English Conversation Club

Practice speaking English with other learners and Library staff. New topics every week. All levels are welcome! Get accessibility information.

Baby Bounce

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an e......More

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an elevator on the west side for accessibility. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room program area during Baby Bounce. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

Family Storytime

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions,......More

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

Hana Baba shares Folktales from Sudan

Join award winning KALW radio host, podcaster, and voice actor Hana Baba as she tells Folktales from Sudan- the stories she grew up with in her Sudanese American home. Through engaging storytelling, Hana introduces kids to magical tales from a rich East African tradit......More

Join award winning KALW radio host, podcaster, and voice actor Hana Baba as she tells Folktales from Sudan- the stories she grew up with in her Sudanese American home. Through engaging storytelling, Hana introduces kids to magical tales from a rich East African tradition—stories that build empathy, curiosity, and a love for global cultures. Get accessibility information.

English Conversation Club

Practice speaking English with other learners and Library staff. New topics every week. All levels are welcome! Get accessibility information.

Baby Bounce

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an e......More

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an elevator on the west side for accessibility. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room program area during Baby Bounce. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

Adult Arts & Crafts

Join us each month as we try out a new art & craft activity. No artistic experience is needed. Supplies will be provided. Available on a first come, first served basis as supplies and space allow. Adults only. April 23: Painted wood coasters. May 28: Rope tassel key ......More

Join us each month as we try out a new art & craft activity. No artistic experience is needed. Supplies will be provided. Available on a first come, first served basis as supplies and space allow. Adults only. April 23: Painted wood coasters. May 28: Rope tassel key chains. June 25: Neurographic art. July 23: Mosaic picture frame. August 27: Decoupage light switch covers. September 24:  Indigo Shibori Dish Towel.  Please note that advertised projects may change.  This program is possible thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Oakland Public Library. Get accessibility information.

Family Storytime

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions,......More

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

The Oakland Community Block Party

Join OPL and the Public Defender’s Office for the Oakland Community Block Party! The free family friendly event will include jumpy houses, face painting, bike giveaways and numerous other activities for yo......More

Join OPL and the Public Defender’s Office for the Oakland Community Block Party! The free family friendly event will include jumpy houses, face painting, bike giveaways and numerous other activities for young people while providing legal services; health screenings; employment information and training; and other crucial services for adults.

Bay Area Book Festival

Join OPL at the Bay Area Book Festival’s Bookwork Block Party! The block party is a lively, immersive experience jam-packed with fun and exploration for festival attendees of all ages and interests. The he......More

Join OPL at the Bay Area Book Festival’s Bookwork Block Party! The block party is a lively, immersive experience jam-packed with fun and exploration for festival attendees of all ages and interests. The heart of Northern California’s largest weekend literary event beckons book lovers to meet favorite authors spanning myriad genres, discover new reads, catch live presentations on three outdoor and six indoor stages, spend quality time with the kids in our interactive Family Fun Zone hosted by Oakland-based Collective Book Studio, and enjoy delicious eats from local food trucks and myriad downtown Berkeley brick & mortar establishments!

English Conversation Club

Practice speaking English with other learners and Library staff. New topics every week. All levels are welcome! Get accessibility information.

Baby Bounce

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an e......More

Bring your babies to the Temescal Branch Library for songs, books, and socializing. This event is best for parents or caregivers with babies from birth to 12 months old.  Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. The building has an elevator on the west side for accessibility. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room program area during Baby Bounce. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

Build Make Play/Construir Hacer Jugar

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on activities. Make something new every week. Participa en una tarde de actividades interactivas. Haz algo nuevo cada semana. Get accessibility inf......More

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on activities. Make something new every week. Participa en una tarde de actividades interactivas. Haz algo nuevo cada semana. Get accessibility information. / Obtener información de accesibilidad.

Family Storytime

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions,......More

Bring your family to the library for books, songs, and movement. All ages welcome! Please plan to park your stroller in the community meeting room downstairs. Strollers will not be allowed upstairs in the Children's Room during Storytime. If you have any questions, please call the branch during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon! Get accessibility information.

Teens: Duck-o-Rate (decorate a duck) at Temescal

Come decorate a rubber duck to join our traveling duck art gallery showing off the work of creative teens from all OPL branches! Your duck will go on a journey around Oakland and then return home to you at the end of the school year. Choose from a variety of supplies ......More

Come decorate a rubber duck to join our traveling duck art gallery showing off the work of creative teens from all OPL branches! Your duck will go on a journey around Oakland and then return home to you at the end of the school year. Choose from a variety of supplies to make your duck look their best.   Do not miss out on this opportunity to earn raffle tickets for our Teen Summer Program, which includes prizes like a Nintendo Switch, a Chromebook, a sewing machine, and a synthesizer. No registration required, all teens welcome.   Ages 12 - 18 only. All supplies will be included!

Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Performances and 2025 Announcement

Join us for this exciting event to celebrate our 14th Oakland Youth Poet Laureate! We will announce the 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Oakland Youth Poet Laureate. Emceed by the incomparable artist and edu......More

Join us for this exciting event to celebrate our 14th Oakland Youth Poet Laureate! We will announce the 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Oakland Youth Poet Laureate. Emceed by the incomparable artist and educator, EJ Walls. Featuring performances by our 2025 Finalists: Lola Christ Cael Dueñas-Lara Isabel Shen Serafina Mackintosh Zara Quiter Sehinne Yohannes Delilah Young No tickets required. Free and open to the public. See you there! Thank you to the Friends of the Oakland Public Library for their generous support of this program.

Mr. Elephant/Señor Elefante

Mr. Elephant is an Oakland-based speech therapist who makes music for little language learners (and big ones too!) alongside his hilarious gang of puppets! El Señor Elefante es un terapista del habla en el área de la bahía que hace música para pequeños estudiantes (¡......More

Mr. Elephant is an Oakland-based speech therapist who makes music for little language learners (and big ones too!) alongside his hilarious gang of puppets! El Señor Elefante es un terapista del habla en el área de la bahía que hace música para pequeños estudiantes (¡y también para los grandes!) acompañado por su divertida pandilla de títeres. Get accessibility information. / Obtener información de accesibilidad.