Library Happenings

December Event Highlights 

Super Cinema Series: "Joyful, Joyful, Joyful"

Saving Grace - Dec 5

The Holdovers - Dec 12

The Color Purple: The Musical - Dec 19 

Central
Thursdays

2:30 pm

Curator-Led Tour of Westward Bound Exhibit

Central
Sat, Dec 14

10:30pm

On the last day of this exhibit at the Central library, go on a live tour of the Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit by curator Vania Kinard and Grammy award winning musician, Dom Flemons.

The display cases feature prominent figures such as Bass Reeves and Bill Pickett, alongside the musical legacies of black country artists ranging from DeFord Bailey, Solomon Burke, and Linda Martell to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album. 

A Golden Girls Holiday Special: Screening, Snacks, Crafts & Trivia

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Thursday, Dec 12

4-7pm

Design Your Own Library Card

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Thurs, Dec 19

3pm

Come design your own library card with special guests: drummer Mr. Juan and your favorite online librarian, Mychal Threets. 

Plus, you can pick up the newly released limited edition library cards of either Mychal Threets or the Berkeley Public Library Story Time Band at the event too!

Welcome to Karamu: Prepare a Traditional Kwanzaa Meal

North
Fri, Dec 27

12pm

Do some cooking, take home a plate, and keep all the custom recipe cards for your next New Years Eve and Karamu party plans. Our chefs will walk you through some of the history and cultural significance of our ingredients and dishes while we prepare them.

Dog Man Afternoon

Tarea Hall Pittman South

Fri, Dec 27
3:30pm

Join us as we celebrate all things Dog Man. Howl with laughter as we make Dog Man crafts and make Dog Man buttons.  Eat some delicious kibble and play word games to test your knowledge of "The Bark Knight."

Noon Year's Eve Around the World Celebration for Ages 3-6

Central
Tues, Dec 31
11:30am 

There will be stories, songs, and a craft while we learn a little bit about New Year's Eve traditions from around the world before we countdown to 2025... somewhere on the planet! 

More Library Events 

Berkeley Record Club "Sweater Weather Music"  

Central
Tues, Dec 10

6pm

Get Creative at the Library!

Tweens & Teens

Teen & Tween Craft: Winter Solstice Lights in the Dark

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Dec 21

2pm

Kids & Family-friendly

There are many more library programs happening in December:

Free Tickets to the Deford Bailey Legacy Festival

Curated by Grammy® award-winning artist Dom Flemons, this 3-day festival includes talks, workshops, interviews, free community events, and evening concerts. Featuring Miko Marks, Corey Harris & Cedric Watson, Yasmin Williams, Leyla McCalla, Bobby Rush, Jerron Paxton, and Fantastic Negrito.

The Library has partnered with the Freight and can offer a limited amount of FREE tickets to this festival.

Please email hcummins@berkeleyca.gov with your name and which date (Dec 13, 14 or 15) you are interested in. Limit (2) per patron, please.

Authors Dinner: February 23, 2025

The Library Foundations hosts Berkeley’s favorite meet-the-authors gala on February 23, 2025. Tickets are available starting December 6 for a glittering reception and a dinner of gastronomic delights, alongside noted authors and celebrity hosts. Emcee Alexis Madrigal, host of KQED’s Forum, will guide the program, and former UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ is the evening’s Honorary Chair.

Among this year’s 22 honored authors:

• a Nobel laureate

• a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist

• a Jeopardy! champion

• two celebrated chefs

• two Emmy-winning journalists

• the author of what Vogue called “the sexiest novel of the year.”

• Plus, naturalists, storytellers, activists, scholars, and commentators on the wildly diverse world around us.

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

Thank you Foundation & Friends!

All Libraries are closed on December 24 & 25.  All Libraries close early at 6pm on December 31. Stream movies, read e-Books & magazines, listen to e-Audiobooks and music 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.