June Library Happenings
Exciting Reveal: the new Children's Story Room & Family Place
Join us for a joyful celebration at Central on Friday, June 5, at 10:30 AM as we unveil our beautifully renovated 4th floor Children’s Story Room & Family Place—made possible by grants from the Berkeley Public Library Foundation — and kick off the Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Plant A Seed, Read.”
Enjoy a ribbon-cutting and remarks, plus a special appearance by celebrated author Maggie Takuda Hall, who will share reflections on the joy and freedom of reading.
Then keep the fun going with a dance party featuring DJ AvoColey 🥑, “the fruitiest DJ in Berkeley,” spinning 80s and 90s hits in their iconic avocado suit.
Bring the whole family to celebrate, explore, and start your summer of reading with us!
We want your creative design!
We are looking for a fiber mascot that captures the spirit of the library and Berkeley.
Get started! Knit, crochet, sew, felt, weave, embroider, quilt, or...
Drop off your submission before June 30th to any of our libraries.
All participants who submit an eligible entry will receive a small participation gift.
One mascot will be selected to become the library mascot and may be featured across library communications, including social media, website, and promotional materials.
June Event Highlights
Artist / Author Event: Dr. Alberto Ledesma
Tuesday, June 2
5 pm
Central
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Ledesma, whose work, Cartooning Against Silence: Futile Prayers from an Undocumented Heart, is currently on exhibit on the Art and Music floor until the end of June. The discussion and Q&A will delve into how his art work and graphic novels share the undocumented immigrant experience.
Cookbook Author Talk: Crystal Wahpepah
A Feather and a Fork: 125 Intertribal Dishes from an Indigenous Food Warrior
Tuesday, June 2
6 pm
North
Founder of Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland—the first Native woman-owned restaurant in California— Wahpepah continues her mission to revitalize Indigenous cuisine and honor the ingredients that sustain both body and land. Her new cookbook is a telling of Indigenous history through food, drawing on wisdom passed down through generations into contemporary cuisine.
Halau O Keikiali'i Hawaiian Dance: Music and Culture
Thursday, June 4
4 pm
Claremont
80's Dance Party for the whole family with children's staff
Friday, June 5
10:30 am
Central
All Ages Summer Reading Kickoff @ North - Wrestling + Pride + Spanish!
Note: In English
Saturday, June 6
1 pm
Lawn @ North branch
Celebrate the start of the summer with Once Upon a Time in a Wrestling Ring where "Pride writes the story and we all live happily ever after."
Live bilingual broadcasting in both English and Spanish
Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
Saturday, June 6
2 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Join us for a joyful celebration featuring storytelling, music, drumming, cupcakes, and a performance by a clown artist.
Lambda Literary Award Winning Poet: Jan Steckel
Saturday, June 6
2 pm
Claremont
Emmy award-winning Filmmaker Emiko Omori in conversation with Producer Satsuki Ina plus screening
Defiant to the Last: Resistance at the Tule Lake Jail
Saturday, June 6
2:30 pm
Central
Maori Mo Ake Tonu or "Maori Forever, opens a new window" Performance
Wendesday, June 10
3 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Trivia Night
2nd Wednesdays (June 10)
6 pm
Claremont
Personal Safety & Bystander Awareness Training
Tuesday, June 16
12:30 pm
North
Creative Writers Space: New Monthly Event
3rd Tuesdays (June 16)
4 pm
West
Author talk + Reading with Andrew Lam
Stories From the Edge of the Sea
Tuesday, June 16
6 pm
Central
Lam's collection of short stories is set in the Bay Area and explores love and loss among Vietnamese Americans haunted with memories of war and the subsequent diaspora.
Anime Your Way Workshop for ages 6-13
Tuesday, June 16
6 pm
West
Note: registration required.
Culinary Herbalism
Wednesday, June 17
5:30 pm
Claremont
Compost Gal Workshop: the Bee & Me
Thursday, June 18
3 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Take 3 Jazz Trio
Thursday, June 18
4 pm
Claremont
8-week Mandarin Class for Adults
Thursdays at North Branch beginning June 11
5 - 7 pm
Note: registration required.
Hella Comix #7: A Comics Reading presented by Bay Area BIPOC artists
Thursday, June 18
5:30 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
The Wakasa Monument History with Nancy Ukai
Thursday, June 18
6 pm
North
Reading & craft for ages 7+: Honoring Yoshiko Uchida
Saturday, June 20
11 am
North
New Orleans Singing and Swinging Second Line Brass Band: MJ's Brass Boppers Community Dance Party
Saturday, June 20
11 am
Frances Albrier Community Center
2800 Park St (at San Pablo Park)
Author Talk with Stephanie Joong + the Society of Women Engineers Golden Gate Book Club
Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence
Saturday, June 20
11:30 am
Tarea Hall Pittman South
San Pablo Park Storytime and Songs + Clothing and Toy Swap
Saturday, June 20
3 pm
2800 Park St (at San Pablo Park)
Juneteenth Crafternoon
Saturday, June 20
3 pm
North
3-part Global Mental Health Series for Kids 5-12 + Caregivers
Claremont
Monday, June 22, 4 pm - Understanding Feelings
Tuesday, June 23, 4 pm- Being Good Friends & Helping Others
Wednesday, June 24, 4 pm - Big Emotions & Asking for Help
All About Waste and Recycling
Monday, June 22
5:30 pm
Central
Tie Dye Party
Wednesday, June 24
3 pm
Claremont
Author Visit: Maggie Tokuda-Hall Story Time
Thursday, June 25
2:30 pm
Claremont
Take Back Your Privacy on Social Media
Thursday, June 25
5:30 pm
Tarea Hall Pittman South
Music, Storytelling, Puppetry, and Clowning for Pride: Rainbow Rox
Friday, June 26|
10:30 am
West
Marin Poetry Center Traveling Show
Saturday, June 27
2 pm
North
Feral Fruits: Foraging & Community
Saturday, June 27
2 pm
Claremont
Authors event with Aja Couchois Duncan, Theresa Harlan, and Ámate Pérez: Readings + Conversation
Tuesday, June 30
6 pm
Central
From the Berkeley Public Library Foundation
SUMMER BENEFIT CONCERT:
Where Music Meets Imagination with The Story Time Band
Where Music Meets Imagination is a family-friendly benefit concert featuring Berkeley’s beloved The Story Time Band, presented by the Berkeley Public Library Foundation
June 13, 2026, 10:30 am
The Freight, 2020 Addison, Berkeley, CA
Proceeds benefit the Berkeley Public Library.
Thank you from North Branch
The Library partnered with the Alameda County Community Food Bank for a spring food drive at North Branch during the month of May and it was a resounding success!
THANK YOU for your generousity and helping all our neighbors have food security.
There are hundreds of upcoming library programs for all ages and a diversity of interests:
Many library programs are funded by the generous support of the
Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.
Thank you, Friends!
All Library Locations will be closed Friday, June 19.
Thank you Friends & Foundation!
Working together to make a great public library extraordinary...
Thank you, Foundation & Friends!