All libraries are closed on Monday, October 12 for Indigenous People’s Day. All libraries will open late at 11:00 am on Friday, October 30 after staff training.
Visit The Break Room Sound Installation this Fall
Through December, our Central Library is hosting The Break Room , a sound-based art installation by artist Derwin Deon Brown II and the artist collective Black American Sound System (B.A.S.S.).
The exhibit will transform library spaces through sound, music, listening sessions and artist-led programs. Visitors can explore the main installation on the 2nd floor and a vinyl listening station on the 5th floor, with special events and performances throughout the Fall.
Check out functions of The Break Room at the end of event highlights.
Derwin Deon Brown II and Berkeley Public Library Director Rebecca Alcalá-Veraflor at opening of The Break Room exhibit.
"Berkeley Is": The collaborative public art project developed with Ohlone community partners, youth interns, artist Hannah Pae, Library Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff, Indigenous Collaborations Committee, and the Berkeley Public Library Foundation.
Come to "Berkeley Is" Land Acknowledgment Mural Reception
Meet the Berkeley YouthWorks artists who helped bring the Berkeley Public Library’s Community Mural to life.
Explore the artwork, installed over the summer of 2026, as you search for your favorite Berkeley icons woven throughout the design.
Accompanied by digital and audio content, the mural transforms a transitional space into a place of learning and connection while improving wayfinding, strengthening community partnerships, amplifying Indigenous perspectives, and fostering belonging within the Library.
October 17
11:00 am at Central
Pet Parents: Send Your Pet’s Halloween Costume Photo by October 15
Does your furry (or scaly, or feathery) baby have a Halloween costume this year? We want to see it!
Send us a photo* for a chance to be featured on Berkeley Public Library's social media on October 31. Bonus points if the costume has a bookish twist, like a little Hermione Granger, a tiny Dracula, or whatever your imagination cooks up.
To enter, email your photo to cluu@berkeleyca.gov with your pet's name, their costume, and any other details you want to share. Submissions due by October 15 . We'll select photos to feature on October 31!
*By submitting a photo, you grant Berkeley Public Library permission to share it on our social media channels and other communications materials.
Our Fourth Annual Comic Constarts November 14
A day of panels, workshops, artists, and more!
Featuring 27 guests with more added as we get closer to the event.
Check the event page for a full list of speakers, vendors, and schedule details.
Poster image created by local comic artist Jason Shiga.
Setup your required PIN by October 15
Starting October 15, 2026, you will need both your library card number and your PIN to sign in to Libby and Kanopy.
Your PIN is your last name.
Previously, you could access Libby and Kanopy with only your library card number. This added sign-in step helps protect your account and your borrowing information.
Libby and Kanopy are digital services provided by OverDrive.
Please visit the Berkeley Public Library website for the most up to date information about events and services.
Event Highlights
This month you can enjoy Halloween themed events like a costume swap, tea party, or haunted themed party. Swap costumes or work on a fiber costume for the month with others.
Attend wellness classes to learn about effective communication, herbalism, kidney disease, and body alignment and movement.
Celebrate Latine Heritage Month with a film screening, live music, multiple activities honoring Día de los Muertos, and more!
East Bay Vivarium and Author Steph Lau
Local author, Steph Lau, will read her new book Medusa's Pet Rock . After, the East Bay Vivarium will showcase some snakes.
Saturday, October 3
3:00 - 4:00 pm at Central
Halloween Extravaganza with The Story Time Band and Fratello Marionettes
Music, movement, and read-aloud stories for children and their caregivers.
Saturday, October 31 - Halloween event!
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Freight
Musical Storytime with The Story Time Band
10:30 - 11:30 am
The Freight
10:30 - 11:30 am
Frances Albrier Community Center
Fiber Arts Halloween Costume Creations
Spruce your Halloween costume or make one from scratch.
Tuesday, October 6
3:30 - 5:30 pm at Central
Mend, Alter, & Upcycle Your Clothes
Bring your own items or use our collection to learn to mend and re-use clothes!
Tuesday, October 6
4:00 - 7:00 pm at North
Registration required.
Author Talk with Dorothy Lazard
Demystifying the library including political threats and people's freedom to choose what to read.
Saturday, October 10
4:00 - 5:00 pm at North
Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
Special live concert with Anna Presler (shown above) and Leighton Fong of Left Coast Chamber Ensemble.
2:00 - 3:00 pm at Claremont
Leamos Autoras Club de lectura en español
¡Únete al primer club de lectura en español de la Biblioteca Pública de Berkeley!
Thursday, October 8 at Central
Friday, October 30 meet Virtually
4:30 - 5:30 pm
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez Screening
Film director David Alvarado will join on Zoom after screening for a discussion.
Monday, October 5
5:30 - 8:00 pm at Central
Super Cinema
Join us Friday afternoons for a movies sharing the same theme each month.
Fridays, October 2, 9,16, 23, 30
2:30 - 5:00 pm at Central
Author Talk with Khiara Bridges - "Expecting Inequity"
Racism in reproductive healthcare in the US and her book.
Thursday, October 8
5:00 - 7:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Your Turn, A Community Board Game Night
Wednesday, October 14
5:30 - 7:30 pm at West
Let The Land Breathe: The History of East Bay Shellmounds
Learn the history of East Bay Shellmounds (sacred sites where First Peoples of the San Francisco Bay Area buried loved ones) with focus on West Berkeley.
Thursday, October 22
6:00 - 7:30 pm at West
The Haunted Library
Join for an afternoon of Halloween fun!
3:30 - 5:30 pm at Claremont
Costume Swap
For all ages and sizes.
Thursday, October 15
4:00 - 5:00 pm at North
The Break Room Sound event highlights
In The Stax with Connoisseur Rat
Come listen to Connoisseur Rat, an experimental Jazz musician from the Bay.
Thursday, October 1
6:00 - 7:30 pm at Claremont
High Fidelity Radio Panel Discussion
Where musicians and radio journalists speak about impact of radio in music and culture.
Thursday, October 22
6:00 - 7:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Curated Listening Music Sessions
Experience Black American sound at this sonic exhibit.
Tuesday, October 6
Tuesday, October 20
3:00 - 5:00 pm at Central
In the Stax Live Music
Saturday, October 17
3:00 - 5:00 pm at Central
Car Show and Live DJ Set
2:00 - 4:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
CD Burning and Poster Collage
For audio you can hold and art you can hang.
Thursday, October 15
4:00 - 6:00 pm at West
Wild West Femme Cypher After Hours
Join an after-hours femme hip-hop cypher where towering bookshelves become the backdrop for raw rhythm and wordplay.
Friday, October 30
6:30 - 8:30 pm at
Central
Registration required.
Latine Celebrations
Herencia Guantanamera
Afro-Cuban music, dance and culture, all ages welcome.
Friday, October 2
4:00 - 4:45 pm at Tarea Hall South Pittman
Worry Doll Craft
Make your own Guatemalan worry doll to take home!
Tuesday, October 13
4:00 - 5:00 pm at North
Día de los Muertos Cascada de Flores
Una Ofrenda Musical - A Musical Altar for our Muertos.
3:00 - 4:00 pm at Claremont
Sugar Skull Craft
Decorate a clay sugar skull.
Tuesday, October 27
4:00 - 5:00 pm at North
Celebrate Latine Heritage Month with Aguacate Music Kids
Saturday, October 17
10:30 - 11:15 am at Central
Día de los Muertos Pet Altar
Submit photos of cherished pets to North Branch service desk or areeder@berkeleyca.gov through October 24.
Tuesday, October 27 - Saturday, November 7
All day during operating hours at North
Live Music featuring LoCura
Come enjoy live music in the library featuring Latin American sounds.
Thursday, October 15
6:00 - 7:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Youth Spotlight
Teen Hangouts
Every Wednesday visit your local library ( North , Claremont , and Tarea Hill Pittman South ) for games, snacks, and crafts.
October 7
October 14
October 21
October 28
2:00 to 4:00 pm, various locations (see above)
Math Tutoring
Get help in math for grades K-12.
October 29
4:00 - 5:30 pm at Central
Chess Club
Come play chess with others from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. All ages and skills levels are welcome.
Thursdays at Central:
Saturday, October 3 at North
Goosebumps
Watch two Goosebumps movies back to back with friends.
2:00 - 3:45 pm - Goosebumps
4:00 - 5:30 pm - Goosebumps 2
Both events at Claremont
Musical Instrument Petting Zoo
Come try out a large selection of musical instruments to see what instruments you like playing.
Saturday, October 31
2:00 - 4:00 pm at West
Ballet and Books
Every Saturday drop in for Ballet and Books, a dance and literacy program for children ages 6–9 where movement-based learning is paired with reading skills to support early education.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Central
Kids' Terrarium Workshop
Make your own terrarium with upcycled glass jars, succulent cuttings.
Friday, October 2
3:30 - 4:30 pm at Central
Family Place Parent Child Playshops
Enjoy open-ended, child-directed play with a variety of toys and art activities.
Friday, October 2 , 9, and 16
10:15 - 11:15 am at Central
Register to reserve your spot.
Reading Buddies
Kids pair up with a teen reading mentor to build reading confidence.
4:30 - 5:15 pm at Central
MOCHA Creative Art Play
Join us and the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) for different projects with a Teaching Artist.
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Thursdays at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Fridays at Central
Stepping into STEM: Strawberry DNA and Brain Science for 3rd-5th Grades
Join us for two sessions centered around different science-related themes, presented by young folks in STEM with an engaging activity!
Saturday, October 31
2:00 - 3:30 pm at Central
Wellness, Art, and Music
Pain Clinic with the Art of Self-Alignment
Join us for a workshop with Brandon Chien, where you'll learn self-massage and alignment techniques to enhance flexibility, strength, and body awareness.
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at Tarea Hill Pittman South
Wellness Dance
Join us for a another series of this supportive and inclusive Community Wellness Dance Class.
Thursday, October 1 , 2:15 - 3:15 pm
Thursday, October 15 , 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Both events at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Bay Area Tabletop Role Playing Games (TRPG) Society
A free indie Tabletop Role Playing Game convention brought to you by the Bay Area TTRPG Society (BATS)
Saturday, October 10
10:00 am - 5:00 pm at Central
Bike Camping in the East Bay
Learn about bike camping.
Saturday, October 1 7
1:00 - 2:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Communicate Effectively
Learn strategies and techniques to decode verbal and behavioral communication. This class is for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Claremont
Dance Party for Queer Families/Allies
Join us for a costume party for adults and kids of all ages. Costumes are highly encouraged!
2:00 - 4:00 pm at West
Read to a Dog
A great way for children to practice oral fluency, spend time with a friendly dog, and have fun. Ages 5 to 12.
3:30 - 4:30 pm at North
3:30 - 4:30 pm at Claremont
Tai Chi
Low impact exercise for all knowledge levels and ages.
10:00 - 11:00 am at North
2:30 - 3:30 pm at Central
Sewing Machine Open Studio
Sewing machines available for your own project.
5:00 - 7:00 pm at North
Kidney Disease Presentation
Learn about what chronic kidney disease is and how to maintain kidney health from the UC Berkeley Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP).
4:00 - 5:00 pm at North
Registration required.
Cultivating Compassion in Difficult Times
Join speaker to discuss importance of compassion in difficult times.
Tuesday, October 27
6:00 - 7:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Community Resources
Social Services Drop-In
Join our Social Services Specialist for support on various services, including healthcare, housing, and employment.
Fridays
October 2 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, North
October 16 - 1:00 - 3:00 pm, West
October 23 - 1:00 - 3:00 pm, West
Mondays
10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Claremont
October Death Cafe
A group discussion "to increase awareness of death by helping people make the most of their (finite) lives."
2:00 - 4:00 pm at Central
Register to reserve your spot.
Eviction Defense Center
Need help with housing matters or facing eviction?
Thursday, October 8
10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Central
How Money Works
Learn how life insurance works.
Saturday, October 3
3:00 - 4:30 pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South
Technology Help
Drop-in to the Central Library for technical help with your own device or our computers. No appointment is needed.
Fridays
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesdays
Central (in-person), Virtual appointments can be scheduled online via Zoom.
Many library programs are funded by the generous support of the
Friends of the Berkeley Public Library .
Thank you, Friends!
Thank you Friends & Foundation!