Candy Corn

Sure, it's kinda gross, but weirdly good. It's very popular in some circles. Before you know it, you’re having another handful. You like it but you’re not proud about it.

Suggested Reading:

Twilight
Fourth Wing

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

The popularity is deserved. It's a rich, full experience; even small amounts at a time can be really satisfying, though you might need time to absorb and take it in.

Suggested Reading:

James

Babel

Snickers

Critically acclaimed and widely praised. It packs a punch and gives you something to chew on. There's some complexity, yet it's accessible. 

Suggested Reading:

Demon Copperhead

Little Fires Everywhere

M&Ms

A classic choice. It's a formula most people are familiar with and consistent with time. Even if it's not your favorite, it's a crowd pleaser.

Suggested Reading:

Tell No One

Book Lovers

Sour Patch Kids

"What even is this?", you might be asking yourself. An intense situation that draws you in with a surprising plot twist. It's full of emotional highs and lows, but ultimately satisfying for the right person. If it’s not for you; you won’t touch it.

Suggested Reading:

Leave the World Behind

The Whispers

Pixie Stix

Yeah, yeah, they're supposed to be for kids. They are marketed to kids and teens, but they just so sweet and delightful that it's hard for many adults to resist the appeal of these colorful stixs.

Suggested Reading:

To Night Owl From Dogfish

Heartstopper

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

What kind of candy reader are you? Let us know in the comments!

You can access The Wall Street Journal from anywhere you are in the world. Use the easy shortlink: oaklandlibrary.org/wsj, opens a new window

From there, you'll need to create an account with an email address and password. I tried this out today and right away, I got instant access to The Wall Street Journal. Personally, I've been interested in learning more about using artificial intelligence (AI), so I pulled up previous articles by Alexandra Samuel, technology researcher I really trust and respect. The Wall Street Journal is especially focused on business and finance, but also have extensive coverage of world news, technology, entertainment, and other topics.

Each pass is good for three (3) days, but never fear, it's easy to renew. Return to the the shortlink, and simply enter your login/password for an additional three days. There is no limit to how many times you can renew your access.

Happy reading! Happy researching!

Event flyer [Opens .pdf]

What to Expect: 

An Engaging Author Talk: Join Chef Tu and co-author Soleil Ho as they discuss the rich themes of food, diasporic identities, and the unsung heroes in our lives. 

Meet & Greet: Meet the down-to-earth Chef Tu and get your book signed. 

Raffle Prizes: Enter for a chance to win one of 5 signed copies of The Memory of Taste and other exciting goodies! 

Refreshments & Book Sales: Enjoy light snacks while you browse and purchase your own signed copy of the book. 

Library Access: For our library enthusiasts, several copies will be available to check out during the event! 

Let’s come together to celebrate the magic of food and community! 

Date & Time: Saturday, November 9 at 2 PM 

Location: Oakland Asian Cultural Center 

388 9th Street, Suite 290 

Oakland, CA 94607  

(It is located in the plaza directly above the Asian Branch Library on the 2nd floor).

Entry: Free! 

Registering is recommended. Additional entry without registration will be allowed based on capacity limit. 

Register now and we look forward to seeing you there!

About Chef Tu David Phu: 

Chef Tu David Phu, a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star Chef, embodies a culinary narrative deeply inspired by his heritage and the resilient spirit of his refugee parents. His journey from his mother's Oakland garden to the pinnacle of culinary acclaim is a testament to his profound connection to his Vietnamese roots and culinary expertise. A two-time TEDx speaker and Top Chef alumnus, Chef Phu's prowess extends beyond the kitchen to impactful storytelling, notably through his Emmy-nominated PBS film 'Bloodline.'  

About our Partner: 

Oakland Asian Cultural Center: Celebrating and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Oakland and beyond. 

The Oakland History Center is pleased to announce our 2024 Fall History Series lineup. 

On Tuesday, October 29 at 6pm, join us for a tour of the newly remodeled Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. Formerly known as variations on "the Auditorium," tens of thousands of Oaklanders have enjoyed the facility for ceremony, entertainment, and memory-making over the years. This landmark building opened in 1915 and has hosted everything from the Oakland Christmas Pageant to high school graduations and Richard Pryor opening for the Isley Brothers. Reservations are required for this tour, and capacity is limited, so be sure to RSVP here beginning October 1.

For our other two programs this fall, we welcome you to two of our historic Carnegie library branches!

On Saturday, November 9 at 3pm at the Temescal Branch (5202 Telegraph), we welcome local author and journalist William Gee Wong, discussing his recent memoir Sons of Chinatown: a Memoir Rooted in China and America. Mr. Wong will be in conversation with Roy Chan, director of the Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project / AAPI Elder Voices Project, opens a new window. We look forward to learning more from these two expert historians of Oakland's Chinatown. 

And on Wednesday, November 13 at 6pm at the Melrose Branch (4805 Foothill Blvd), we are thrilled to host Kristen Caven, Writer in Residence at Joaquin Miller Park, on Reconsidering Joaquin Miller. Oaklanders have mixed feelings about Miller, the colorful literary figure and late 19th Century man about town. Ms. Caven will share her insights on Miller and why she thinks we should reconsider the opinions of his detractors.

We look forward to learning more about Oakland history with you! See you soon.

List created by OPLAliyahM

View Full List

No library card? Get yours now!

Welcome to another serene September at the Oakland Public Library. Summer programming has officially wrapped up (congrats again to the winners of Summer Reading) and we’re shifting gears into more cozy fall vibes. There are HUNDREDS of free events happening, so here are the highlights:

Library Card Sign-up Month

It’s Library Card Sign-up Month and our limited-edition library card designs are still available so don’t forget to stop by and sign-up for or renew your library card. We also have a special booklist coming out to celebrate. Stay tuned!

Marching in Oakland Pride

We’re going to be bursting with pride in Oakland’s parade on Sunday, 9/8 from 11am-12pm. We'll also be tabling at the children's event at Fairyland. 

Banned Books Week

The last week of the month is Banned Books Week and we’re raising awareness in the community with a program where we’ll be writing postcards to library staff, educators, and authors who have been affected by book bans.

Hands-On Skill Building Workshops

Develop your skills with our cooking classes or our resume-building workshops.

The State of Local News

Meet the faces behind local journalism and learn to evaluate the trustworthiness of your news.

Sonic Histories & Chinese Painting

We’re celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with a Chinese painting workshop at the Asian branch. Learn about Chinatown’s history through sounds provided by Chinatown Records during a sonic history living room listening party, also at the Asian branch library.

Tu Herencia

We'll also be celebrating Tu Herencia, also known as Hispanic or Latinx Heritage Month, starting September 15th until October 15th. We’ll have amazing book recommendations ready to share with you to celebrate! Here's bilingual picture book list to get you started:

Libros en español...and English, perfect for sharing both languages with children.

View Full List

Libraries play a vital role in promoting early literacy, preserving culture, and fostering community. The recent expansion of the Temescal branch library's Amharic and Tigrinya collections has made this even more possible.

At the Temescal branch library, a mother and her children read together. A common sight in the library, except in this instance, the family reads a children's book in Tigrinya. For an Ethiopian or Eritrean family, especially those new to the area, access to books in the language of their heritage can bring such comfort.

This family was happy to share their moment of library joy with you all, to inspire and spread positivity. We're even happier to provide meaningful stories in various languages to the families and community members we serve.

The Temescal branch serves a neighborhood with a considerable Ethiopian and Eritrean population. Our librarians actively respond to the needs of the community. While Temescal has had a significant collection of books in the Amharic and Tigrinya languages, recently our librarians have brought in a brand new children's book collection of bilingual Amharic/English and Tigrinya/English books. 

Check out the collections in person at the Temescal branch library! You can also search our catalog online. Find books in the Tigrinya and in Amharic. You can sort by age range using the filters in the column on the left-hand side. 

The End of Summer Celebration

National Night Out

Bay Area Manufacturing Careers

Herbalism Workshop

BikeShare for All