Scheming Wives and High-Stakes Hilarity: Online Talk with Author Sue Hincenbergs

Tuesday, December 2, 11:00 a.m., Online

Buckle up for a wild ride and join us as we sit down for an online chat with debut author Sue Hincenbergs to discuss her novel The Retirement Plan, in which murder is the name of the game. When the only thing standing between three best friends and a sunny beachfront retirement condo are their husbands, what ensues is a diabolical plan to collect on their spouses’ life insurance policies. 

Register today!

Discusión de libros en español: «Malas» de Marcela Fuentes

Sábado 6 de diciembre, 3:00 p.m., biblioteca central

Acompañe al Concejal de Hayward y profesor de Español Francisco Zermeño en una discusión del libro «Malas» de Marcela Fuentes. 

«En 1951, una misteriosa anciana confronta a Pilar Aguirre en La Ciénaga, un pueblo fronterizo entre México y Texas. Convencida de que Pilar le robó el marido, le arroja una maldición que cae también sobre su familia. Medio siglo después, Lulú Muñoz está lidiando con una vida caótica, sobre todo, con su inminente fiesta de quinceaños. Como si fuera poco, fallece su amada abuela. En el funeral, una desconocida glamourosa y solitaria aparece para cambiarle la vida.»

YA Book Club for Adults: We Can't Keep Meeting Like This

Tuesday, December 9, 6:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Are you an adult (18 or older) who still loves to read teen/young adult (YA) literature? Join our YA Book Club for Adults! Each month we will read & discuss a YA book. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

At this meeting, we'll discuss We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Healthy Eating for the Holidays

Thursday, December 11, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Delicious food is at the heart of many holiday celebrations. Join us as registered dietician Jacquelyn Russum offers strategies to fill our plates with tasty dishes that also support good health. 

Programming for this event provided by Alameda County Nutrition Services.

Seed Library Program Series: Gifts from the Garden

Join us in making holiday gifts from the garden! We'll be using scrap paper and seeds to make plantable seed paper. The seed paper can be made into shapes that can decorate greeting cards or be used as gift tags--and are gifts on their own!

Jane Austen's Birthday Tea Party

Join us to celebrate Jane Austen's 250th Birthday with a genteel tea party! Period costume encouraged but not required. Dress up and join us for a cup!

Beyond the Basics: Internet Safety

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Thursday, December 18, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Residents of Alameda and Contra Costa County! We have a program in partnership with Digital LIFT! Stay safe online and join our FREE internet safety workshop. Any device is welcome. Bring your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Must be 60 years old or above OR 18+ years old with disabilities.

Mystery Book Club: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Wednesday, December 17, 5:45 p.m., Downtown Library

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Thursday, December 18, 1:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us every month for Mystery Book Club! We read a mix of cozy mysteries, thrillers. This week we're reading Agatha Christie's classic, And Then There Were None.

About the book: First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder.

HPL Recommends: Are You Cooking?

Planning to feed a crowd? Here are some cookbooks that will help you create a delicious offering. Check them out:

Open Sewing

Pants need hemming? Have a project you started but never finished? Drop in to use the library's sewing machines! 

This is an open sewing event, we will have staff and volunteers who can give advice, but this is not a class or project. Space is limited; first come, first served! You can also access sewing machines at the library during Makerspace open hours. 

Yoga at the Library

Unlock energy, strength, and joy in this wellness-focused class led by certified instructor Iva Chu. 

Please arrive a few minutes early and dressed for stretching. Mats provided, but if you have your own, please bring it.

Though the class is appropriate for all levels of yoga experience, many of the poses require balance and the ability to move from standing to floor-based stretches without assistance.

Silent Book Club
Saturday, December 6, 3:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Looking for some companionable time to read and (maybe) chat about what you're reading? Join us for Silent Book Club. It's like a book club but with no pressure to read a specific book and plenty of time to just quietly read with other people who love to read.

P.S. The Silent Book Club organization is 10 years old this month! Learn more about it and join the celebration with a global readathon, giveaways, limited edition swag, and more.

Tenants' Rights Workshop

Centro Legal Services Tenants' Rights Clinic for Hayward Tenants with legal issues or questions about their housing. Low-income, eligible tenants may receive a free legal consultation for advice about or limited assistance with their housing issues!

To reserve a spot, call 510-437-1554 or email tenantsrights@centrolegal.org

Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship will be established at this event.

Spectrum Community Services Tabling: Apply for Help Paying Your Power Bill
Tuesday, December 9, 2:00-4:00 p.m.,  Downtown Library

Do you need help paying your power bill? You may qualify for federal aid.

A representative from Spectrum Community Services will be on site to accept applications and answer questions about the Low Income Home Energy (LIHEAP) assistance program. LIHEAP helps qualified households with a one-time-per-program-year payment on their energy bill. 

Mobile Health Clinic
Friday, December 12, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.,  In front of the Downtown Library

The mobile health clinic offers free, friendly medical services for people without housing.

First come, first served. No appointment required; just come to the van parked in front of the library on Mission Blvd. between the City Hall Garage and C Street.

Services are provided by Alameda Health System in partnership with Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless. 

Book Folding Class

Wednesday, December 17, 1:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Learn how to turn a donated book into art: join us at the Weekes Branch Library on the 3rd Wednesday of every month for our book folding class!

No skills or previous experience required! The library will provide used books for folding and teach you how to do it. You can also bring your own book to fold if you like.

No registration required; drop in!

Sticks & String Knitting & Crochet Circle

Come hang out with your fellow crafty folks! Sticks & String is a group of folks who like to knit, crochet, tat, and do other things with sticks and string.

This week we're hosting an open craft session and knit/crochet clinic. We bring our current projects to work on, and maybe a recent Finished Object or two for show-and-tell. We chat and give each other encouragement and advice. 

All ability levels welcome. No registration required, and you don't need a library card to attend. Just drop in! 

Book Sale

1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Pop in to the New Leaf Bookstore on the first floor, across from the Children's Room, for some great deals! All proceeds support library programs for kids, teens, and adults.

Uke Can Do It! Strum-Along
Every other Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Whether you are an old hand at Ukulele or have just started, you're welcome to join in on our group strum-alongs! Folks at all skill levels are invited and no registration is required.

BYOU (Bring Your Own Uke)! If you don't own one, check one out from the Library!

Digital Media Lab Open Hours

Wednesdays, 2:00-6:00 p.m., Downtown Library

The Digital Media Lab is a space to create, play, and learn using digital creation equipment and software at the library. For new creators and seasoned pros alike, equipment will be available to use for free. Reservations will be available and are recommended.

Basic English Class

Fridays, 10:30 a.m., Downtown Library

Everyone wants and needs to be able to read, write and speak well. Understanding phonics (the sounds of words) makes reading, writing, and speaking easier and provides the opportunity to communicate ideas and knowledge.

Small group of learners will begin by learning to read, write, and pronounce the letters in the alphabet. Then we’ll include vocabulary words and grammar.

English Conversation Circles
Online and in person at the Downtown Library and the Weekes Branch; see the schedule below

English Conversation Circles are designed for adults who are looking for a supportive and fun environment to practice their English-speaking skills. The goal is to strengthen conversational skills, while building confidence and community with other adults whose native language is not English. 

Citizenship Resources

We offer FREE 10-week Citizenship Preparation Classes, Citizenship Mock Interview Sessions, a Citizenship Corner at the Downtown Library and one online, and much more.

Tech Support Tutor Sessions
Drop-in or by appointment

Do you need some basic tech support? Tech Support Sessions are here to help. Meet one-on-one with a tutor to get assistance with basic tech issues, such as setting up your email, emailing photos, downloading an app, & more!

Community Hub
Various days and times, Downtown Library

The Community Hub is offered by Hayward Public Library in partnership with Hayward Promise Neighborhoods. It is a full-service, one-stop resource center for patrons to access City of Hayward and community partner services.

Service providers include 4Cs of Alameda County, La Familia, Fresh Food for Families, and more. Check out our schedule for more info!

The library will be CLOSED from December 22-January 3 for the winter 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:

Library Pro Tip: Discover new places to go on a date with your library card!

Use your Hayward library card to check out free and low-cost tickets to museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and more! Search by date to see what works with your schedule, or search by venue to discover some of the Bay Area's hidden (and not-so-hidden) treasures. Check it out:

Brainfuse VetNow Writing Lab

Are you looking to improve your writing skills? Look no further than Brainfuse VetNow's Writing Lab! Whether you're crafting an email, working on essays, or simply honing your communication skills, the Brainfuse Writing Lab is here to support you every step of the way. It's never too late to sharpen your writing abilities and reach your academic and professional goals.

We've got Zip Books!

Can't find the book you need at the library? No problem! Use our new Zip Books service to have the book mailed directly to you for free, and return it to us when you're done.

This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

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