Alameda Free Library Event Alert - October 2025

Published on September 24, 2025

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Adult and Teen Events:   

Grown Folks Storytime: Try a different pace of life with our new weekly storytime for adults! Bring your lunch to the Children's Programming Room of the Main Library on Wednesday afternoons for a half-hour of short stories, picture books, and other tales curated by our expert librarians. 

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 October book is The Bridge by Bill Konigsburg. 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. 

Make It – Keep Calm and Carry Yarn: 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 Advisory Group: Are you a teen in 7th–12th grade looking to share your ideas, help with library projects, and earn volunteer hours? Join our Teen Advisory Group (TAG)! Registration is required. 

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.  

Alameda Library Writers Group: Come prepared for a short intro, including: your name, why you write, what you write (genre(s)), what you're working on now or most recently. And then let's get to it! I will provide 5 short prompts for your choosing for those of you that like warming up or prefer to start with some inspiration for writing short stories and such. 

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 Democracy (any genre). Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information. 

No Feeling Is Final – Poetry Book Club and Community of 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. 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 Club for 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 September selection is Past Lying by Val McDermid. 

A Novel Idea:  A Novel Idea is a book club for adults featuring novels from diverse genres and authors.  The October selection is The Farm by Joanne Ramos. Join us for a lively discussion and deepen your engagement with your reading!  

Event Descriptions – Special Adult/Teen Events:   

Spotlight on Filipino American History Month 2025: Throughout the month of October, Filipino American library patrons and residents of Alameda are invited to share their stories of growing up in the community, building organizations and businesses on the island, and carrying their families' legacies forward by recording short video interviews. 

Hispanic Heritage Month: 

Online Author Talk with Adrian Aldaba and Emily Key - Join us in conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss Nuestra América and highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history, as well as their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States. 

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

(Hispanic Heritage Month) Adrian Aldaba and Emily Key - join us in conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss Nuestra América and highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history, as well as their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States. 

Leigh Bardugo: Join us as we pick the brain of the New York Times bestselling author herself, celebrating the release of her Six of Crows (The Dregs Edition). 

Philippa Gregory: Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor (forthcoming October 14, 2025).   

Teen Craft Supply Swap: Bring lightly used craft supplies to share and leave with new-to-you materials! All teens are welcome! Donations will only be accepted by swap participants on the day of the event. 

Henna Art Workshop for Teens: Join us as local Oakland artist Rachel Palacios speaks about the art of henna and practice making your own designs. You will also receive your own henna tattoo design from Rachel. Registration is required due to limited space availability (25 spots available). Spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Teen Fake Cake Photo Frames with GoGo Craft: Teens, decorate a photo frame that looks good enough to eat with fake cake supplies, sprinkles, and colorful slime charms. Registration is required due to limited space (15 spots available). Spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration opens October 1, 2025—please check back then to sign 

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Weekly Children's Events:   

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. 

Baby and Me: This 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. 

Toddler - 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. 

Toddler Plus - Toddler Plus Storytime is a 20-30 minute program using stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 2-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourage families to build social connections with other parents and children. Toddler Plus Storytime is a bit longer and more complex than what is typically presented during Toddler Storytime and is perfect for children about to enter preschool. 

Family Storytime - Geared for a mix of ages, we invite families to participate as we read stories, sing songs, do fingerplays and more.  

New Book Storytime:  A 20-30 minute storytime for children in Kindergarten through third grade featuring picture books new to our collection.   

Build with LEGO - We will provide the LEGO building blocks.  Use your imagination and creativity to create with them!   

Event Descriptions – Special Children’s and Family Events:   

Youth Art Club: NEW! 4th though 8th graders, meet at the Bay Farm Island Library on the first Thursday of every month to create works of art! Our October meeting focuses on zines. 

Filipino American History Month:  

Barangay Dance Company and Free Halo Halo: Join us for Philippine folk dance and music presented by Barangay Dance Company of San Francisco. After the performance, enjoy a free serving of Halo Halo catered by The Sarap Shop (while supplies last). 

Kababayan Kids Storytimes: Join us for a bilingual celebration of Filipino culture featuring songs, stories and crafts. 

Banned Books Week 2025:  

Banned Books Storytimes - Celebrate the freedom to read by joining us for special storytimes featuring challenged or banned books. Designed for children one to three years old and their caregivers, but all are welcome! You may be surprised to learn which beloved classics and treasured recent publications have been challenged. 

Hispanic Heritage Month: 

Cunamacué: This engaging interactive performance invites audiences of all ages to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of Afro-Peruvian culture, where they can experience unique rhythms, instruments, and dances such as Zamacueca, Zapateo, and Festejo. 

Spanish Bilingual ToddlerStorytime: Acompáñanos en la Biblioteca West End para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con una hora de cuentos bilingüe especial para niños pequeños. Esta hora de cuentos se presentará en español e inglés. Join the West End Library in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special Bilingual Storytime for toddlers. This storytime will be presented in Spanish and English. 

Family Movie Matinee: Enjoy Lilo and Stitch (PG). 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. 

East Bay Vivarium Traveling Reptile Show: Get ready to be surprised, delighted, and amazed! Meet up to 20 amazing creatures in this exciting, safe program! All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.