Take the Summer Reading Challenge

Through August 2

Register online or download the Beanstack app to take the Summer Reading Challenge! Kids, teens, and adults can sign up to log their reading and win fabulous prizes. It's easy! Sign up below or download Beanstack Tracker.

Fayeth Gardens Juneteenth Griot Storytime

Tuesday, June 17, 11:45 a.m., Downtown Library

Using the African Griot tradition, where older people keep the stories and relate the teachings of good thought and action to children, Goe will talk about how Juneteenth came to be and what it means to be one of the people affected by it.

This special interactive Juneteenth program will be presented by Velda Goe of Fayeth Gardens.

This is a free program for children and families in partnership with the California State Library's Lunch at the Library program.

EarthCapades

Wednesday, June 18, 12:30 p.m., Downtown Library

EarthCapades provides inspirational and engaging environmental edutainment programs to cultivate a healthy, thriving ecosystem for all. Through highly-skilled and captivating theatrics, circus, music, and technology, EarthCapades inspires audiences to experience a joyful connection with the Earth!

This is a free program for children and families in partnership with the California State Library's Lunch at the Library program.

Puppet Art Theater: The Three Little Pigs

Saturday, June 21, 1:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Three pigs strike out on their own looking to have fun and adventures. But first, they must build houses for themselves. Straw, sticks, bricks, and a huffing and puffing Big Bad Wolf add up to hilarity and mayhem in this adaptation of the classic story, “The Three Little Pigs.”

This is a free event for families. No registration required. 

Joe's Honey

Monday, June 23, 12:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Join the Joe's Honey family as they talk about bees and honey! Joe’s Honey is a four-generation-strong family owned and run company in Hayward started in 2008 by Poppa Joe and Mario, who learned beekeeping from their fathers in Mexico, where bees were an important part of their work as subsistence farmers.

This is a free program for children and families in partnership with the California State Library's Lunch at the Library program.

JAMaROO Kids Music & Movement

Wednesday, June 25, 12:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Come clap your hands, stomp your feet, and shake your hips to the rhythm and the beat! In the JAMaROO Kids Music & Movement classes, we’ll sing traditional songs and learn original ones too. This one is all about healthy eating and healthy habits.

This is a free program for children and families in partnership with the California State Library's Lunch at the Library program.

Opera at the Plaza: First Act Family Workshop

Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 1:30 p.m., Heritage Plaza

Taking your family to Bohème Out of the Box? Show up half an hour early for a family workshop! 

Families with young children are invited to participate in a free First Act Family Workshop 30-minute interactive event at 1:30 p.m., just before showtime. Bring along a favorite stuffed animal friend and dance to “Musetta’s Waltz,” one of the most famous melodies in all of opera, as you explore Puccini’s La Bohème and get to know the passionate artists in the story.

Learn about Bohème Out of the Box here!

Lunch at the Library

Various dates; see schedule for details

Free lunch, books and more for kids! All kids under 18 are welcome to participate. Lunch and activities are free.

No sign-up, application, income verification, or identification needed. Meals are served to all children on a first come, first served basis.

Lunch at the Library is provided in partnership with Hayward Public Library, California State Library, Hayward Unified School District, and Lunch at the Library, through the USDA Food Service Program.

Summer Storytime Schedule

Our summer storytime schedule is here! Tap the "Schedule" button to see when to bring your little ones for stories, songs, and fun!

HPL Recommends: Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday's name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of the words "June" and "nineteenth", referring to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Check out our reading list:

Teen Tuesday: Game Day

Tuesday, June 17, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us this summer for Teen Tuesdays! Every Tuesday we'll be offering a fun, free activity in the Teen Room (Downtown Library, 2nd Floor) for teens ages 13 to 17. 

This week's Teen Tuesday is Game Day! Drop by to play Nintendo Switch games on the big screen or try out a board game or tabletop game. 

Teen Tuesday: Tiny Art

Tuesday, June 24, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us this summer for Teen Tuesdays! Every Tuesday we'll be offering a fun, free activity in the Teen Room (Downtown Library, 2nd Floor) for teens ages 13 to 17. 

What can you make on a tiny canvas? Drop in to paint your own masterpiece that’ll fit in the palm of your hand! All supplies provided.

Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Teens in grades 7-12 can volunteer at the library year-round! Depending on the time of year, we take applications for Summer Reading Challenge helpers or Children's Room helpers, and teens can always join the Teen Advisory Group or write book reviews for volunteer credit.

HPL Recommends: Trans Representation in Teen Fiction

"Trans people intimately understand why representation matters. Representation can make us feel seen or help us see ourselves; representation shows us we aren’t alone, that we belong to a larger history and community, that there is a place for us in the world. Representation can also help others see us differently, and hopefully, embrace us in our complexity." - Ray Stoeve, Autostraddle

The library will be CLOSED on Thursday, June 19th, for Juneteenth

But you can use our online resources 24/7/365! Download an ebook or audiobook; stream a movie; learn a new language or how to repair your car; get help with homework or research. All you need is a Hayward library card!

Got bored kids?

We can help! Use your Hayward Library card and Discover & Go to get free and discount tickets to tons of Bay Area attractions including the California Academy of Sciences, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, and more! Check it out:

Curbie is Coming

Lots of times and places! Check our schedule.

Our bookmobile, affectionately known as Curbie, is coming to a neighborhood near you. When Curbie is there, you can check out books and movies, play games, get a new library card, and more!

What else is going on at the library?

Don't just sit there wondering; visit our online event calendar! Special events, weekly and monthly programs, holiday closures, bookmobile stops... it's all in there. Check it out:

Weekes Branch
27300 Patrick Avenue
Hayward, CA 94544
510-782-2155