|
All Alameda Free Library locations will be closed on
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
in observance of New Year's Day
 All Alameda Free Library locations will be open from 2:30-6:00 pm on Tuesday, January 13 for staff development and training
 All Alameda Free Library locations will be closed on
Monday, January 19th
in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
|
|
AFL FRESH
@West End Library
Saturday, January 10, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Local artist Cristina Edwards will be leading participants on this journey of discovery for 2026. This workshop is designed for Teens and Adults.
Registration Required. You can register here or call the West End Library at 510-747-7726
|
@Bay Farm Island Library
Thursday, January 22, 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Learn about the history of writing to folks within the prison system and how you can get involved.
Adults and teens 18 years and up are welcome.
|
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Saturday, January 24, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Join us for a fun and eco-friendly Toy Swap.
Leading up to the event the Main Library will be collecting clean, gently used, re-giftable toys from January 11 to January 23. The library will not be accepting stuffed animals. There is a maximum of up to 2 donated toys per child. Families will receive a ticket for the event when they drop off the toys. Detailed info here.
|
|
|
STORYTIME SCHEDULE AT ALL LOCATIONS |
|
Regularly scheduled Storytimes are on hiatus at all locations. Storytimes will resume on Sunday, January 4th
Las horas de cuentos programadas regularmente están suspendidas en todas las ubicaciones. Se reanudarán el domingo 4 de enero.
|
|
MAIN LIBRARY, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ROOM
|
|
@Bay Farm Island Library
Saturday, January 03, 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Join us to listen to stories about sending letters, then stay to make and mail a postcard! All ages are welcome at this special family storytime.
|
|
|
@West End Library
First Saturday of the month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Love Chess? Join us, beginning January 3rd. Boards will be provided, however, there will be no instruction. Pre-registration not required.
(Lookout for the Kids Chess club on the 3rd Saturday of each month.)
|
|
|
@Main Library
NEW! Each week we will be leading a different S.T.E.A.M focused program for ages 8+ focusing on topics like Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Find out more about the activities planned.
Activities start at 4pm and registration is required! Please contact Children's at the Main Library via phone or email to register: (510) 747-7705 | ChildRef@alamedaca.gov
|
|
|
@Bay Farm Island Library
Thursday, January 08, 3:30 - 5:00 PM
4th though 8th graders, meet at the Bay Farm Island Library on the first Thursday of every month to create works of art! Participants in our January meeting will celebrate BFI's Snail Mail Month by creating mail and discovering what can be sent with just a stamp! Special guest, mail artist Hanne, will lead this session.
Space is limited and registration is required. Please register online or call the Bay Farm Island Library at (510) 747-7787.
|
|
|
@West End Library
Wednesday, January 14, 2:00 PM
Hey Tweens! We have a fun workshop for you to join. Come to the West End Library and decorate a canvas bag to take home. This program is geared towards kids ages 8-12. We will provide all the materials. This program requires pre-registration and spots are limited. You can register here or call us at 510-747-7767 to reserve your spot.
|
|
|
@West End Library
Third Saturday of the month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Join us at the West End Library for drop-in Chess Club for Kids (8+) No instruction provided. Just bring yourself; boards and pieces will be available.
|
|
|
@Main Library, Conference Room 224
Saturday, January 17, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
As a companion to our Tech Petting Zoo series, patrons ages 7 and up are encouraged to share and advance their learning of 3D modeling techniques in community. We will begin by progressing through the basic lessons available through Tinkercad, the free app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. Registration is required (here), and bringing your own device is preferred.
This program takes place on the second floor also accessible by elevator.
|
|
|
@West End Library
Saturday, January 31, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Coding with LEGO returns to the West End Library! Families, join us at the West End Library. Each family or small group will build and use block-based coding to create a fantastic LEGO project. This event is geared towards beginners ages 6-11. Remember families who code together, have fun together.
Registration Required. You can register here or call the West End Library at 510-747-7726
|
|
|
MONTHLY EVENTS :: CHILDREN
|
|
 |
|
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Sunday, January 11th, 2PM
Join us for a sensory-friendly, family focused movie matinee!
January selection: The Bad Guys 2
Rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language.
|
|
|
LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR TEENS & ADULTS |
|
@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Thursday, January 08, 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM
Join us for Resolve to Create, our annual vision boarding event for adults. A vision board is a physical representation of one's goals for the year, often created with collage materials or other craft supplies. Scissors, foam board, magazines, and more will be provided. Registration for this program is encouraged!
|
|
|
|
@Main Library, Conference Room 224
Saturday, January 17, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
As a companion to our Tech Petting Zoo series, patrons ages 7 and up are encouraged to share and advance their learning of 3D modeling techniques in community. We will begin by progressing through the basic lessons available through Tinkercad, the free app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. Registration is required (here), and bringing your own device is preferred.
This program takes place on the second floor also accessible by elevator.
|
|
|
MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS ONLY |
|
 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.
|
|
Reviewed by: Kiana
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber is about Holland St. James, who takes Folklore 517, where her mysterious professor tells strange stories. Everyone thinks they are fiction except Holland, who believes magic is real. Her belief is proven when the Watch Man tells her she’ll die tomorrow unless she finds the Alchemical Heart. Thrown into a hidden magical side of Los Angeles, she follows clues with a peculiar stranger. This book was interesting enough, nicely interwoven, complex, dark, addictive, and captivating, though I expected more from the magic system and wished it were faster paced. I would recommend it.
|
Reviewed by: Andy
A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch
A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch is a nonfiction book that educates readers about poisonous plants, the science of how they work, their history, and their stories. It guides the reader through deadly plants, explaining how they affect humans, their dangers, and their cure. I really enjoyed this book, as I was intrigued by poisonous plants, fascinating defenses, pictures, illustrations, and captivating stories, even the frightening ones. I appreciate the narrative nonfiction style. I would recommend this book to any reader interested in nature, scary tales, and exotic plants.
|
|
|
 Tuesday, January 06, 04:30 - 05:30 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.
|
|
MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS & ADULTS |
|
@Main Library, Children's Programming RM
Every Wednesday, 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.
|
|
|
@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Tuesday, January 6, 4:00 - 5:30 PM Tuesday, January 20, 4:00 - 5:30 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!
|
|
|
 |
|
@ Bay Farm Island Library
Third Tuesday of the month, 1:00 AM - 2:00 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, Large Group Study Room
Friday, January 9, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Join us on the second Friday of every month at 3pm to practice your French conversation skills. This is a monthly series designed to increase your confidence in speaking French conversationally in your communities. All dialects welcome. À bientôt!
|
Saturday, January 10, 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
|
|
|
@Main Library, Conference Room 224
Saturday, January 3, 2:00 PM - 3:00 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.
This program takes place on the second floor also accessible by elevator.
|
|
|
 |
|
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Wednesday, January 7, 12:00 - 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
|
|
|
@Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room
Wednesday, January 7, 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: No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
|
|
|
-
A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book. Bay Farm Branch. Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00PM. This month's theme: debut authors, indie books, or authors new to you. Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information.
-
Main Library Mystery Book Club. Fourth Monday of the month 4:30 to 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey.
-
Bay Farm Mystery Book Club. Fourth Tuesday of the month 4:30 to 5:30PM. Copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. This month's pick: The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey.
-
A Novel Idea. Main Library, Large Group Study Room. Fourth Sunday of the month, 3:00 - 4:30PM. 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! This month's pick: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. A few complimentary copies of each book are available at the Main Library Reference Desk the day after each meeting and through LINK+.
-
No feeling is Final. West End Library. Third Thursday of the month at 3:30PM. 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
|
|
|
Enjoy over 5,000 popular eMagazine titles for all ages. Libby titles are compatible with most devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and Kindles. Use the Libby app to start reading magazines with no wait and no limits.
|
|
Recommended by: Hannah
I really enjoyed A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon, translated from Korean by Anton Hur. The cover initially drew me in, but the story itself is deep and engaging, and it uses the lens of magical girl manga to look at issues like violence against women, labor rights, and climate change. It was witty, whimsical, and a bit sardonic, and I would recommend it!
|
|
|
Recommended by: Ken
I finally read The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow (not in time to vote for in for the Goodreads contest). Imagine a knightess, a Brienne of Tarth Like character who's unstoppable in battle, and then imagine being the main character scribe, who's a cowardly traitor whose job is to chronicle her legend, and lead her to the death that would turn her into a martyr for the country. And maybe he loves her, I don't know. It's a fun Harrow take on Arthurian legends.
|
|
|
Recommended by: Lauren
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman is arguably the most important book I've ever read in my life. Despite what it sounds like, it's not a time management method. It serves as a reminder that life is finite, and that making the most of it involves identifying your values and prioritizing those values in your decisions of how you spend your time. It's the kind of book that I feel like I'll reread several times in my life to try to keep the ideals fresh.
|
|
|
Recommended by: Mia
I recently finished Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. So many philosophical reflections and emotions were packed into such a small book (179 pages!) about the demands of family life and art, that it felt like I had read a much longer tome--but in a good way!
|
|
|
Recommended by: Jena
I just started Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. It is a deep dive into how language shapes American cults from Glossier to Jones town. It is a fascinating look at language and how it influences us.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
