Library Happenings

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June Event Highlights

Summer Reading 2025

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!

Author Visit: Dennis McNally


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. 

Exploring the Wisdom of Jane Austen's Novels 

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

Berkeley Juneteenth Presentation

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.  

8 week Series: Beginning Mandarin for Adults

(Registration Required)

North
Thursdays

4 pm

Register

Historical Black Sacramento Street


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.

Author Talk: Caro De Robertis in Conversation with Kate Schatz


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. 

Juneteenth Family Brunch


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.

Dungeons & Dragons Celebration

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.

Chiura Obata: Renowned Artist Talk

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

Guided Meditation
Teens & Adults


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, June 3 & June 10

6 pm

Talk with a Teen Therapist


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Wed, June 4

3:30 pm

Foraging Seaweed


North
Wed, June 4

6 pm

Workshop: The Weight Stigma Convo Doesn't Have to Be Scary

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.

Ocean Clay Creations

Children & Teens


West
Sat, June 7
11:30 am

Mini Makers Fair

Inspired by Children's Books


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 7
2-5 pm

Cunamacue: Afro-Peruvian Family Dance Class


West
Tues, June 10

4 pm

Local Music Live in the Library


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

LGBTQ+ Theater Games


West
Thurs, June 12
4 pm

Pride After Dark: A Celebration of House Music & Queer Vibes


West
Thurs, June 12
5:30-7:30 pm

The Finnish History of West Berkeley


West
Sat, June 14

2 pm

Bike Camping


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 14
1 pm

Zine & Comics Making Workshop Series


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.

Outdoor Family Pride Fest


North
Sat, June 21

2 pm

Queer Trivia with Phoebe Cakes


Tarea Hall Pittmans South
Sat, June 21

4 pm

Non-Violent Communication (NVC) Workshop Series

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.


For more event info,
book recommendations and other fun things...

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Berkeley, California 94704
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