Adults
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As vaccinations rise, Menlo Park prepares to expand access to city services and city facilities. Check out our 4-phase city reopening plan.
Virtual Exhibition: California Votes!
Aug. 25-Oct. 5: Just in time for California’s anniversary of statehood and another wild election period, Menlo Park’s latest online exhibition takes visitors on a ride through state electoral history.
Menlo Park Equity Series
with Mary Montle Bacon, Ph.D.
What is the difference between equality and equity, and how can we achieve better lifetime outcomes for people in our pluralistic culture, regardless of ethnicity, economic status, learning style, or other differences? Pop in for one or two discussions, or join us for the whole series.
| Tuesday, Sep. 28 | Opportunities Denied, Promises Not Kept: Racism and Bias—The African American Journey | What are the interpersonal and institutional impediments to success that African Americans experience? |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Beyond Cultural Competence to Embracing Cultural Humility: The Challenge of Diversity in a Culturally Pluralistic Society | Explore the value of viewing the world from the multiple perspectives that diverse populations bring. |
Book groups – online!
Join us virtually, to talk about some great reads! Our Melanated Reads group meets on the 1st Monday of each Month, our Fiction Book Group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, our Mystery Readers Group convenes on the 3rd Wednesday, and our Sci-Fi/Fantasy group gets together on the 4th Monday.
| Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Group | Monday, Sep. 27 | I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov |
| Melanated Reads | Monday, Oct. 4 | When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole |
| Fiction Book Group | Tuesday, Oct. 12 | The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates |
| Mystery Readers Group | Wednesday, Oct. 20 | Ghostly Mysteries |
Story Time for Adults
Odd-numbered Fridays: We know you’re never too old to enjoy a good story! Take a break at noon on "odd Fridays," as your Menlo Park librarians read aloud to you.
Latinos Beyond Reel:
Virtual Screening and Filmmaker Visit
Enjoy a free virtual screening, and meet one of the directors! Latinos Beyond Reel is a documentary that explores and analyzes the stereotypical portrayal of Latinos in U.S. news and media.
| Friday, Oct. 1 - Friday, Oct. 15 | Virtual Screening | Watch the film, at your leisure. |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Meet the Filmmaker | One of the directors of Latinos Beyond Reel will drop by to answer your questions! |
Together for Mental Health
Mental illness affects everyone--either directly, or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. That is why each year, the first week of October is designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week, to raise awareness, fight discrimination, and provide support.
| Tuesday, Oct. 5 | Mental Health 101 | Learn the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and take away ideas about how to help yourself, friends, or family members who may be in need of support. |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | Seeing Through Stigma | Our guests talk about their own mental health challenges, sharing their experience, strength and hope for the rest of us. |
Garden Talk: Native Plants
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Learn about some great plants for your garden, all of which have the advantage of being both drought-tolerant and low-maintenance!
Cooking Demonstration: A Taste of Oaxaca
Thursday, Oct. 14: What makes a dish Oaxacan? Chef Zaida Soriano is from Oaxaca, and she’ll talk about the food of her culture, as she shows us how to make a dish or two. Cook along, if you like!
Missing the Cinema?
Enjoy access to thousands of streaming movies on Kanopy--free to Menlo Park residents with your library card--and join us online for some interesting discussions!
| Monday, Oct. 4 | Film Discussion Meetup: The Dinner Game | |
Hung Liu: Golden Gate
Monday, Oct. 18: Hung Liu used the Socialist Realist style of painting to portray oppressed groups in China–and the oppressed Chinese workers in California history–in a grand, re-centered style, reexamining history.