External Event: allcove Book Club

Join our friends at allcove for AAPI book club featuring American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Explore identity, culture, and storytelling th......More

Join our friends at allcove for AAPI book club featuring American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Explore identity, culture, and storytelling through this powerful graphic novel. This event series is for youth and young adults ages 12-25 years old. May 1, 6, & 15: Read & discuss the graphic novel. May 22 & 29: Watch the adaptation, compare, and discuss. Registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome.

Graphic Novel Book Club: AANHPI & Jewish American Heritage Month

Monthly book discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group! This program is for readers age 16 and up. 2024-2025 titles: September 12: Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (2024) 528 pages O......More

Monthly book discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group! This program is for readers age 16 and up. 2024-2025 titles: September 12: Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (2024) 528 pages October 10: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder and Nora Krug (2021) 127 pages November 14: A Sea of Love by Lupano & Panaccione (2020) 224 pages December 12: Animal Castle by Xavier Dorison; art by Felix Deleep (2022) 152 pages January 19: The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb (2009) 228 pages February 13: The Talk by Darrin Bell (2023) 352 pages March 13: Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi and Una Dimitrijevic (2024) 272 pages April 10: Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham (2023) 240 pages May 8: We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga (2023) 208 pages Titles can be borrowed from the Palo Alto City Library and through our Link+ system - click on the links above or search in our catalog for more information. Meetings are held in person in the Midtown Room at Mitchell Park Library and facilitated by Danièle Archambault. Danièle Archambault, Ph.D. (Linguistics), is a researcher, author, and educator who is interested in comics as a way to document a society's cultural and linguistic landscape. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, she now lives in Palo Alto, where she is an artist in residence at the Cubberley Artist Studio Program, a program of the City of Palo Alto. In the past few years, she has published several full-color comic books, graphic novels, and electronic books. Ms. Archambault is a regular guest speaker on documenting culture and dialects through comics at various educational and cultural institutions. She teaches Visual Storytelling at the Palo Alto Art Center, and at other educational venues. http://danielebd.com/

Learn English: Beyond the Basics

ESL: Beyond the Basics is an 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English but want to improve their pronunciation and comp......More

ESL: Beyond the Basics is an 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English but want to improve their pronunciation and comprehension. To register for the entire 8-week series, please include your email address and make sure it is entered correctly.

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

Concert: California Youth Symphony

Come and enjoy a FREE musical performance by California Youth Symphony. Maestra Kati Kyme will lead Virtuosi Strings and Intermezzi Strings in this short mid-morning concert. This is a free family event, and all are invited to attend!......More

Come and enjoy a FREE musical performance by California Youth Symphony. Maestra Kati Kyme will lead Virtuosi Strings and Intermezzi Strings in this short mid-morning concert. This is a free family event, and all are invited to attend! Mitchell Park is very busy on Saturdays, so please plan accordingly! There is additional park and street parking around Mitchell Park Library & Community Center. Don't forget--you can always carpool, ride your bike or walk to the Library! 

Family Storytime - Cancelled

Today's Storytime is cancelled. Please head over to the El Palo Alto Room in the MPCC next door to watch a free concert hosted by the California Youth Symphony! 

Mindfulness Meditation

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no regist......More

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and/or meditation cushions. Chairs are available for those who do not bring them. Phuong is a Buddhist nun experienced in leading mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about Phuong here and can watch her meditation videos on the library's YouTube channel here.

A Math Day for Children: A Tribute to Maryam Mirzakhani

Join us for an inspiring and interactive program designed especially for children, while welcoming families to take part in the fun! We honor the legacy of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics, with a special event full ......More

Join us for an inspiring and interactive program designed especially for children, while welcoming families to take part in the fun! We honor the legacy of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics, with a special event full of engaging, hands-on activities. Kids and families will discover the beauty of math through interactive games and creative challenges that explore patterns, shapes, and logic. Whether your child is a budding math enthusiast or just beginning to explore, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Let’s celebrate Maryam Mirzakhani’s groundbreaking achievements and inspire the next generation of problem-solvers together! Registration is not required. Register to receive an email reminder!

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

Neurosphere: Neuroscience and More! Grades 3-8

Come join teen-led group NeuroSphere! NeuroSphere is a community for curious 3rd-8th graders about medicine! This session will dive into the basics of brain function, featuring a guest speaker from the neuroscience field, fun activities to test your brainpower, and an......More

Come join teen-led group NeuroSphere! NeuroSphere is a community for curious 3rd-8th graders about medicine! This session will dive into the basics of brain function, featuring a guest speaker from the neuroscience field, fun activities to test your brainpower, and an introduction to future career opportunities. There will be snacks- feel free to bring a friend! We're a group of high school students driven by a passion for neuroscience and the wonders of the brain. Our mission is to inspire curiosity and spark a love for science in younger students by creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Through NeuroSphere, we hope to share our knowledge, connect with the community, and encourage the next generation of future scientists and innovators! Questions? Email [email protected] This program is open for 3rd-8th graders only.

YEP! @ Stanford: Day of Entrepreneurship

YEP! provides free entrepreneurship programming to high schoolers across the globe. Our mission is to create the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers by uniting university and high school students.  Participating students will get a crash course in entrep......More

YEP! provides free entrepreneurship programming to high schoolers across the globe. Our mission is to create the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers by uniting university and high school students.  Participating students will get a crash course in entrepreneurship from Stanford students with experience in the start-up realm. This workshop is open to high school students, freshman through seniors.  This is a registration only workshop. Please register for the event by filling out this form.

External Event: allcove Book Club

Join our friends at allcove for AAPI book club featuring American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Explore identity, culture, and storytelling th......More

Join our friends at allcove for AAPI book club featuring American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Explore identity, culture, and storytelling through this powerful graphic novel. This event series is for youth and young adults ages 12-25 years old. May 1, 6, & 15: Read & discuss the graphic novel. May 22 & 29: Watch the adaptation, compare, and discuss. Registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome.

External Event: 3rd Thursday on California Ave

Experience live music, local eats, and shopping at 3rd Thursdays on California Avenue. Musicians will perform at different spots along the avenue, offering a chance to discover and support local businesses. Enjoy additional attractions such as photo booth and community......More

Experience live music, local eats, and shopping at 3rd Thursdays on California Avenue. Musicians will perform at different spots along the avenue, offering a chance to discover and support local businesses. Enjoy additional attractions such as photo booth and community art. Sponsored by the City of Palo Alto and the Chamber of Commerce, this free monthly music series occurs every third Thursday and all are welcome. Join us on Cal Ave and be part of the festivities! Learn More February 20  –  Let's Grow Together March 20 – Youth Views  April 17  –  Greening Up Cal Ave May 15 – We are Two-gether June 19  – Local Libations July 17 – Summer Fun & Games August 21 – Taste of Cal Ave September 18 – Let's Dance October 16 – Sustainability Fun Fair November 20 – Thankscaring December 18 – Winter Lights

Learn English: Beyond the Basics

ESL: Beyond the Basics is an 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English but want to improve their pronunciation and comp......More

ESL: Beyond the Basics is an 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English but want to improve their pronunciation and comprehension. To register for the entire 8-week series, please include your email address and make sure it is entered correctly.

Family Storytime: Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month!

Join Librarian Alicia on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on ......More

Join Librarian Alicia on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!

Mindfulness Meditation

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no regist......More

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and/or meditation cushions. Chairs are available for those who do not bring them. Phuong is a Buddhist nun experienced in leading mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about Phuong here and can watch her meditation videos on the library's YouTube channel here.

Photography Meetup

Join us every 2nd Sunday of the month for a monthly meetup designed for intermediate and advanced photographers hosted by Matthew TW Huang. Whether you're into portrait, landscape, or any other type of photograph......More

Join us every 2nd Sunday of the month for a monthly meetup designed for intermediate and advanced photographers hosted by Matthew TW Huang. Whether you're into portrait, landscape, or any other type of photography, all are welcome! Each session will feature discussions on techniques, tips for improving your craft, and other aspects of photography.  Ideas for 5-10 min topics, photo stories, or presentations can be emailed to [email protected]. There will be time for a couple of ideas to be presented at each meeting. The format will evolve based on your interests and feedback, creating a supportive and dynamic space for photographers to connect, learn, and grow. Registration is optional. Register to receive an email reminder!

Chess in Library

Chess in Library Our mission is to promote Chess In the Community. Chess is a game of sport, art and science. Kids can benefit from Chess significantly for their learning, critical thinking and character development. Palo Alto High School (Paly) student Ethan Mei and ......More

Chess in Library Our mission is to promote Chess In the Community. Chess is a game of sport, art and science. Kids can benefit from Chess significantly for their learning, critical thinking and character development. Palo Alto High School (Paly) student Ethan Mei and his chess friends would like to share their passion in chess, introduce this wonderful game to kids of all ages and help them to improve. We'll meet in the Mitchell Park Library on a bi-weekly schedule. No registration is required. Please join us for fun-filled chess activities.

Mastering Your Camera for Beginners

Join photographer Matthew TW Huang for a series of photography workshops geared towards beginners using DSLR, mirrorless, or other cameras with adjustable settings. Each session will dive into a key topic like e......More

Join photographer Matthew TW Huang for a series of photography workshops geared towards beginners using DSLR, mirrorless, or other cameras with adjustable settings. Each session will dive into a key topic like exposure or focus with time to try out techniques and experiment with your camera settings. Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your skills, this series will help you feel more confident and creative with your camera. Open to teens and adults. Don't forget to bring your camera! Topics include: Sunday, February 9: Exposure Workshop Learn how to use your digital camera on manual. If you have a DSLR or more advanced camera, find out how to expose your pictures by adjusting shutter speed, aperture, or ISO and know which settings to modify in various situations. Sunday, March 9: Focus Workshop Learn about the various focus settings, whether that be taking pictures of fast things like kids and cars or slower things like sunsets. Sunday, April 13: Editing Workshop Learn how photographers use Adobe Lightroom as an organization and editing tool. You will learn the basic editing process and simple tips. Feel free to bring your own laptop with Lightroom to follow along. Sunday, May 18: Photo Review Workshop Bring in your own photos for an informal constructive critique where you will learn tips for picking points of interest, improving your framing, and other techniques. Participants are welcome to send photos to [email protected] prior to the workshop for review.