June Event Highlights
Summer Reading - June 5 to Aug 9
Sign up, read, and win prizes to "Level Up" this Summer!
Some of our prizes include: a kid's bike from Mike's Bikes of Berkeley, a gift certificate to Kura Sushi, a family membership to Chabot Space and Science Center, tickets to the Litquake Bookseller's Ball, a gift certificate to Game On Berkeley, and so much more!
All summer long join us for games, a free book when you sign-up for summer reading, food and activities for kids at Lunch at the Library and fun events for all ages at all the branches throughout the summer.
Attend the Summer Reading Celebration at Central on June 14 from 2-4 PM with a performance and interactive jam session with musician Ukulenny, a fun Dungeons and Dragons activity, crafting with the Museum of Children's Art, bubbles with Ms. Molly Bubbles, and a free, yummy It's-It ice cream treat (while supplies last).
Come to (or call) any of our branches for more information!
North
Sat, June 7
2pm
McNally is the NY Times bestselling author of A Long Strange Trip and the publicist of the Grateful Dead.
His new book The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created The Sixties, a riveting social history of everything that led up to the 1960s counterculture movement, when long-simmering resistance to American mainstream values birthed the hippie.
With Renowned Scholar Mary DeForest
Central
Tues, June 10
5:30pm
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, we've invited Mary DeForest, a scholar of classical studies who has written extensively on Jane Austen.
She will highlight Jane's genius for character development, creating more than 300 unique personalities
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, June 11
3-6 pm
Join us for a talk on reparations and the state of black mental health with Gloria Lecure from Conscious Voices.
(Registration Required)
North
Thursdays
4 pm
Register
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Fri, June 13
2 pm
Presentation on Historical Black Sacramento Street in South Berkeley in celebration of Juneteenth with the African American Berkeley Business Heritage project's Dr. Stephanie Anne Johnson.
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 14
3 pm
Caro De Robertis, author of The Palace of Eros and their newest book, So Many Stars: an Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Queer, and Two-Spirit People of Color, in conversation with author Kate Schatz. The Palace of Eros is a queer and feminist retelling of the ancient Eros and Psyche myth of a deity and human who fall in love.
West
Sat, June 19
12-2pm
Taste samples of traditional Juneteenth dishes, get creative in our art workshop with Hella Artsy, enjoy a read-aloud story, and make something special at our craft station. A live DJ will keep the vibe fun with music that honors culture, community, and joy. Celebrate freedom, resilience, and heritage.
All Ages
Central
Sat, June 28
1-5pm
Join us for a day of celebrating D&D! Come enter our tavern for some snacks and potions, join us at the tailor to sew a dice bag and design other D&D themed crafts, or enter our Wizard's Tower to learn how to play and build your character for the day.
At 2pm, 2:15pm, 2:30pm, and 3pm the games will begin! We will be running four different one shot campaigns for anyone who wants to play! No experience is needed to join a game, but please register if you would like to play. Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.
Register
Want to learn how to play, first? Join the D&D 101 session on Friday, June 6.
Also, join us regularly for D&D on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 3:30-5:30 at Central and specifically for ages 11-22 the 4th Tuesday of the month from 5-6:30 at West.
In Conversation with granddaughter Kimi Hill
Central
Sat, June 28
12 pm
World-renowned American artist and distinguished UC Berkeley professor, Chiura Obata (1885-1975), is considered by many today to be one of the foremost California landscape painters of the 20th century. Join Obata's granddaughter, Kimi Hill, as she talks about his life and works. There will be an opportunity to view of some of his paintings.
More June Events
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, June 3 & June 10
6 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, June 4
3:30 pm
North
Wed, June 4
6 pm
All Ages
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Thurs, June 5
6 pm
In this workshop, with weight discrimination expert and author Virgie Tovar, Tovar discusses demonstrates that using weight as the basis for differential treatment does not promote health. It promotes isolation, shame, and worse mental and physical health outcomes. Tovar will walk participants through an easy-to-understand presentation and empower you to start or continue a conversation about weight stigma with your community.
Children & Teens
West
Sat, June 7
11:30 am
Inspired by Children's Books
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 7
2-5 pm
West
Tues, June 10
4 pm
Claremont
Wed, June 11
6:30 pm
Our popular live-music series In The Stax is back this month with more unique and intimate shows in the library with multi-instrumentalist and Bay Area native Connoisseur Rat, blending jazz, lo-fi hip hop, indie rock and mainstream pop
West
Thurs, June 12
4 pm
West
Thurs, June 12
5:30-7:30 pm
West
Sat, June 14
2 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 14
1 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
3rd Thursdays
5-6:30 pm
In partnership with Oakland Creates founder Avy Jetter, we will be holding 5 workshops teaching how to make zine and comics that will lead up to the THP South Zine & Comic Fest in August. In these workshops you will be introduced to what zines are and the basics of how to make them. You will be creating content for zines, brainstorming ideas and then learning how to develop art for zines or storytelling in zine and comic format.
North
Sat, June 21
2 pm
Tarea Hall Pittmans South
Sat, June 21
4 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
6 pm
June 26: The Language of Lovers: NVC in Ethically Non- Monogamous Relationships
June 28: Alligator Bites Can Heal: Recognizing & Unlearning Harmful Communication
July 24: Being the Calm in the Chaos: NVC as an Approach to Gentle Parenting
July 26: Liberation Through Language: NVC in Reparative Justice for Survivors of State Violence
There are many more library programs happening in June:
Event Calendar
Transmissions Quilts: A Multimedia Exhibit of Objects, Stories, and Trans Care
Transmissions is an ongoing, multidisciplinary art and community-building project that makes quilts for trans people, primarily based in the Bay Area but with project hubs expanding across the United States.
Coinciding with Pride Month, this exhibit of quilts and art from the project is on display at Central and centers the creative vitality of trans and queer community, in Berkeley and beyond.
Be sure to attend the opening reception on June 9th with a curator talk and a musical program or join the June 21st curator tour and community quilting bee.
Learn More
Pride Month Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Beginning June 1, ask for a game card at any branch service desk or on the 4th floor of Central. Celebrate Pride and learn about famous LGBTQIA+ Bay Area people with this fun scavenger hunt.
History Room... Did you know?
In the Berkeley History Room, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to “cool” things.
One really invaluable resource when searching for Berkley-specific information from the mid-20th Century to about the year 2000 (i.e. information from the pre-Internet era) is the “clipping collection.”
Almost all this data is “un-Googleable” and yet irreplaceable when researching such Berkeley phenomena as – for example - traffic diverters, Bart construction, or local school desegregation efforts.
Come check it out! The room is open Wednesdays from 10-1, and by appointment. Your history awaits!
Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...
Thank you Foundation & Friends!
All Libraries will be closed on Friday, June 20 for Juneteenth.
Stream movies, read eBooks & magazines, listen to eAudiobooks and music 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
