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All Alameda Free Library locations will be closed on
Monday, September 1st
in observance of the Labor Day Holiday
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SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
Join Us In Celebrating
National Hispanic Heritage Month
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AFL FRESH
@Main Library, Stafford Room @Biblioteca Principal, Sala Stafford
Hispanic Heritage Month ¡Lotería!
Sunday, September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 PM domingo, 21 de septiembre de 1-4pm
Join us on to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a game (or more) of Lotería! No experience required. We'll have prizes, Mexican candy, and conchitas. While supplies last.
Acompáñanos para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con un juego (o más) de Lotería! No se necesita experiencia! Tendremos premios, dulces mexicanos y conchitas. Disponibilidad limitada
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@Main Library, Stafford Room
Monday, September 22, 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Looking for a free and eco-friendly way to say goodbye to your old puzzles and get some new ones?
Join us for a community puzzle swap! How it works:
Puzzle(s) must have 150 pieces or more, be family friendly, and in good condition (no missing pieces or damaged puzzles, please). One-for-one exchange, up to five puzzles.
No early drop offs, please bring your puzzles on the day of the event!
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@Main Library, Stafford Room
Hispanic Heritage Month Screening "Gods of Mexico"
Tuesday, September 23, @5:30 PM
Join us for Part 1 of our pairing of contemporary documentary films for Hispanic Heritage Month. Brief discussions will follow both films.
In September, we will be screening Gods of Mexico (2022): With visually stunning landscapes and immersive sound, GODS OF MEXICO is a poetic survey of the vast landscapes and rich diversity of several communities of rural Mexico.
No registration required; please plan to arrive on time as the documentary will start promptly.
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STORYTIME SCHEDULE AT ALL LOCATIONS |
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MAIN LIBRARY, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ROOM
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BAY FARM ISLAND LIBRARY
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AC Transit bus service changes |
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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:
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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.
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Line 20. Renamed Line 30, but with no route changes.
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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.
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Lines OX and W. Line W will be rerouted to serve Bay Farm Island and will replace Transbay Line OX, which will be eliminated.
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@Bay Farm Island Library, Leydecker Event Ctr.
Saturday, September 6, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren through stories, crafts and collaborative work. Open to children ages 5 and up with a grandparent or a family member or friend who fills that role.
Space is limited and registration is required. Please call (510) 747-7787.
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@Bay Farm Island Library, Leydecker Event Ctr.
Saturday, September 13, 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Tutu School's Ballet Storytime is an interactive ballet that brings famous ballets to life for youth through storytelling and movement! Join us for this special Coppelia Ballet Story - focused on positive messaging, beautiful music, and lots of twirling!
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@Bay Farm Island Library
Thursday, September 18, 10:30 - 11:00 PM
Join us in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by participating in this engaging, bilingual music and movement program!
Designed for ages 0-5.
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@Main Library, Children's Program Room
Tuesday, September 23, 10:30 - 11:15 AM
Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special Spanish/English Bilingual storytime with Malinky Music! :::: ¡Acompáñanos para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con una hora especial de cuentos bilingües en español e inglés con Malinky Music!
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@West End Library
Tuesday, September 30, 10:30 - 11:15 AM
Join us for a Special Toddler Storytime where we will be joined by Natalia from Aguacate Music Kids! Natalia will be singing traditional Latin American songs to help us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Fun will be had by all!
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 CHILDREN MONTHLY EVENTS
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@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Sunday, September 14th, 2PM
Join us for a sensory-friendly, family focused movie matinee!
June selection: Minecraft
Rated PG for violence/action, language, suggestive/rude humor and some scary images.
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LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR TEENS & ADULTS |
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@Main Library, Children's Programming RM
Every Wednesday, 12:15 - 12:45 PM
Starting on: Wednesday, September 03, 12:15 - 12:45 PM
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.
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@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, September 27th, 2:00 PM
Please join us for a film screening and discussion of the film "Signing Black in America." The first documentary about Black American Sign Language. Just like spoken languages, sign languages have dialects. Black ASL is the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities.
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@West End Library
Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Fascinating Rhythm! Love Gershwin? Cole Porter? Join us at the West End Library for an evening of music that defined America during the first half of the 20th century. Rose Waldman (vocals) and Robby Stafford (vocals & keyboard) present a selection of beloved classic American standards.
Bring the family, sit back, relax and listen to this amazing performance
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Reviewed by: Kiana
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson follows 27-year-old Jet Mason, who thought she had time to figure life out—until a Halloween attack leaves her with a week to live. Determined to solve her own murder, she teams up with her childhood best friend, Billy, to uncover the truth. With complex characters, shocking twists, and deep emotional stakes, this fast-paced thriller blends suspense with themes of self-discovery. Jet’s calm exterior hides her inner uncertainty, making her journey all the more relatable. Perfect for fans of true crime, murder mysteries, and thrillers, this story is gripping, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
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Reviewed by: David
Lucky Loser by Michael Kosta
Lucky Loser is a biography and memoir by comedian Michael Kosta, known for The Daily Show. Before comedy, he was a world-class tennis player. The book reflects on how matches, travel, and personal experiences shaped his mindset and helped him transition to comedy. It's funny, informative, and feels more like chatting with a friend than reading a typical biography. Though not deeply philosophical, its humor, heart, and life lessons make it stand out. You don’t need to love tennis or comedy to enjoy it; Lucky Loser is a unique and captivating read about embracing unexpected paths.
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LIBRARY MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS & ADULTS |
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 Teens in the 7th-12th grades are invited to write book reviews for the library. Please visit the Teen Book Reviews Page for more information.
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 Tuesday, September 2nd, 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Are you a teen in 7th-12th grade? Do you want to share your interests and help with library projects? If yes, then why not join the Teen Advisory Group (TAG)? You can gain valuable experience and earn volunteer hours as a member.
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 TEEN & ADULT MONTHLY EVENTS
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@Main Library, Family Study Room
Tuesday, September 02, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, September 16, 4:30 - 6:00 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!
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Saturday, September 13, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
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.
I look forward to seeing you in person or on zoom!
Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84243653058?pwd=RHVMT3I0amZoRGJTOEFKd2FpVVVUZz09
Meeting ID: 842 4365 3058 ; Passcode: 816773
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@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!
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@Main Library, Computer lab
Saturday, September 6, 3:00 - 4:00 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.
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 @Main Library, Family Study Room
Fourth Friday of the month, 12:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Join us 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.
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@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Second Tuesday every other month, next:
Tuesday, September 9, 2:00 - 05:00 PM
To sign up please visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code ALAMEDALIBRARY
To save time while saving a life please fill out a Rapidpass. Learn more at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass
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@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Wednesday, September 3, 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: Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang
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Alameda Great Books Group. Main Library. Family Study Room. Second Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM. This month's pick: The Legacy of Zig by S. Scott.
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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.
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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: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
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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: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
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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: Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo. Join us for a lively discussion and deepen your engagement with your reading!
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“When I got my library card, that was when my life began.”
– Rita Mae Brown
“A library is a house of hope. It’s a place where we all, whatever our situation, can feed our ideas and develop our dreams.”
– Doug Wilhelm
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Recommended by: Oliver
I enjoyed What It Takes To Heal by Prentiss Hemphill.
It's full of perennial lessons for self-regulation and communal deepening through conflict and against oppression. I especially appreciated the wisdom on boundaries, which the author defines as "the distance at which I can love both you and myself simultaneously."
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Recommended by: Hannah
Ray Nayler's The Mountain in the Sea is an interesting and thought-provoking book, and I enjoyed reading it -- a near-future sci-fi, in equal parts about first contact with hyperintelligent octopi, the impact of humans and industry on the environment, and the nature of consciousness itself.
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Recommended by: Mia
I recently read Rental House by Weike Wang while on a long car ride. Told over a series of years through vacations and visits from the families-in-law, Wang adeptly and believably illustrates the complexities that come with a long-term relationship--all in about 200 pages!
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Recommended by: Sicilia
I recently read Stay and Fight by Madeline Ffitch. The book alternates narrators, cycling through the different members of a shared house in rural Appalachia. We watch the years pass as an unconventional group of partners and housemates raise a child together, and struggle to define and live out their values around class and parenting. My favorite chapters were those narrated by the group's young child, seeing how he makes sense of the world through 8-year-old eyes and the way his parent's ideals conflict with society at large
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Recommended by: Nico
I recently finished reading Dennis Cooper’s Closer.
An exploration of the vacuous intersection between suburban America and gay desire, Closer reads like a mesmerizing, droning pressure. The novel is organized by the presence of George Miles, a passive, dreamlike boy who is a source of lust and envy to everyone he comes across, each chapter changing our point of view character. Reader and cast alike drift between contradictions: each intimate encounter is carnal yet unrousing, grotesque yet phantasmagoric, physical yet distant. First in a cycle of books, Closer is a perfect introduction to a master of tone and transgression.
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Recommended by: Ken
Just finished V.E. Schwab's Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. It was fun!!
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence. Alice’s flashbacks to Catty are particularly moving, and subtly play off themes of grief and loneliness laid out in the historical timelines.
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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.
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