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 Logo of the Alameda Free Library. Image Text: Alameda Free LIbrary - Between the lines -
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If you need accessibility accommodations to participate, or information translated or in other formats, please contact ada@alamedaca.gov or fill out our ADA Request Form at least seven (7) working days before any event listed. |
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AFL FRESH
@Main Library, outdoor courtyard
Saturday, August 1st, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Bring one, take one!
Drop-in at the Main library's outdoor courtyard for a Summer Plant Swap. Bring healthy plants, cuttings, seedlings or bulbs that you’d like to share, and pick up something new to take home. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a lover of house plants, come connect with fellow plant enthusiasts and grow your garden or plant collection in a fun, sustainable way.
Please label and place plants in secure, travel‑safe containers (unless they are already potted).
Please make sure all plants you'd like to share are pest and disease-free.
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@Bay Farm Island Library
Saturday, August 22, 2:30 - 4:30PM
Join us at Bay Farm Island Library in the Leydecker Room next door on for an Adult Movie Matinee! Movie will be announced soon. Visit Bay Farm Island Library during the first few weeks of August to vote on movie choice! During Adult Movie Matinee screenings, we aim to create a sensory-friendly environment by keeping half the room lights on, maintaining a reasonable volume, turning on movie captions, and offering fidget toys to use during the movie.
Audience members are welcome to bring in food, blankets, and pillows! We provide light refreshments and snacks during the movie screening.
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@Main Library, Stafford Room
Saturday, August 22, 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Try your hand at drawing from life at this monthly, drop-in event. Each month's event will feature individual poses, paired poses, or a mixture of both. All poses will be clothed. Please bring your own materials (sketchpad, charcoal, easel, paints) as we will have only a limited number to donate during the program.
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@Bay Farm Island Library
Saturday, August 29, 12:00 - 2:00PM
Join us for a Craft Supply Swap at the Bay Farm Island Library! Bring your gently used art and craft supplies and leave with some new-to-you materials. Participants are also welcome to bring a mug and join us for tea! Please note that this is an adult program for ages 18+. Additionally, due to our limited space, we will not be able to accept donations prior to the event.
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& STORYTIME AT ALL LOCATIONS
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Children's programs are on hiatus at all locations from Saturday, August 1st to Monday, September 7th Children's programming will resume on Tuesday, September 8th
Los programas infantiles estarán en pausa en todas las ubicaciones desde el sabado 1 de agosto hasta el lunes 7 de septiembre. La programación infantil se reanudará el martes 8 de septiembre.
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Love the Alameda Free Library? So do we! Friends of the Alameda Free Library (FAL) is a nonprofit volunteer group dedicated to supporting the library, and their monthly newsletter is the best way to stay in the loop on news, events, and ways to get involved.
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LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR TEENS & ADULTS |
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@Bay Farm Island Library
Tuesday, August 11, 10:30AM - 12:00PM
Do you enjoy crocheting? And are you interested in a fun way to capture all the books you read in a given period of time? The premise is using the colors in a book cover to create each square.
Basic crocheting skills are required. Limited instruction will be provided and limited supplies of yarn and hooks are also available. You are welcome to bring your own supplies and/or other crochet projects in progress.
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@West End Library
Thursday, August 20, 4:00PM
Are you looking to make new friends? Join us at the West End Library for a fun interactive event, where you will meet new people and hopefully make new friends. Speed friending events will be hosted on the fourth Thursday of the month (every month) and will be separated by age range. This event will be for people who are between 35(ish) and 45(ish). First come, first seated, only 24 spots available. Registration is highly encouraged by emailing to WEBREF@alamedaca.gov. Bring along fast facts and interesting questions to dive deep into the handful of moments provided with each participant. Sheets of interesting questions and ideas will be available for participants.
Hope to see you there! Herbal Tea will be available.
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MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS ONLY |
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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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Reviewed by: Alivia
You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao
You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao is a wonderful, heartfelt romance novel with a splash of astronomy and some science fiction. Oliver lost his best friend, texts his old phone number, and connects with Ben. Their friendship turns into something more. Although the novel begins a bit sad, I could not put down the book. Ben is funny, supportive, and a great partner. Overall, I would give You’ve Found Oliver five out of five stars and definitely recommend this novel.
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Reviewed by: Diya
Age 16 by Rosena Fung
The graphic novel, Age 16, written by Rosena Fung, is a story about Roz, her mom Lydia, and grandmother Mei Laan, navigating life at 16 through different struggles. The story portrays generational trauma, beauty standards, and family relationships. Fung does a great job showing each character’s emotions and motivations. My favorite character was Aunt Ping because she helped Lydia feel loved. I would definitely recommend this book because of how nicely the story is written.
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MONTHLY EVENTS :: TEENS & ADULTS |
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@Main Library Café
Saturday, August 22,11AM-12PM
Please join us in the Main Library Cafe for a discussion of articles and short fiction from The New Yorker magazine. No need to book through the Library website -registration is handled at this link: New Yorker Short Stories by Alameda Readers Group | Eventbrite
The stories for each meeting are from recent past issues and are listed at the registration link. Haven't had a chance to read before the gathering? Come early and read them - we will have copies available!
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@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.
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@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
First & Third Tuesday of the month, 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. No registration is required for this program, though space is limited to 12 participants in-person.
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@Main Library, Conference Room 224
First & Third Saturday of the month 2:00 to 3:00PM
Learn the process of designing and executing a 3D print from start to finish! For patrons ages 7 and up. We will cover: using TinkerCAD for 3D design; preparing 3D files in OrcaSlicer for export; and printing using a Prusa Mini 3D printer.
Registration is required! Please contact Adult/Teen Services at the Main Library to register: (510) 747-7713 | RefDesk@alamedaca.gov
This program takes place on the second floor also accessible by elevator.
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@Main Library, Conference Room 224
First Tuesday of the month, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Please join us for presentations, discussions, and valuation of rare coins. No registration is required for this program, though space is limited to 12 participants in-person. There is also the option to participate virtually via Zoom.
Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83607021976
Meeting ID: 836 0702 1976 ; Passcode: 028681
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@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Second Saturday of the month, 10:30 AM -12:30 PM
Come learn the basics of sewing from local makers Gaby and Cynthia. Work progressively on the same project month to month, or make a new sewing project every session! We will provide materials, instruction sheets as appropriate, and know-how to get you started.
No previous experience is required - please come ready to learn! This program is designed for adults ages 18 and up.
Registration is required! Please contact the Adult/Teen Services Department at the Main Library via phone or email to register: (510) 747-7713 | RefDesk@alamedaca.gov
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@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Second Friday of the month, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Join us on the second Friday of every month at 12pm 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!
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@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Second Saturday of the month, 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, Large Group Study Room
Wednesday, August 19, @ 4:30 PM
Practice genuine connection through playful exercises. No performance pressure—just building the confidence and skills to show up and spark connection in our everyday unscripted lives. Learn to navigate awkward moments, meet new people with ease, and trust yourself when there's no script. Free and open to ages 13+.
Facilitated by Claire Slattery, founder + creator of Alameda's Improv Central. Registration required.
To register click on Book Now at the top of the Event calendar entry or go to the page bottom section titled Book Online (Registration) follow the prompt.
For more information about this program, please email us at RefDesk@alamedaca.gov.
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@Main Library, Large Group Study Room
Adult/Teen Literacy
Friday, August 21, 12:00PM
Join us to practice your English conversation skills. This is a monthly series designed to increase your confidence in speaking English conversationally in your communities. No registration is required for this program. All levels and dialects welcome. See you there!
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Teen Book Club. Main Library, Conf. Room 224
Wednesday, August 5th, 4:00 - 4:40 PM
August Read: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
While supplies last, free copies are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. To join, please register.
Note: Some of our book selections may explore heavier topics and themes. We encourage teens and their grown-ups to decide together if a book feels like the right fit.
Questions? Email Aireana at amcdade@alamedaca.gov
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 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: The August theme is Islands. This program takes place at the Islandia Clubhouse, 1138 Island Drive, Alameda. Questions? Please contact the moderator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com, or the Bay Farm Island Library at: (510) 747-7787 | BFIref@alamedaca.gov.
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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: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. Registration is NOT required! Questions? Please contact the Adult/Teen Services Department at the Main Library via phone or email (510) 747-7713 | RefDesk@alamedaca.gov
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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: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. Space is limited and registration IS REQUIRED! Please contact the Bay Farm Island Library via phone or email to register: (510) 747-7787 | BFIref@alamedaca.gov
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If you need accessibility accommodations to participate, or information translated or in other formats, please contact ada@alamedaca.gov or fill out our ADA Request Form at least seven (7) working days before any event listed. |
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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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