Berkeley Public Library

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Read to a Dog gives kids a patient, judgment free listener to practice reading out loud. Every session is 20 minutes wit...
09/01/2026

Read to a Dog gives kids a patient, judgment free listener to practice reading out loud. Every session is 20 minutes with a gentle, certified therapy dog from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. No pressure, no correcting, just a kid, a book, and a very good dog.

• September 17, September 24, and October 1
• 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• North Branch, Meeting Room, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley

This program is for children ages 5 to 12. To sign up, please call (510) 981-6250 or visit North Branch.

Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) is an international registry of certified therapy dog teams. ATD provides testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with their dogs in animal-assisted activities. ATD’s objective is to form a network of caring individuals and their special dogs are willing to share smiles and joy with people, young and old alike.

08/29/2026

Thank you, Dolly!

Berkeley Public Library children's librarians (and Storytime Band celebrity Mr. Tim) honored literacy champion Dolly Parton with a special song during storytime.

(Adapted from Sesame Street “Polly Darton Sings 1 to 5” (from Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5))

Visit your local library to learn more about literacy resources!

Puppets that sing, dance, and dazzle, live at Berkeley Public Library.Bob Baker Marionettes is bringing a full variety s...
08/28/2026

Puppets that sing, dance, and dazzle, live at Berkeley Public Library.

Bob Baker Marionettes is bringing a full variety show to the library, and it is for kids, adults, and everyone who loves puppets.

• Monday, August 31
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
• North Branch lawn, 1170 The Alameda,

Bring a blanket or mat to sit on. After the show, stick around to ask questions about puppetry and meet a few of the marionettes in person.

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About Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Established in 1963, Bob Baker Marionette Theater has served over one million children with original shows ranging from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to a musical journey through the history of Los Angeles. Named an official Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2009, it is one of the longest-running puppetry theaters in the United States.

We're excited to host a conversation with chef and mixologist Nelson German , and culinary anthropologist and chef André...
08/27/2026

We're excited to host a conversation with chef and mixologist Nelson German , and culinary anthropologist and chef Andréa Lawson Gray to celebrate their new book Caribbean Cocktails: Drinks and Bites from the Afro-Latino Diaspora.

There will be a sampling of small-bites and a non-alcoholic beverage. Book sales and signings available at the event via Omnivore Books.

• Saturday, August 29
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Central, 2nd Floor, Mystery Room

About the Book:

For Afro-Dominican chef Nelson German, drinks and food are about connection—whether it's sharing stories over cocktails on a stoop in Washington Heights or gathering with friends under the warm, buzzy lights of his restaurants. In Caribbean Cocktails, he brings the rich culinary history of the Afro-Latino diaspora straight to your home bar and kitchen, blending tradition, personal storytelling, and modern mixology.

About the Authors:

Nelson German is the Dominican American chef-owner behind Oakland's alaMar Kitchen & Bar, the Afro-Latin cocktail lounge Sobre Mesa, and Meski, a soulful Afro-Latin brunch and dinner destination in San Francisco. A Top Chef Season 18 contestant and one of Plate's “2020 Chefs to Watch,” Nelson's unorthodox culinary style blends his Dominican heritage, African roots, and Mediterranean and Asian influences with a deep love of local, sustainable California ingredients. His work has been featured in the New York Times, SF Chronicle, Ebony, Forbes, KQED, KRON, and more.

Andréa Lawson Gray is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author who has shared the richness of Latino culture, history, and cuisine through her cookbooks, Convivir and Celebraciones Mexicanas.

Do you have good quality craft supplies you know you won't use? And also want to try out a new craft?Then you should com...
08/26/2026

Do you have good quality craft supplies you know you won't use? And also want to try out a new craft?

Then you should come to our Craft Supplies Swap on Saturday, August 29, from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at West Branch, 1125 University Ave.

You can drop off your craft supply donations this week or the day of the event at West Branch. Crafting supplies includes paper crafts, scrapbooking materials, fabric, yarn, painting and drawing Items, etc. For more information, visit the link in our bio or bit.ly/4qEcCOi

Publicado en mayo de 2025, "El buen mal" es el cuarto libro de cuentos de la autora argentina Samanta Scheweblin. Conoci...
08/26/2026

Publicado en mayo de 2025, "El buen mal" es el cuarto libro de cuentos de la autora argentina Samanta Scheweblin. Conocida por su estilo de "terror", en su nueva colección de relatos Samanta Schweblin explora las "condiciones fundamentales de la vida" (wikipedia, 2026).

NEW! Storytime with Spanish! ¡Hora de cuentos con español!Need a Sprinkle of Spanish in your life? Then come to the newl...
08/25/2026

NEW! Storytime with Spanish!
¡Hora de cuentos con español!

Need a Sprinkle of Spanish in your life? Then come to the newly launched weekly Sprinkle of Spanish / Un poquito de español Storytime for fun stories and songs. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers are all welcome.

• Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
• A Stay-n-Play will follow at 11:00 AM
• Central Library, 4th Floor

¿Necesitas un poco de español en tu vida? Vengan al recién lanzado Sprinkle of Spanish / Un poquito de español hora de cuentos en el Central Children's Room.

¡Todos los miércoles!
Únase para oír cuentos y canciones divertidas.
Bebés, pequeños y niños preescolares y sus cuidadores son bienvenidos.

Miércoles a las 10:30 AM
Después de nuestro programa de cantar, quédense y compartan juguetes con otros niños a las 11 AM.

Summer Reading 2026 has come to an end! Here's the final count: almost 3,000 readers joined in, including over 1,800 kid...
08/22/2026

Summer Reading 2026 has come to an end!

Here's the final count: almost 3,000 readers joined in, including over 1,800 kids. Together we read 839 books and logged over 1.2 million minutes of reading. Wow! 🥳

Swipe through to find your kid's leaf on the finisher walls at every location.

Kids who finished the challenge are entered in our finisher prize draw. We will contact winners directly, so check your inbox soon.

Thank you for reading with us this summer. And stick around, Summer Reading 2027 already has a theme, "Reading Expands Our Universe."

Here is a sneak peek of the tattoos and coloring pages designed by the Old Crow Tattoo artists for our special Tattoo St...
08/20/2026

Here is a sneak peek of the tattoos and coloring pages designed by the Old Crow Tattoo artists for our special Tattoo Storytime for Kids!

Join us this Saturday, August 22 at 11:30 am at Central Library, 4th floor to listen to children's books about tattoos, ask real tattoo artists questions, color a tattoo design coloring page, and get your very own (temporary) tattoo. For kids of all ages.

This event is part of the Books Are Open exhibit and program series. See you there!

08/20/2026

This video is whisper quiet. But let's be real, the actual event will not be.

• Saturday, August 22
• 1:00 to 4:00 pm
• Central Library, Mystery Room

Free as always. Open to all skill levels. No library card needed.

We'll have 8 tables total. Two mahjong coaches will be onsite for 2 to 4 of those tables, teaching beginners, answering questions, and helping players build confidence. The remaining tables are open play for more experienced players.

In collaboration with 13 Orphans Lounge.

Address

2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, CA
94704

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

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