The Summer Reading Challenge is Here!
June 12th through August 6th

Find your this summer with the Summer REading Challenge! From June 12 through August 6, read, learn, have fun, and earn prizes in three simple steps:

 - Sign up at the library or at hayward.beanstack.com.
 - Read or listen to your favorite books, magazines, comics, and more. Younger children may be read to by a family member.
 - Report your reading and activities to win prizes!

Kids, teens, and adults can participate; there are prizes and fun for all. See you at the library!

Sponsored by Friends of Hayward Library.

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Just for Kids

Words for Lunch
Various days and locations; see schedule

Families with children 18 years and younger can receive a free lunch while enjoying a storytime in the park! All children leave with a free book each time they attend. No registration or proof of age or income required. Just show up!

Schedule

Uke Can Do It! for Families
Four-week series starts Monday, June 12, 2:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Uke Can Do It! For Families is a free four-week series of beginner ukelele classes for kids age 6 and up. The kids must be accompanied by a caregiver, who will also be learning to play. Advance registration is required.

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Uke Can Do It! for Kids
1st four-week series starts on Tuesday, June 13, 2:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Uke Can Do It! For Kids is a free four-week series of beginner ukelele classes for kids age 7-12, with no need for a caregiver to be present. Advance registration is required.

June 13 Series

Perry Yan's Magic Show
Friday, June 16, 11:00 a.m., Downtown Library

Join us for a hilarious show combining sleight-of-hand tricks and lots of family-friendly comedy!

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Boswick's Reading Circus
Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m., Downtown Library

Let’s take a trip to Boswick’s Reading Circus! The show starts with an oversized book that Boswick looks into to find a circus. Then he takes the children on the funniest ride of the their young lives as they act out all the performers they might see at that circus!

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How Honey Is Made
Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m., Weekes Branch

Taste a variety of local wildflower honeys while you learn how bees turn sweet nectar into delicious honey, the process and tools that beekeepers use to take honey from the hive to your table, and how the flowers blooming around us contribute to the different flavors.

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Arts & Crafts for Kids
Tuesday, June 20, 1:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Bring your kids age 5 and up for a quick, fun craft project at the Weekes Branch!

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Art at the Library: Meet Miro
Tuesday, June 27, 3:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Come to the Weekes Branch for a hands-on art and craft experience for kids age 8-12! Taught by senior students of the Yueming Art Studio in Hayward.

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Friday Crafternoon
Friday, June 30, 2:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Kids age 6-12, join us for an afternoon of crafts in the Homework Center! Registration opens on June 16.

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Ricky Roo and Friends Puppet Show
Saturday, July 1, 11:00 a.m., Downtown Library

This show is filled with silly puppets and is fully engaging & interactive, with humor and candor that span all ages. Kids will roll around on the floor laughing at the silly stories and characters!

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Meet Your Local...
Friday, July 14, 11:00 a.m., Weekes Branch

Meet Your Local... introduces kids and families to their local community helpers and City departments. Maintenance trucks, fire engines, Curbie, and street sweepers will be available to explore and take pictures with.

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Summer Storytime Schedule

Summer storytimes are up and running, and they include family storytimes, bilingual storytimes, and Words for Lunch. They happen at the library, in the plaza, and at Mia's Dream Come True Playground. Sometimes they come with a free lunch! Check out our schedule:

Storytime Schedule

More Summer Learning Activities

The library offers in-person and online summer learning camps and more. Get more info about educational activities here:

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HPL Recommends: LGBTQIA+ Picture Books for Pride

Whether you want books that are mirrors reflecting your kids' family and community back to them, or windows that show them the incredible variety of people out in the world, we've got you covered. Check it out:

Reading List

Just for Teens

Defeat Dracula: Teen Escape Room
Wednesday, June 14, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Can you defeat Dracula and escape his castle? Try out this free escape room to find out! To register for your 30 minute time-slot, visit tinyurl.com/DefeatDracula Drop-ins admitted if space allows; registration highly recommended.

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Drawing Comics for Teens
Monday, June 26, 5:00 p.m., Weekes Branch

Join Katt Veridiano for a fun drawing class for teens. They'll learn to draw a cartoon or comic strip and focus on character development. All levels welcome!

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Teen Junk Journaling Workshop
Monday, July 3, 5:45 p.m., Weekes Branch

Do you like collaging? Have you ever wanted to just layer art over each other in a notebook and see how it comes out? Then junk journaling is for you!

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Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Wednesday, July 5, 4:30 p.m., Downtown Library

What's TAG? A group of teens that meets once a month to give feedback about the library and plan library events! TAG participants get to have a say in what the library offers for teens and gain leadership experience that looks great on college & job applications.

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Teen Movie: The Maze Runner
Friday, July 7, 2:00 p.m., Downtown Library

Join us in the Teen Room to watch The Maze Runner! This 2014 movie is rated PG-13 and is based on the bestselling novel The Maze Runner by James Dashner. This event is free and no registration is needed. Teens ages 13 to 17 only.

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Teen Game Day
Wednesday, July 12, 4:30 p.m., Downtown Library

Drop in to the Teen Room (Downtown Library, 2nd Floor) to play some video games & board games! All teens ages 13 to 17 welcome; no registration required. This event is hosted by Hayward Library's Teen Advisory Group (TAG).

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Volunteer as a Student Friend!

This summer, teens can volunteer as Student Friends and help with our Summer Reading Challenge as well as

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HPL Recommends: If You Liked Heartstopper...

...you'll like these LGBTQIA+ comics & teen romances because they will give you all the feels, just like Charlie & Nick's relationship! Check them out:

Reading List

Announcements

The library will be closed on Monday, June 19th, in honor of Juneteenth

We will also be closed on Tuesday, July 4th, for Independence Day

Our "digital branch" is open 24/7/365. You can download ebooks and audiobooks, stream movies, learn new languages, and so much more. Check it out:

Digital Branch

Curbie is Coming
Lots of times and places! Check our schedule.

Our bookmobile, affectionately known as Curbie, is coming to a neighborhood near you. When Curbie is there, you can check out books and movies, play games, get a new library card, and more!

Schedule

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