Upcoming Author Events and Book Clubs

EVENTS ONLINE CATALOG LIBRARIES

June Author Events

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

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. 

Author Talk: Shoshana von Blanckensee


North
Thurs, June 26

6:30 pm

Von Blanckensee will be in conversation with Toni Mirosevich to discuss her vibrant, queer coming-of-age debut Girls Girls Girls, a tender story of first love filled with 90’s nostalgia and a piercing exploration of the choices we make in the thrilling search for ourselves and home.

June Book Clubs

Berkeley & Portland LGBTQIA+ Book Club

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Virtual
Sat, June 14

11 am

Leamos autoras
Club de lectura en español

Aves sin nido - Clorinda Matto de Turner

Presencial @Central
Fri, June 13

4:30 pm


Zoom
Fri, June 27
4:30pm

BPL Book Club

The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma


Virtual
Tues, June 24

2 pm

Mystery Book Club

Choose any book by Agatha Christie


West
Tues, June 24

4 pm

Modern Romance Book Club

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston


North
Tues, June 24

5 pm

Repulsive Reads

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu


North
Thurs, June 26

5 pm

Kindergarten-5th grade: Black Girl Reading Circles 


Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, June 28

2 pm

Middle school student mentors from Black Girls United will share the joy of reading and activities for kids in kindergarten to 5th grade. Black Girls United is focused on targeting the reading deficits of black girls by connecting girls to the joy of reading, building community, and dreaming big together.

There are many more library programs happening in June:

Event Calendar

Summer Reading Fun

Sign up from June 5 - August 9 to 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!

Foundation Fundraiser

Get ready for a joyful celebration of stories, music, and movement featuring beloved Bay Area musicians, The Story Time Band, Asheba, & Mariela’s Music Time.

Perfect for families, this event combines music and imagination, promising a heartwarming experience for all ages—a special benefit concert for local public libraries sponsored by the Berkeley Public Library Foundation.


DATE & TIME: June 21, 2025, 10:00 am


LOCATION: The Freight, 2020 Addison, Berkeley, CA


TICKET DETAILS: $20 per person, 12 months and under free! Advance purchase required, limited availability at the door. 

Buy Tickets

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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