|
Coming Soon!
Library Card Design Contest 2025 begins September 2nd.
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month and to celebrate we are launching a library card design contest! Pick up a paper Library Card Design Contest Form at any of our three library locations. Submissions will be accepted in person from September 2nd to September 30th.
Contest is open to Alameda residents only.
|
|
STORYTIME SCHEDULE AT ALL LOCATIONS |
|
Storytimes are on hiatus at all locations from
Friday, August 1st to Monday, September 1st
Storytimes will resume on Tuesday, September 2
Las horas de cuentos estarán en pausa en todas las ubicaciones desde
El viernes 1 de agosto hasta el lunes 1 de septiembre
Las horas de cuentos se reanudarán el martes 2 de septiembre
|
|
Children's programs are on hiatus at all locations from
Friday, August 1st to Monday, September 1st
Children's programming will resume on Tuesday, September 2
Los programas infantiles estarán en pausa en todas las ubicaciones desde
El viernes 1 de agosto hasta el lunes 1 de septiembre
La programación infantil se reanudará el martes 2 de septiembre.
|
|
AC Transit bus service changes to begin August 1
|
|
|
After two years of planning and outreach, AC Transit will implement a new bus service network starting on August 10, 2025, with several changes to Alameda service. There are no changes to Alameda’s trunk line, 51A.
Major changes in Alameda include:
-
Line 19. This hourly service will be extended to serve Alameda Point in a loop that brings bus service to Willie Stargell Ave and Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway.
-
Line 20. Renamed Line 30, but with no route changes.
-
Line 21. Renamed/replaced by Line 31and will no longer serve the Oakland Airport due to very low ridership (it will still serve the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal). It will now provide direct service to Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park.
-
Lines OX and W. Line W will be rerouted to serve Bay Farm Island and will replace Transbay Line OX, which will be eliminated.
|
|
LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR TEENS & ADULTS |
|
Thank you for taking the time to complete the Library’s survey last month. We received more than 1,200 responses and the information you shared will inform the future direction of the library. The number of responses alone is a strong signal of your connection to and support for the Library. We look forward to sharing our new five-year strategic plan when it is finalized.
Michael Eitner, Director
|
|
Sound & Vision
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, August 09, 02:00 - 04:00 PM
In this installment of the Sound & Vision series showcasing local artists, 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!
|
|
|
Author Talk with Brian Copeland
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, August 16, 02:00 PM
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 Immigration in the U.S.
How did immigration shape our past and how does affect our present?
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Monday, August 18, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
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.
Please contact refdesk@alamedaca.gov for any questions.
|
|
|
Transgender History Month
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, August 23,12:00 - 05:00 PM
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! Filmmakers will be present to screen their works and chat with audiences about their processes and the importance of film as a medium to bring trans experiences into public awareness.
Please note that films may not be suitable for all audiences, and personal discretion is advised.
|
|
|
Open-source Systems
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, August 30, 10:00 - 05:00 PM
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).
What to bring
|
|
|
Reviewed by: Eleanor
What Comes After by Katie Bayerl
What Comes After follows teenager Mari in her journey after death when she is met with a limited amount of time to reconcile with her mother in the afterlife before her eternal existence is spent in desolation. Mari and her also recently deceased mother find themselves in the place where those with no religious beliefs gather to complete their unfinished business. This book was intriguing, and I enjoyed Mari as a character. I would recommend this book, especially to fans of shows like The Good Place or School Spirits.
|
Reviewed by: Mikaela
The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie
The Only Girl in Town is a young adult mystery novel. The book begins as the main character, July Fielding, is brought to the realization that she has suddenly become the only girl in town. This book switches between telling the story of then and now, revealing both the past and present timelines. Personally, I really liked this book, especially as I got further into it. I enjoyed trying to decipher the clues alongside the main character. I would recommend this book because it is a very exciting read, conveying many realistic emotions through July’s struggles
|
|
|
LIBRARY MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS & ADULTS |
|
@Main Library, Computer lab
Saturday, August 02, 2025 | 03:00 - 04:00 PM
Learn the basics of 3D modeling and printing in this hands-on workshop. Ages 7 and up. Limit 10 learners. Registration only at this time.
|
|
|
@Main Library, Family Study Room
Tuesday, August 05, 2025 | 04:30 - 06:00 PM
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 04:30 - 06:00 PM
Please join us at the Main Branch in the Family Study Room for a fiber arts craft circle. All kinds of fiber artists welcome. Please bring your own materials and expertise.
Limited instruction available. It will be an afternoon of community building and crafting. See you there!
|
|
|
@Main Library, Family Study Room
Second Friday of the month @3pm
Join us to practice your French conversation skills!
This is a monthly series designed to increase your confidence in speaking French conversationally in your communities. No registration necessary.
All dialects welcome. À bientôt!
|
|
|
 |
|
@Bay Farm Island
Third Tuesday of the month, 1:00 - 03:00 PM
Join us at the Bay Farm Island Library at 1pm for small-group instruction on computers, tablets, smartphones and more!
Registration required.
|
|
|
@Main Library, Family Study Room
Fourth Friday of the month, 12:30 - 02:00 PM
Join us in the Main Library Family Study Room at 12:30pm 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.
|
|
 
 |
|
@Main Library,Stafford Meeting Room
Wednesday, August 06, 4:00 - 4:40 PM
Teens, join our Teen Book Club!
Each month, members get to pick the book we read from our Young Adult (YA) collection. While supplies last, free copies are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
To join, please register.
Next up: Snowglobe by Soyoung Park
|
|
|
 ADULT BOOK CLUBS
|
|
-
A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book. Bay Farm Branch. Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00PM. This month's theme: Potluck - any book of your choice. Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information.
-
Main Library Mystery Book Club. Fourth Monday of the month at 6:00pm. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
-
Bay Farm Mystery Book Club. Fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
-
A Novel Idea. Main Library. Last Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: We Are a Haunting by Tyriek White. Join us for a lively discussion and deepen your engagement with your reading!
-
No feeling is Final. West End Library. Third Wednesday of the month at 3:00PM. 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!
“Go to limits of your longing: let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” - RMR
|
|
|
HARBOR BAY ISLE TURNS 50ish
In celebration of the 50ish anniversary of the Community of Harbor Bay Isle, the Main Library has installed an exhibit showing the rise of Harbor Bay Isle on Bay Farm from 1972 until 1993. The display, located on the second floor, includes photos, news articles and a history timeline. The development was a partnership of Harbor Bay Isle Associates, Doric Development Inc. and Utah International. After a 1972 plan was rejected as being too dense a new plan for only 3200 homes was submitted and approved in 1973. Besides the homes, the plan included space for parks, recreation facilities, a branch library, lagoon and shoreline paths, a shopping center and a business park. Schools and churches were later added. The first owners moved into their Baywood homes in 1978.
The Community of Harbor Bay Isle Owners Association is planning a big celebration Aug 2, 12-4pm in Leydecker Park featuring music, family activities, food and beer garden and a maker’s fair.
The event is free and open to the public.
|
|
Recommended by: Micaela
The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
It is a YA Afrofantasy/romance that takes place within the Raybearer's universe. The novel is lush with inclusive representation (the main character is Black, has vitiligo, and is physically disabled; there is a lesbian couple with whom she is great friends) and is a class-conscious/anti-capitalist story for the ages. The romance between the titular maid and crocodile is also very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer's "These Old Shades."
|
|
|
Recommended by: Oliver
The God of the Woods, Liz Moore
It took me on a ride. A summer camp mystery with twists to rival Christie and knowing prose to compare with Celeste Ng, this book had me staying up past my bedtime to get to each new revelation. Highly recommended for those who like stories with multiple POVs, with a huge caveat that the story contains implications of violence towards children. Now having read this book, I'm especially excited to check out Moore's breakout novel Long Bright River next.
|
|
|
Recommended by: Das
Still getting interesting book insights reading the Annotated Alice. The Annotated Alice (1960) is with Gardner’s latest discoveries, offering both ardent fans of Carroll’s work and newcomers a chance to read the texts in the light of Gardner’s labors. The result is rather like sitting in on the creation of a work of art
|
|
|
Recommended by: Hannah
The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
This is one of the best books I've read all year. It's a sharp and insightful collection of short stories that will stay with you long after you finish the last one. Even in the format of short fiction, all the characters jump off the pages and you live their stories and situations alongside them. Highly recommend this one!!
|
|
|
Recommended by: Nico
Systems Ultra by Georgina Voss
From drab electronics expos in Las Vegas, to German automobile factories, to machine construction in San Francisco, Voss works through the elements of technological systems. Musing on aspects like "scale" or "matter" by chapter, each peak into airplanes or payment processors contains both a swift historical overview and Voss’ own experiential narration. Light and interesting, Systems Ultra trains readers to inspect and interrogate the many systems we encounter every day.
|
|
|
 |
|
Recommended by: Mia
I'm rereading the graphic novel series Giant Days! It's about the lives and shenanigans of three university students who, though they couldn't be more different, become fast friends while living in the same residence hall during their first year.
|
|
|
Recommended by: Ken
True Biz by Sara Nović
I appreciate the insight into deaf culture. The author of America Is Immigrants (2019) and Girl at War (2015) goes deep into Deaf culture. True biz is an expression in American Sign Language that has a variety of English translations—“for sure,” “seriously,” “no joke,” and “totally” among them. By using this phrase as her title, the author is underscoring the point that ASL is not just English rendered in hand gestures.
|
|
|
This was a long list!
Thank you for supporting your library with your readership and attendance to events. Please let us know how we are doing.
We listen!!
Looking for more recommendations?
Check out these book lists created by AFL librarians.
|
|
|
|
|
