Alameda Free Library Event Alert - October 2024

Published on October 01, 2024

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Adult and Teen Events: 

●Make It: Calling all knitters, crochetiers, embroidery enthusiasts, and fiber ateliers! Please join us in the Family Study Room at Main for a fiber arts craft circle. Please bring your own project, materials, and expertise. Limited instruction available!

Event Descriptions – Special Adult/Teen Events: 

●College 101 - Navigating the College Experience: Presented by Study Smart Tutors, join us for a session focused on helping you understand the college experience! We will discuss first-year experiences, financial aid, and ways in which a student's family can assist in navigating their college journey. This program is for teens in the 9th -12th grade and their families. Registration is required due to limited space availability.

●Mug Swap: Do you have a lot of mugs? Do you enjoy collecting new ones (even though you might have too many in your kitchen already)? Bring your extra mugs (limit 4 please) to the library starting October 2nd and receive a ticket and then swap with your neighbors’ mugs on October 9th. Free take-home tea on the day of the swap while supplies last! Any leftover mugs will be donated.

●Doing Death Differently:Join us for an evening of inquiry into the one life event that awaits us al hosted by Alameda-based death doula, Sarah Hill. From pragmatic preparations to pondering the mystery, Sarah will gently guide us through these essential conversations: The Three Guideposts to Advance Planning; How and Where to Begin; Tips for Starting Today.

●Costume Exchange: Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Costume Swap at the library! Starting October 1st, bring your gently used costumes and accessories to any library location and exchange them for a ticket for entry to the Costume Swap. Costume collection will run from October 1st through October 19th. 

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Children’s/Family Events: 

Bay Farm Island Branch:

○Preschool Storytime: A 30-45 minute program geared toward children ages 3-5 years old. Creating a language-rich environment through books, music, and movement, this program also offers children an avenue toward Kindergarten readiness by asking them to take turns, share, and follow simple directions. Mondays at 10:30am, ages 3-5.

○Family Storytime: Put on your pajamas and join us at the Bay Farm Island Library for family storytime! Geared for a mix of ages, we invite families to participate as we read stories, sing songs, do fingerplays and more. Every Tuesday at 7pm, all ages.

○Toddler Storytime: A 20-30 minute program that uses stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 1-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourages families to build social connections with other parents and children. Thursdays at 10:30 AM.

○Build with LEGO: We will provide the LEGO building blocks.  Use your imagination and creativity to create with them! New time! Every Thursday at 2:30 pm.

West End Branch:

○Family Storytime: Put on your pajamas and join us at the Bay Farm Island Library for family storytime! Geared for a mix of ages, we invite families to participate as we read stories, sing songs, do fingerplays and more.

○Toddler Storytime: A 20-30 minute program that uses stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 1-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourages families to build social connections with other parents and children. Every Tuesday at 10:30am, ages 1-3.

Event Descriptions - Special Children’s/Family Events:

●Spanish/English Bilingual Storytime - hora de cuentos para niños pequeños: Hora de cuento presentado en Español e Inglés. Storytime presented in Spanish and English.

●       Local Author Visit with Amber Menjivar: Join us for a reading of the book Small Heart, Big Beats with author Amber Menjivar. After listening to the book, you can participate in a take home bracelet activity.

●Big Truck Bonanza: It's back! Big Truck Bonanza, the library's touch-a-truck event, will be held in the City Hall parking lot! Meet trucks from various City departments, like Alameda Police, Alameda Fire, and Alameda Municipal Power. It's going to be BIG! The City Hall parking lot is located directly across the street from the Main Library at 1550 Oak St. Call 510-747-7705 for more information.

●Family Movie Matinee - Kung Fu Panda 4: What to expect during the Family Movie Matinee program? During movie showings we aim to create a sensory-friendly environment by keeping half the room lights on, lowering the volume, turning on movie captions, offering fidget toys to use during the movie, and leaving open seating with wobble cushions so kids have room to move around. Audience participants are welcome to bring in food, blankets, and pillows! We provide light refreshments and snacks during the movie screening.

●Spooky Stuffy Sleepover: How spooky is the library after the lights are turned out at night? Send your favorite stuffed animals to our Spooky Stuffy Sleepover at the Bay Farm Island Library and they will find out! Drop off your stuffy anytime during open hours on Tuesday, October 15th. Spooky stuffy costumes are welcome but optional!  Pick up your stuffy anytime during open hours the next day, Wednesday, October 16th.

●Skull Detectives - Whose Skull Is This?: Come unleash your inner archaeologist with East Bay Regional Parks. We will be learning about basic skull anatomy and discover which animal it belongs to!

●MOCHA - Hispanic Heritage Art Activity: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a related art activity led by teaching artists from MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art). REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call 510-747-7705 or email childref@alamedaca.gov for more information or to register for the program.

●Tagalog/English Bilingual Storytime - This event is bilingual and will feature songs, stories, and crafts celebrating Filipino cultures featuring the Kababayan Kids.

●Science Wonders Workshop: This program consists of two 3 week series for different age groups. The first series is for children ages 9-11 yrs. Participants MUST attend all 3 dates. Questions? Please contact the Main Library Children's Desk (510) 747-7705 or email us at childref@alamedaca.gov.

●Costume Exchange: Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Costume Swap at the library! Starting October 1st, bring your gently used costumes and accessories to any library location and exchange them for a ticket for entry to the Costume Swap. Costume collection will run from October 1st through October 19th. 

●Spooky Crafternoon: Join us for a fun afternoon of slightly spooky crafting! This is a drop in program, recommended for children age 4 and up.

●Tween Crafternoon: Kids ages 9 to 11, get crafty at the Main Library on the fourth Thursday of every month!Tween Crafternoon is a free, drop-in program where kids in 4th through 6th grades can unwind, unplug, create, craft and socialize. Join us as we demonstrate and provide supplies for a different STREAM centered activity each time we meet, or bring your own project to work on in a shared space. Like to journal? Find inspiration from our community craft cart. No registration required.

●Play-Doh Playtime: Join us at the West End Library for Play-Doh Playtime, where kids can squish, sculpt, and be as creative as they like! Recommended for children ages 2+ and their caregivers.

●Teen Advisory Board (TAB): Do you wish the library would do more events and programs that you’re interested in? Have you been anxiously awaiting a new book and you want the library to buy it? Do you need an impressive membership to put on your applications and resumes? Join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) to let the library know what you’re interested in. The Teen Advisory Board is your chance to make a difference in the library for yourself and other teens in Alameda. Members of the Teen Advisory Board will help plan teen programs and choose teen events. Teen Advisory Board members will earn community service hours for every meeting and event that they participate in.

●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 title we will discuss in October is Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine. All teens, ages 13 to 18, are invited to join the book group. Registration link is on the calendar. We will be meeting in person in the Stafford Room at the Main Library.

●Dungeons & Dragons: Want to try Dungeons & Dragons but can’t find a group? Looking for a new party? Come to our Dungeons & Dragons Teen Meetup! No previous experience required. Character sheets will be provided as well as rules explanations and dice. Registration is encouraged; please see the online calendar for the registration link.

●Alameda Great Books Discussion Group: Join us for a discussion of Othello by Shakespeare.

●Alameda Library Writers’ Group: This group is open to all adult writers looking for an opportunity to connect and share with other writers. At the meeting you are welcome to share your writing and everyone will be given a writing prompt. Whatever your genre, you are welcome to join the group! Join in person or via Zoom.

●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 October theme is Banned Books . Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information.

●A Novel Idea: A Novel Idea is a book club for adults featuring novels from diverse genres and authors. Join us for a lively discussion and deepen your engagement with your reading! The October book is Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. Book club copies are available for sign out at the Reference Desk at the Main Library. Additional copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. E-copies are available through Libby.

●Mystery Book Club: 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 October  mystery is Runner by Tracy Clark.

●Movie Night: Please join us for a screening of American Fiction (2023, Rated R). A novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain. Snacks will be provided.

Main Library, Children's Programming Room:

○Preschool Storytime: A 30-45 minute program geared toward children ages 3-5 years old. Creating a language-rich environment through books, music, and movement, this program also offers children an avenue toward Kindergarten readiness by asking them to take turns, share, and follow simple directions. Every Tuesday at 10:30am, ages 3-5.

○School-Age Storytime: A 45 minute program for children in Kindergarten through third grade. Through the use of books and conversation, children are encouraged to engage with the stories, learning context from pictures and memory, and building comprehension by asking questions about the book they just read. Every Wednesday at 3:30pm, grades K-3rd.

○Mother Goose on the Loose: This fast paced lap-sit program for little ones and their caregivers includes songs, nursery rhymes, knee-bounces, and movement to help develop important pre-literacy skills. This class is appropriate for infants through 2 years old. This program starts promptly at 10:30am. Latecomers may not be admitted. Every Thursday at 10:30am, ages 0-2.

○Toddler Storytime: A 20-30 minute program that uses stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 1-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourages families to build social connections with other parents and children. Every Friday & Saturday at 10:30am, ages 1-3.

• MOCHA - Hispanic Heritage Art Activity: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a related art activity led by teaching artists from MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art). REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call 510-747-7705 or email childref@alamedaca.gov for more information or to register for the program.

●       ¡Lotería! Join us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with ¡Lotería! We'll have prizes, Mexican candy, and conchitas while supplies last. ¡Acompáñanos domingo para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con el juego de Lotería! Tendremos premios, dulces mexicanos y conchitas. Disponibilidad limitada.

●Ballet Storytime with Tutu School Alameda: Join Miss Avala and Tutu School Alameda for a special storytime! We'll read ballet stories, practice twirling, and best of all, wands will be provided. This program will be held in the Leydecker Event Center next door to the Bay Farm Island Branch Library.