Alameda Free Library Event Alert - August

Published on July 31, 2025

There are no Children’s programs during the month of August. Children’s programs resume on Tuesday, September 2^nd at all three locations.

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Adult and Teen Events:

• Tech Petting Zoo: Registration required (limited to 10 learners). Learn the basics of 3D modeling and printing in this hands-on workshop.  Submit your questions for the presenter ahead of time along with your registration - no question is too large or too small!

• Make It: Please join us for a fiber arts craft circle. All kinds of fiber artists are welcome. Please bring your own materials and expertise. Limited instruction available. It will be an afternoon of community building and crafting.

• Teen Book Club: Teen book club members choose what we read from a variety of titles and genres each month. Additionally, while supplies last, book club members receive a free copy of the book to keep. The August book is Snowglobe by Soyoung Park. All teens, ages 13 to 18, are invited to join the book group. The registration link is on the calendar. We will be meeting in person in the Stafford Room at the Main Library.

• Allons-y! French Conversation Circle: Join us on the second Friday of every month to practice your French conversation skills. This is a monthly series designed to increase your confidence in speaking French conversationally in your communities. All levels and dialects are welcome.

• Sound and Vision Series: Join us for dynamic, interactive programs featuring local artists and musicians! In this installment, we'll be doing intuitive drawing led by Anjelica Colliard aka Jellicore (all materials provided!), listening to a live set by Eli Wise aka Ghosts and Logic, and being treated to some bibliomancy c/o Kam (no registration necessary!)

• Tech Tuesdays: Join us on the third Tuesday of the month at the Bay Farm Island Library for small-group instruction on computers, tablets, smartphones and more! Registration required.  

• A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book Club: Wondering what to read next? Instead of a monthly book everyone reads, A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book Club will discuss what everyone is currently reading or has recently read that they enjoyed.  The August theme is Potluck (any book of your choosing). Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information.

• “No Feeling is Final” - Poetry Book Club & Community of Practice: Taken from Austrian poet Rainier Maria Rilke's The Book of Hours, "No feeling is final" is the name given to our poetry reading group and community of practice where participants are encouraged to move through life's variable rhythms with the help of a regular poetry practice. We encourage adults 18 and up to come build community through poetry in this monthly part-book club, part-workshop gathering. Read poetry, write to prompts, and welcome local poets to share their works-in-progress. Bound poetry zines featuring each month's poems will be available to pick at the West End Branch Library the week prior to the program, with additional copies available when we meet. All levels of experience reading and writing poetry are welcomed!

• The Reset: Charting Your Roadmap to Career Success: Join us on the fourth Friday of each month for a workforce development community of practice. New job, new you. Your next chapter starts right here in Alameda. Let us support you in taking that first step toward your future. You bring the hustle, we’ll bring the tools. From resumes to interviews, networking to job boards, we’ve got what you need to get hired. Because every great journey starts with a roadmap—come get yours. Any and all career stages welcome.

• Mystery Book Clubs: Join the Alameda Free Library’s Mystery Book Clubfor a fun and engaging literary discussion!  We are offering this popular book club in two different locations, the Main Library and the Bay Farm Island Library. The August mystery is Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.

• A Novel Idea: A Novel Idea is a book club for adults featuring novels from diverse genres and authors. The August selection is We Are a Haunting by Tyriek White. Join us for a lively discussion and deepen your engagement with your reading!

Event Descriptions – Special Adult/Teen Events: 

• AFL at Alameda Point Collaborative: The Alameda Free Library visits Alameda Point Collaborative, with our famous Book Bike in tow!

• Community Conversation: Join a community discussion to discuss the future of the Library.

• Online Author Talks: Register and add questions for the author, then tune in live or watch the event recording.

• Smithsonian Scientist Jay Falk: Delve into the fascinating world of birds through astonishing photography and clear explanations in this absorbing global guide, The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds.
• Casey McQuiston: Bring an appetite for sizzling drama as we discuss New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, The Pairing. When two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour, they challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not.
• Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich: Learn how to master the daily grind and become shatterproof in a tumultuous world with key insights by Dr. Tasha Eurich as she talks about her newest book, Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos (And why resilience alone isn’t enough). You’ll discover how to: reclaim your best self when stress turns you into someone you barely recognize; uncover the unmet needs that keep you stuck in self-limiting patterns; turn stress into strength, exhaustion into energy, and confusion into confidence.

• Author Talk – Brian Copeland: Please join us in welcoming author Brian Copeland back to the Library to read from his newest mystery thriller, Shadows of Justice. Brian will be interviewed by prolific local mystery writer Janet Dawson, who will also field audience questions in what is sure to be a delightfully chilling event.

• History of U.S. Immigration: Are you interested in learning about how immigration shaped our past and present? Join immigration and community worker/organizer Constanza Yanez to learn about the history of immigration the United States. We will also learn about current immigration policies and how we can support our immigrant neighbors. There will be Q & A discussion at the end of the presentation. The presentation will be an audiovisual presentation in English.

• Mini Trans Film Fest: In celebration of Trans History Month, the Alameda Free Library will be hosting local trans filmmakers for a day of shorts, home movies, and feature films! Please note that films may not be suitable for all audiences, and personal discretion is advised.

• Linux Installfest – Alameda: Got a spare computer or a non-working computer? Or has Microsoft told you that your computer is going to stop getting updates after October 14? You might be able to keep using it just as well or better. Linux is a free and open-source operating system that is widely used as the basis for other products (such as Android phones and many “smart” Internet devices). You can run Linux on a laptop or desktop computer for normal tasks such as video conferencing, making office documents, and anything you can do on the web. We will help you install Linux and provide help on some useful free applications.