Self-Defense Class for Kids: Twice a Month Now!

The 2nd Saturday of the month, 3:00 p.m., Downtown Library

-and-

The 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Join us for a fun and empowering kickboxing class designed specifically for kids ages 7 to 11!

Led by Sensei Anthony Thomas, a dedicated martial artist with experience dating back to 1979, this class focuses on realistic self-defense tactics that teach practical skills to help kids stay safe. In addition to self-defense, students will benefit from improved physical fitness, boosted confidence, and the development of discipline and focus.

English-Spanish Storytime with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Saturday, December 6, 10:30 a.m., Downtown Library

Build your child’s communication skills through Shared Reading!

This special storytime is designed for children ages 2 to 9 with minimal speech, and for caregivers who want to learn more about additional communication tools. 

Open to children of all abilities! 

Research Games with CoDe Lab for ages 5-12

Saturdays in December; times vary (see schedule). Downtown Library

Scientists from Cal State East Bay are coming to the library to play research games with kids! Children (5-12 years old) will have an opportunity to play a short game with a researcher, contribute to science, and win prizes.

Homework Support Center

Downtown Library: Monday-Thursday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Weekes Branch: Tuesday & Wednesday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Need help with your homework? Our volunteer tutors are committed to assisting your child in understanding their homework in a safe, supportive environment. All K-12 students are welcome and a free healthy lunch is provided to each student, offered in partnership with HUSD

Storytimes at the Weekes Branch

Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Weekes Branch

The Weekes Branch is back in action and have we got storytimes for you! Learn and Play is for the littlest little ones, up to age 3; Music and Movement and Saturday Storytime are for all young kids; and Preschool Stories is just right for kids age 3-5. Check out the schedule:

Downtown Storytimes 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Downtown Library

Every Tuesday and Thursday we offer storytimes at the Downtown Library. On Tuesdays, Miss Martha gets your kids' feet moving with Music and Movement, and on Thursdays she hosts a bilingual English/Spanish storytime for kids who come from homes where either or both languages are spoken.

Stay tuned, because sometimes we have special event and seasonal storytimes, too! And Miss Wenny will be back with her Chinese storytime in November.

HPL Recommends: December Holidays!

December is a time for celebrations and family gatherings around the world. Check out one of these picture books to celebrate with your little ones!

Open Sewing

Tuesday, December 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Pants need hemming? Have a project you started but never finished? Register to use the library's sewing machines! We provide access to our Singer Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machines, a Singer S0230 serger, scissors, black and white thread, and an iron and ironing board.

Please bring your own project or material to work on. A limited amount of free scrap fabric is available for experimenting.

La Familia Youth Ambassador Information Table

Wednesday, December 3, 12:00-4:00 p.m., Downtown Library

La Familia’s With Us Initiative will be tabling with information about their youth program, “With Us Youth Ambassadors,” which focuses on increasing behavioral health awareness and help-seeking behavior among local youth. 

They also have an adult component, “Walking with the Youth,” which invites caregivers and community members to listen to youth-led meetings and workshops to learn how to support youth in their home and/or community. 

Stop by to learn more about their programs!

Teen Time: Drop-In Gaming

Wednesday, December 3, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us every Wednesday in the Teen Room for a fun activity! Activities may include video games, crafts, and more. This week's activity: Drop-In Gaming!

Drop by to play games on the Nintendo Switch or try a board game or tabletop game! Drop-In Gaming usually happens on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

No registration required; teens ages 13 to 17 only. Questions? Email hpl.teens@hayward-ca.gov 

Teen Time: Make an Outfit for Your Labubu

Wednesday, December 10, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us every Wednesday in the Teen Room for a fun activity! Activities may include video games, crafts, and more. This week's activity: Learn how to make a simple clothing item for your Labubu, or as a gift for a friend’s Labubu!

(Lafufus welcome, too). No sewing experience needed!

No registration required; teens ages 13 to 17 only. Questions? Email hpl.teens@hayward-ca.gov 

Teen Time: Make an Outfit for Your Labubu

Wednesday, December 17, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us every Wednesday in the Teen Room for a fun activity! Activities may include video games, crafts, and more. This week's activity: Craft Buffet!

Come make whatever you want! We’ll have all sorts of supplies, including washi tape & stickers, paper, markers, colored pencils, brush pens, beads & bracelet-making supplies, and pin-making supplies.

No registration required; teens ages 13 to 17 only. Questions? Email hpl.teens@hayward-ca.gov 

Teen Time: Drop-In Crafting

Thursdays, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Drop by to make something! The Craft Cart will be available in the Teen Area at the Weekes Branch Library every Tuesday 4PM - 6PM and you can help yourselves to supplies including markers, washi tape, paper, stickers, and more.

Please note that this is a self-directed activity; teens will have access to the library's Craft Cart, but no instruction is provided. It's your chance to be creative and come up with your own projects!

Teen Time: Drop-In Tabletop Gaming

Thursdays, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Drop by to play a board game or tabletop game! The Games Cart will be available at the Weekes Branch Library in the Teen Area every Thursday and includes games like Connect Four, Exploding Kittens, Machi Koro, Battleship, Taco vs. Burrito, Azul, and more.

Please note that this is a self-directed activity. The Games Cart will be available for teen use, but there will not be instruction. We encourage you to bring your friends and try out a new game!

Teen Center Homework Support

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 4:30-6:45 p.m.

Thursdays, 3:30-5:45 p.m.

Downtown Library

In-person homework help from a trained tutor specifically for teens! Help is available in all subjects, and all tutors are strong in STEM subjects.

Registration is required.

HPL Recommends: Hope and Empowerment for Teens

Being a teen is never easy, but there are eras when it's hard to feel hopeful and empowered. Sometimes a teen can take comfort from the example of history, from stories about their peers facing hard times, and from how-to books aimed at what they face here and now. Check out these books:

The library will be CLOSED from December 22 through January 3 for the December holidays.

But you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks, stream movies, learn a new language, and so much more at our "virtual branch," 24/7/365! Check it out:

Got houseguests?

We can help you show them the best of the Bay Area! 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:

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