The Downtown Hayward Library Becomes a Certified LEED Platinum Building, Showcasing the City's Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation

Last month, the City of Hayward was officially awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum certification for the 21st Century Library and Community Learning Center located in Downtown Hayward.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a rating system that expresses how efficiently a building is designed and operated. The LEED Platinum certification is the highest level of recognition offered by the U.S. Green Building Council and acknowledges the City’s dedication towards sustainability and supporting a greener future for all Hayward residents.

The Hayward Library & Community Learning Center is one of the largest Net Zero Energy public libraries in the country, powered by 100% renewable energy produced by onsite solar panels. Natural sunlight is a key part of the building’s design to reduce the need for artificial light, while its UV-filtered, double-paned windows provide a shade screen that deflects the sun’s heat and reduces the building’s energy consumption.

The library and its adjacent plaza also feature a rainwater catchment and recycling system, which helps save and recycle 400,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Rainwater is harvested from the garage and library rooftops and stored underground beneath Heritage Plaza until it is ready to be filtered, treated, and then used for restrooms and irrigation water. This feature is an important climate consideration given that California is likely to experience more frequent and severe droughts in the future.

For more information about the library’s sustainable design, please visit https://www.haywardlibrary.org/tagged/green. 

The Literary Corner: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Wednesday, August 2, 5:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Welcome to The Literary Corner, our new monthly literary fiction book club for adults! This month's selection is The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Get a copy at the library, or email [email protected]!

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Seed Lending Library Presents: Tomato Tasting and Seed Saving Workshop
Saturday, August 12, 11:00 a.m., Downtown Library

Come show off your home-grown tomatoes and enter them in our Tomato Tasting event! As a bonus, we'll also learn how to save seeds from the heirloom varietals we taste.

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Tenants' Rights Workshop with Centro Legal Services
Monday, August 14 4:30-6:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Centro Legal Services is offering this Tenants' Rights Workshop 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.

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NYT Bestselling Author of The Prophets: Online Talk with Robert Jones, Jr.
Tuesday, August 15, 1:00 p.m., Online

All are welcome and encouraged to join us for an engaging hour online with New York Times bestselling author Robert Jones, Jr., as he discusses his debut and award-winning novel, The Prophets.

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Reading Crochet Charts
Saturday, August 19, 10:30 a.m., Downtown Library

Baffled by those crochet charts and diagrams with all those funny symbols? Crochet instructor and Sticks & String leader Jan Bass will provide an introduction to how to read these charts, along with some helpful tips & tricks.

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Arts & Letters: Artists' Reception
Saturday, August 19, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Please join us for "Arts & Letters" exhibition art reception!  Meet and view the art of 31 Hayward Arts Council members, whose works of art on display creatively combine images and text. The exhibition is currently on view at the Hayward Library galleries on the 2nd floor and includes oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media, and interactive artwork.   

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Online Talk with Cassandra Clare, Bestselling Author of The Mortal Instruments Series
Wednesday, August 23, 5:00 p.m., Online

When facing a challenging task, our inner voice can tell us we can’t do it or that people will laugh at us if we try. The million-dollar question is how can we transform our self-saboteur into an internal life coach that will buoy us up and help us expand our potential?

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Origami Jewelry Workshop
Saturday, August 26, 11:00 a.m.

In this fun and challenging program for adults and older teens, you'll learn to fold tiny origami figures to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.

All supplies and tools will be provided. See you there!

Learn More & Register

A Year Inside College Admissions: Online Author Talk with Jeff Selingo
Wednesday, August 30, 11:00 a.m., Online

Spend an hour with bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who immersed himself in the world of admissions for a year to answer the question on the minds of teenagers and their parents: how do colleges select their freshman class?  

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Save the date! The Literary Corner will next meet on Wednesday, September 6th.

Our selection for September will be Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Get a copy at the library, or email [email protected]!

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Save the date! Our new local history series begins on September 8.

Save the date for Sept. 8, 3-4:30pm, when Hayward Library will host "Hidden Garden," a community conversation about the historic Shibata family garden and tea house. "Hidden Garden" is part of the Hayward is Home local history series created by CSUEB History Chair Bridget Ford and her students with support from Cal Humanities.

Event Calendar

Recommended Viewing

HPL Recommends: Alan Arkin, 1934-2023

Alan Wolf Arkin (b. 3/26/1934-d. 6/29/2023) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He started his career in comedy and theatre before establishing himself as a character actor in film and television in a career spanning over six decades. Check out this list of Alan Arkin movies you can borrow from the library:

Watch List

Regularly Scheduled Programs

Yoga at the Library
Saturday, August 5, 10:30 a.m., Downtown Library

Unlock energy, strength, and joy through yoga. All abilities are welcome in this wellness-focused class led by certified instructor Iva Chu from Hayward's Yoga Sociale.

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Uke Can Do It! Strum-Alongs
Saturdays, August 5 and 19, 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Library

Whether you're an old hand at Ukulele or have just started, you're welcome to join in on our group strum-along! BYOU (Bring Your Own Uke). If you don't own a uke, check one out from the Library!

Schedule

Palo Alto VA Mobile Medical Clinic
Thursday, August 17, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.,  Downtown Library

The outreach team will provide examinations, consultations, and referrals to veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system. They will also assist veterans and their spouses, caregivers, family members, and survivors with information about enrollment for VA healthcare.

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Lawyer in the Library Phone Appointments

August 1, 9, & 19

Need legal help? The Lawyer in the Library program is a free legal information and referral program hosted by the Hayward Public Library and staffed by a volunteer lawyer.

Schedule

Online Spanish Conversation Circles
Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., Online

Spanish Conversation Circles provide a supportive environment to practice your Spanish-speaking skills. A volunteer guides the conversation and answers questions. The circle is designed for all levels to provide the opportunity to speak and listen to one another in Spanish.

Schedule

English Conversation Circles
Monday-Friday, Online and in Person at the Downtown Library

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.

Schedule

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.

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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!

Schedule

Announcements

The Summer Reading Challenge Is Still Here!

You, your kids, and your teens can all sign up to have fun and win fabulous prizes just for reading books and participating in library-related activities. Check it out!

Learn More & Download the App

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.

Learn More & Get Started

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:

Event Calendar

Library Hours

Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.