Alameda Free Library Event Alert November 2024

Published on October 31, 2024

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Adult and Teen Events: 

• Dungeons & Dragons: Want to try Dungeons & Dragons but can’t find a group? Looking for a new party? Come to our Dungeons & Dragons Teen Meetup! No previous experience required. Character sheets will be provided as well as rules explanations and dice. Registration is encouraged; please see the online calendar for the registration link.

• Make It: Calling all knitters, crochetiers, embroidery enthusiasts, and fiber ateliers! Please join us in the Family Study Room at Main for a fiber arts craft circle. Please bring your own project, materials, and expertise. Limited instruction available!

• Teen Advisory Board (TAB): Do you wish the library would do more events and programs that you’re interested in? Have you been anxiously awaiting a new book and you want the library to buy it? Do you need an impressive membership to put on your applications and resumes? Join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) to let the library know what you’re interested in. The Teen Advisory Board is your chance to make a difference in the library for yourself and other teens in Alameda. Members of the Teen Advisory Board will help plan teen programs and choose teen events. Teen Advisory Board members will earn community service hours for every meeting and event that they participate in.

• 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 title we will discuss in November is Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. All teens, ages 13 to 18, are invited to join the book group. Registration link is on the calendar. We will be meeting in person in the Stafford Room at the Main Library.

• Alameda Library Writers’ Group: This group is open to all adult writers looking for an opportunity to connect and share with other writers. At the meeting you are welcome to share your writing and everyone will be given a writing prompt. Whatever your genre, you are welcome to join the group! Join in person or via Zoom.

• Alameda Great Books Discussion Group: Join us for a discussion of Conscience by Immanuel Kant.

• 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 November theme is Food. Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at llyndaw@gmail.com for more information.

• A Novel Idea: 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! The November book is Nuclear Family by Joseph Han. Book club copies are available for sign out at the Reference Desk at the Main Library. Additional copies are available in the Alameda Free Library collection and through LINK+. E-copies are available through Libby.

• Mystery Book Club: Join the Alameda Free Library’s Mystery Book Clubfor 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 November mystery is Shadow Hill by Thomas Kies.

• Movie Night: Please join us for Showing Up, an A24 production.  The story follows Lizzy, an introverted and introspective sculptor, who works tirelessly to prepare a new collection for an upcoming gallery show. As she strives to invest her creative energy into her art, she must continually work to manage the complex dynamics of her eclectic, melodramatic inner circle of family and friends. Starring Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, Andre Benjamin (Andree 3000), Todd-O-Phonic Todd, and Lauren Lakis.  Snacks will be provided!

Event Descriptions – Special Adult/Teen Events: 

• Doing Death Differently: This is a workshop series facilitated by Alameda-based death doula, Sarah Hill. For this session, Circle of Remembrance, Sarah will guide us in creating an open-hearted space for honoring those whom we've loved and lost. Everyone is invited to bring photos and/or objects of the person(s) or pets you'd like to honor.

• Alameda Free Library Blood Drive: 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. Please give blood if you can!

• Author Talk - Stan Bunger: Join us in the Stafford Meeting Room for a discussion of Stan’s latest book, Mornings with Madden, and grab a signed copy to take home with you! No registration required--see you there!

• Mystery Book Club - True Detective Stories: Have you ever wondered how accurate the methods and tools used by fictional detectives are? Join Lt. Brian Foster of the Alameda Police Department to learn how real life detectives solve crimes.

Event Descriptions – Ongoing Children’s/Family Events: 

• Bay Farm Island Branch:
  • Preschool Storytime: A 30-45 minute program geared toward children ages 3-5 years old. Creating a language-rich environment through books, music, and movement, this program also offers children an avenue toward Kindergarten readiness by asking them to take turns, share, and follow simple directions. Mondays at 10:30am, ages 3-5.
  • Family Storytime: Put on your pajamas and join us at the Bay Farm Island Library for family storytime! Geared for a mix of ages, we invite families to participate as we read stories, sing songs, do fingerplays and more. Every Tuesday at 7pm, all ages.
  • Toddler Storytime: 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. Thursdays at 10:30 AM.
  • Build with LEGO: We will provide the LEGO building blocks.  Use your imagination and creativity to create with them! New time! Every Thursday at 2:30 pm.

• Main Library, Children's Programming Room:

• Preschool Storytime: A 30-45 minute program geared toward children ages 3-5 years old. Creating a language-rich environment through books, music, and movement, this program also offers children an avenue toward Kindergarten readiness by asking them to take turns, share, and follow simple directions. Every Tuesday at 10:30am, ages 3-5.
• School-Age Storytime: A 45 minute program for children in Kindergarten through third grade. Through the use of books and conversation, children are encouraged to engage with the stories, learning context from pictures and memory, and building comprehension by asking questions about the book they just read. Every Wednesday at 3:30pm, grades K-3rd.
• 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. Every Thursday at 10:30am, ages 0-2.
• Toddler Storytime: 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. Every Friday & Saturday at 10:30am, ages 1-3.

• West End Branch:

• Family Storytime: Put on your pajamas and join us at the Bay Farm Island Library for family storytime! Geared for a mix of ages, we invite families to participate as we read stories, sing songs, do fingerplays and more.
• Toddler Storytime: 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. Every Tuesday at 10:30am, ages 1-3.

Event Descriptions - Special Children’s/Family Events:

• Police Storytime: Please join us for special storytimes at the branch libraries featuring a City of Alameda police officer! Children of all ages and their parents/caregivers are welcome.

• Science Wonders: Join the Science Wonders Workshop! This program is presented as a series of 3 weeks for 6-8 year old children.. Participants MUST attend all 3 dates. Registration is required.

• West End Library Musical Performance: Join us for a wonderful evening of music at the West End Library. We will be hosting a small group of local guitar students and their instructor who will be playing music from various composers.

• Family Movie Matinee - Despicable Me 4: What to expect during the Family Movie Matinee program? 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.

• Dinovember: It's Dinovember! Join us at the West End Library for a fun afternoon of dinosaur related crafts and activities. This is a drop-in program and is recommended for 4 - 8 year olds.

• Petit Picassos Art Camp: Kids in kindergarten through third grade are invited to attend this innovative camp! The theme is Fall into Fall and Ms. Stephanie will offer a diverse creative experience that includes crafting lessons, reading comprehension, and open-ended artful play sessions. This camp will take place in the Leydecker event room next to the Bay Farm Island Library. We encourage campers to wear old clothes since they will be using fabric paint for one of the projects. Space is limited! Please call the Bay Farm Island Library at (510) 747-7787 or ask at the Bay Farm Island Library service desk for more information or to sign up.

• Family Storytime with Author Sarah Collins-Bride: Join us for our Family Pajama Storytime at the West End Library. Author Sara Collins-Bride will be reading her book Caboodle the Cat: Moving to a New Home. Following the reading, Sara will be answering questions about Caboodle and her book. We will also be creating a special craft to take home.

• Firefighter Storytime: Join the West End Library for a special storytime! A member of the Alameda Fire Department will be joining us.