Hayward Public Library

Introducing a new video series, "Community Voices." This series is a part of our Hayward Book to Action program, which is a community-wide read of the award-winning book "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" by Bryan Stevenson. Through "Community Voices," we invite you to listen to community members share their experiences of incarceration and the paths they have taken to build a stable life. In this video, Ronnie Forbes shares his experiences. If you are formerly i...ncarcerated and would like to share your story with us, please contact Michelle Gee at [email protected]. Participants will be compensated for their time with a gift card (sponsored by the Alameda County Food Bank), while supplies last. To learn more about Book to Action, please visit https://bit.ly/328ACP7 [Content warning: This video contains mentions of PTSD, incarceration, homelessness, drug addiction, and suicide.]

The City of Hayward is planning on celebrating Earth Day (April 22) all month long, at-home, with our new Earth Month Challenge. The Challenge is designed to encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprint throughout the month of April with a checklist of various activities focused on waste reduction, beautification, energy, transportation, water, and activism. For each activity that residents complete or pledge to complete during the month of April, they will earn points, which are then turned into prizes. All the info can be found at https://hayward-ca.gov/content/earth-month-challenge

National Poetry Month is a fantastic time to try out a poetry podcast. Check this out:

Got HUSD students in grades K-2? Join us for Virtual Reading Circles! Virtual Reading Circles is a program where students and families receive an engaging 1-hour experience with a trained read-aloud volunteer, including mindfulness activities and comprehension questions. Meetings will occur via Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-6pm. Register your child for this free program at https://www.Hayward-ca.gov/public-library/services/vrc

"Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Brontë, and many more appear as detectives in these historical crime novels."

Coming soon...Halloween themed videos throughout Saturday.

"Who doesn't love a diamond?"

¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! (Almost--it's on November 1/2!) Here's a video by our very own Karla López, showing you how to make sugar skulls at home. Check it out:

Do you live in Ashland, Cherryland, or Hayward Acres? You might be eligible to receive shade trees, including planting, at no cost to you. Check it out:

HPL Recommends Filipinos in the East Bay. October is Filipino American History Month. This book explores the history of Filipinos in the America and their contributions to the community. Reviewed by Ms. Wenny.

Missing live storytimes at the library? Join us for a Zoom version of Bedtime Stories. Prior signup at https://hayward.libcal.com/event/7220855 is required. You will receive an email with link and password to join. We look forward to seeing you soon!

"To me, the best children’s books, like the Ramona books, are the result of serious unselfishness, even humility."

"This essay is for the long-forgotten and overlooked originators of storytelling, the griots of Africa, the keepers of stories and histories who passed on what they knew through praise song and who later contemplated basic existential questions such as: who are we? From whence did we emerge and why? What is happening to us? How do we survive and relate to each other?"

Don't forget, you still have time to vote! There are lots of ways to vote in Hayward and all of Alameda County.

Don’t let your guard downMask up. As Alameda County COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxed to allow more activities, compliance with face-covering and other infection-control measures are as important as ever. In fact, it is the law. Masks and other cloth face coverings provide a barrier to prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air or onto other people when we cough, sneeze, talk or raise our voices.... An Alameda County public health order in place since June 5 requires wearing a mask or other face covering when people are outside of their home. Widespread use of face coverings is a critical part of reducing the spread of COVID-19. In alignment with State of California public health orders, the Alameda County order and guidelines call for everyone over two years of age to wear a face covering when: At an outdoor or indoor dining establishment except when eating or drinking at a dining table; Outside their home and within 30 feet of anyone else other than members of their Social Bubble; In the workplace except when in a private space or area not regularly used by others; and Preparing food or other items for sale or distribution to people outside their household. Face coverings may be removed when: Eating or drinking alone or with members of one’s Social Bubble; or Alone or with members of one’s household in an outdoor area such as a park or patio, while maintaining six feet of distance from others. For more information, go online to bit.ly/Covid19-ACGov ,the Face Covering page of the Alameda County COVID-19 website.

"Oprah, Reese, Jenna and . . . Steph? As in Curry? Why yes, the NBA star has become the latest literary tastemaker, with a new book club called Underrated."