 pm

Learn about Obon, a Japanese holiday celebrated to honor ancestors. This program will feature a talk from Reverend Kiyonobu Kuwahara of the Berkeley Buddhist Temple and dance demonstration and instruction from Yumi Hatta. Crafts and light snacks will be provided while supplies last.

Northbrae Lamp Re-Lighting Ceremony

North
Sat, Aug 9

12 pm

Join us for a special event hosted in conjunction with local historian Darrell Owens and the Friends of the Fountain and Walk (supporters of the Marin Fountain in Berkeley). The Northbrae Lanterns will return to North Berkeley after being removed over a half century ago.

Poetry Writing Workshop with the Berkeley Youth Poet Laureates!

For kids ages 6-12

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Aug 9
2 pm

Autistic Connections: Autism Support Group & Social Club

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, Aug 12
6:30 pm

Rain Harvesting From the Ground Up

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Aug 16

11 am

 

Join us to talk ecological garden design using low-tech, low-cost strategies that help slow and sink more water into our landscapes. Learn about plant diversity, swales and berms, dense mulching, barrels and buckets and tanks serve as our time-tested tools. Restore vitality to your landscape, save money on water bills, reduce runoff pollution and storm stresses, and create reserves for the dry season.

Craft: Stick Farm Creations Honoring California Farm Workers

West
Sat, Aug 16

11:30 am - 1 pm

Craft: DIY stickers with Editor-in-Chief of CreativeBug

Claremont
Sat, Aug 16

2 pm

Workshop: Carrying Things by Bike

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Aug 16

1 pm

Teens: Weekly Wednesday Hangout (Snacks + Activities) Rebooted!

Claremont
Weekly Program restarts on Wed, Aug 20

2 - 4 pm

Poetry Circle: Bring a poem, find a poem, share your own poem! 

Claremont
Thurs, Aug 21

6 pm

Food Demo honoring California Farm Workers

with Berkley Farmers' Markets & the Ecology Center

All Ages

West
Fri, Aug 22

1 pm

Celebrate Farm Work: A Delicious Story Time

West
Sat, Aug 23
11:30 am

 

Interactive Read-aloud & Craft with Author Laura Atkins

Bringing the Beach Home

Central
Fri, Aug 22
4 pm

Menstrual Health & Body Literacy

For teens, tweens & their caregivers

North
Sat, Aug 23

1 pm

Berkeley Record Club: All That Jazz

Central
Tues, Aug 26
6 pm

 

Special Outdoors Meeting of the Repulsive Reads Book Club: Story Share

Inspired by the summer Japanese game Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (lit. "A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales")

North Lawn
Thurs, Aug 28
5 pm

There are many more library programs happening in August:

Event Calendar

National Make-A-Will Month

This August, during National Make-A-Will Month, the Berkeley Public Library Foundation is launching FreeWill, a trusted (and free) online tool that makes writing your will simple, secure, and doable. It takes just 20 minutes to gain long-term peace of mind by caring for the people and communities you love most.

Over 1.2 million people across the country have used this resource to plan.

 

There is an option to support your library by joining the Berkeley Public Library Foundation’s Legacy Society, a group of generous community members who make bequests to continue the long tradition of library love that began in 1903. Over the years, the Foundation has helped fund innovative literacy projects, building renovations, storytime rooms, teen spaces, the Charlie Cart, tools for job seekers, and more. 
 

Make A Will

Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...

Thank you Foundation & Friends!