Special Events

Adult Events:

- Spark Joy: Make Tidying a Special Event – Online: KonMari Gold consultant Shannon Honeycutt will be bringing the life-changing magic of tidying to you through her Spark Joy ® program. You will learn the KonMari ® philosophy and guiding principles needed to tidy once and for all and you will leave feeling motivated to Spark Joy ® in your home, office, and life! There will be a special giveaway at the end of the presentation, as well as an opportunity for you to ask Shannon some questions. Please have a standard t-shirt and a pair of pants for the folding activity, as you will be learning the famous KonMari® Vertical folding technique. One more surprise: Shannon is sharing her Spark Joy® Charlotte tidying checklist for you to use on your tidying journey! Registration for this program is required. Please register here: https://bit.ly/3Bnaj9b

- October Movie Night: Join us for a viewing of Warm Bodies (2013) PG-13. Who says romance is dead? After a zombie epidemic, R (a zombie) rescues Julie (a human survivor) from a zombie attack. The two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human - setting off a chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.  This movie has a great soundtrack!

Teen Events:

- College Admissions 101: College Admissions 101 will cover everything you need to know to be ready to apply to the right colleges for you!  Join us once a month to learn how to research colleges and scholarships; what goes into a good admissions essay; and how to complete your college applications (Common App, UC/CSU). Workshops are led by Sharon Cravanas who has been a College Counselor for 40 years.  Former Director of College Counseling at Head Royce School and KIPP King Collegiate High School, Sharon has also been a consultant for the College Board, and taught classes for the UC Extension College and Career Certificate program.

Family Events:

- Lotería!: Join us at the Main Library to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Lotería! We will have prizes and some complementary treats while supplies last. ¡Acompáñanos sábado, el 8 de octubre de 1-3pm en la Main Library para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con el juego de Lotería! Tendremos premios y unos postres mientras duren las reservas.

- Spooky Night: Fun for the whole family! Join us for spooky crafts and games.  Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Event descriptions – ongoing events: 

- Award Winner Book Club: Join us for an engaging literary discussion! Our featured book in October is Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu, winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Print, e-book, and e-audiobook copies are available in our Alameda Free Library collection and print copies through our LINK+ library partners. A limited number of free copies provided by the Friends of the Alameda Library will also be available in October at the reference desk of the Main Library. Register here: https://alamedaca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EmFbEMm7SDS1p8iEKiVlTw

- Teen Advisory Board: 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 plan be involved in planning 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 and every book club member gets a free copy of the book to keep. The title we will be discussing in October is A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, edited by Elsie Chapman and Ellen Oh. 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. Masks are strongly encouraged.  

- Lawyers in the Library: The Lawyers in the Library program provides free 15 minute consultations by phone with a volunteer attorney who will provide guidance on legal matters. Examples of areas covered include landlord/tenant disputes, probate matters, employment problems and other general consumer issues. Please see online calendar for registration form and instructions.

- 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 zoom 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!

- Alameda Great Books Discussion Group:  Join us for the 2022-2023 discussion series. Alameda Great Books is free and open to the public. October’s selection is The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.

- Women Returners Workgroup: Are you seeking to return to the workforce after a break? Offered in partnership with Women Back to Work and SJPL Works, the Women Returners Workgroup features job search experts to teach and guide you during each session. Join the Women Returners Workgroup to jumpstart your job search, build your confidence, strengthen your existing skills for meaningful employment, and create momentum by collaborating with other woman returners. The October topic is Personality and Skills. This is a multiple session workshop that will take place on a Wednesday once a month until February 2023. Each session will explore a different topic and have exercises that will help you in your resume and job search. You don't have to attend every session in order to participate.

- Game Break: Don’t forget to take a break…A GAME BREAK! Try out our new games and/or watch others play. No registration needed, masks strongly encouraged. Teens only!

- 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! We will be playing a stand-alone adventure in 5th edition. No previous experience required. Character sheets will be provided as well as rules explanations and dice.

- 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 read recently that they enjoyed. This is a fun and informal way to get some recommendations and give some too. The October theme is Spooky and encompasses a wide range of genres: humorous or gentle ghost stories, mysteries, horror, and nonfiction works. Please email the facilitator, Lynda, at [email protected] for more information.

- Mystery Book Club: Join the Alameda Free Library’s Mystery Book Club for a fun and engaging literary discussion!  We are offering this popular book club in two different locations, the West End Library and the Bay Farm Island Library. The October mystery is Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day. Copies are available in our Alameda Free Library collection and through our LINK+ library partners. A limited number of free copies provided by the Friends of the Alameda Free Library will also be available soon at the Main Library.   

Download and share the press release here.