Library Happenings

Get Ready, Berkeley — Comic Con is Back for the 3rd Epic Year!

Calling all comic fans, artists, readers, and dreamers -Comic Con is back and bigger than ever!

On Saturday, November 8, the Library hosts its third annual Comic Con, an all-day, all-ages celebration of comics, graphic novels, art, and storytelling at the Central Library (2090 Kittredge at Shattuck) in Downtown Berkeley.

From panels and cosplay to hands-on workshops and a vendor hall, this free community event promises inspiration and fun for fans of every age.

This year’s lineup features award-winning authors, illustrators, and local creators who bring truth, humor, and adventure to the comics page.

Guests include:

Sara Alfageeh | Wahab Algarmi | Kiara Brinkman | Sean Chiki | Angela Dalton | Hugh D’Andrade | Shani Ealey | Jessica Fong | Laura Gao | Mel Gillman | Diego Gomez | Dr. Rebecca Hall | Morgan Hampton | Chinaka Hodge | Maia Kobabe | Isabella Kung | Briana Loewinsohn | Katie Longua | Jon Macy | Lee Marrs | Thien Pham | Rita Sapunor | Jason Shiga | Dean Stuart | Mychal Threets | Dimitrea Tokunbo | Booki Vivat | Julia Wertz | Gaia WXYZ | East Bay BIPOC Cartoonists

PLUS

More than 30 artists and creators will be vending!

Urbanrezlife's Solo Show

The Berkeley Public Library welcomes Kris Urbanrezlife Longoria’s first solo show, thoughts of a large red woman: chapter one: interactions, on display at the Central library from November 1 – December 6, 2025.

Opening reception with the artist: Monday, November 10th, 5pm, Central 

Artist talk: Saturday, November 15, 3pm, Tarea Hall Pittman South

The exhibit at Central includes Urbanrezlife's art exhibited on Alcatraz from 2019-2025 which has been seen by over five million visitors as well as art pieces created exculsively for the library.

Central's 1st Ever Chess Tournament

Central's 1st Ever Chess Tournament!

Saturday, November 15th

Youth & Young Teens: 11am-1:30pm

Adults: 2-5:30pm

More November Event Highlights

How Rabbit Stole Fire + Coast Miwok Stories: Storytelling by Alicia Retes

West
Sat, Nov 15

11 am

There are many more library programs happening in November:

Know Your Rights / Conozca Sus Derechos

Know your rights! There are protections and rights that everyone in the United States share, regardless of immigration status. Plus, there are organizations and programs that can help with the citizenship process.  Visit the Library's website for more information.

Siéntase libre de imprimir este folleto: Conozca sus derechos si aparece ICE PDF.  Se puede doblar al tamaño de 2.75 x 4.25 pulgadas, con un resultado final de un minilibro de 8 páginas. Si desea algunos ya impresos y doblados, pase por la Biblioteca Central o llame al 510-981-6100.

From the Berkeley History Room @ Central

One might not notice today, but Berkeley’s history is replete with airplanes and air travel.

As early as 1908, the inventor J.A. Morrell launched a 450-foot-long, hotdog-shaped craft over the skies of Berkeley High School.  The idea was to inaugurate city-to-city air travel from the tops of buildings with a gas-filled “ship” (later it might be termed a blimp). Together the device and 15 men went up to about 100 feet, when it started to fall apart.  What was left – and the crew – plummeted down to an assembled (and now panicked!) crowd around Kittredge and Milvia Streets.  In the commotion, injuries prevailed but no one died; yet a small girl was hit by a car.

Then twenty years later – as airplanes began to dominate venturous minds - Berkeley built a 20-acre airfield where Gilman and 2^nd street once met.  This was briefly in operation – although mostly for emergency landings.  Unceremoniously, once the Bay Bridge was constructed in the late ‘30s, a freeway replaced it.

Still, various plans for airfields were put forth by filling in parts of the Bay just off the coast of Berkeley in the 1940s and ‘50s.  None of these plans, however, ever materialized.

Finally, “Hiller-copters,” named after Berkeley inventor Stanley Hiller, were made here in the 1940s. Then in the 1960s the San Francisco Airport began running helicopter shuttle service between Berkeley and SFO, until a land dispute with the Santa Fe railroad put an end to it in 1973.

The Berkeley History Room at Central is open Wednesdays from 10am-1pm, and by appointment: libraryhistoryroom@berkeleyca.gov.

Your history awaits!

Pardon Our Dust

Part of the 4th floor of the Central Library is under construction.

A beautiful new Story Time Room will open next year!

Holiday Reminders

All Libraries are closed on Tuesday, November 11 for Veterans' Day.

All Libraries will close early at 6pm on Wednesday, November 26 and will be closed on Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28 for Thanksgiving. 

eBooks, eAudiobooks, newspapers, music, movies & more available 24/7 at berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Thank you!

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

Thank you, Foundation & Friends!