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Reclaiming Tradition, Reclaiming Health
November 4 - December 14: What was lost by native people whose land was colonized, their customs suppressed, and their property seized? Our new event series explores the cultural renaissance experienced as new generations rediscover old ways.
Don't miss our accompanying exhibition, A Voyage to Health, produced by the National Library of Medicine. It looks at the ancient arts of navigation and voyaging that brought the people of Hawai'i to their island homes, and how by restoring their heritage, a new generation of voyagers seeks to heal the people
| Monday, November 4 7:00-8:00 pm | Decolonization in Action: Photojournalist Rucha Chitnis | From a Māori town reviving its language to Native Americans claiming their ancestral land, Rucha Chitnis has met women leading change, and shares their compelling narratives in words and in pictures. |
| Tuesday, November 12 6:00-8:00 pm | Film and Discussion: What Was Ours | This documentary follows three Native Americans traveling together in search of missing artifacts in the vast archives of Chicago's Field Museum. Afterward, join us for a discussion with members of Stanford Native American Graduate Students. |
| Wednesday, November 20 6:30-7:30 pm | The Rebirth of Polynesian Voyaging | The double-hulled sailing canoes that brought the first Hawaiians to their island home had disappeared from earth for over 600 years, until the inaugural voyage of the Hōkūleʻa in the 1970s revitalized that traditional culture. Our guest speaker, Jonathan Ching, is a longtime crew member. |
| Monday, December 2 6:30-7:30 pm | Healing from Trauma Through Traditional Arts | Learn about intersection of tradition and health, as guest artists associated with the Alliance for California Traditional Arts introduce us to the healing benefits of Kapu Aloha and Afro-Cuban rumba. |
| Wednesday, December 4 7:00-8:00 pm | Film Screening: Nā Kamalei: The Men of Hula | From ancient times, to the suppression of the dance under missionary ban, the hula survived underground for many years until the cultural renaissance of the 1970s. |
| Monday, December 9 6:30-7:30 pm | Honor the Past to Shape the Future | Kanyon Coyote Woman Sayers-Roods was raised in Indian Canyon, the only federally-recognized Indian country from Sonoma to the coast of Santa Barbara. She offers a conversation about acknowledging our colonial past and the land we share, and strategizing a sustainable, healthy future. |
| Thursday, December 12 2:30-3:30 pm | Film Screening: American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i | After years of being shadowed by stereotypes, the hula is experiencing a rebirth that celebrates Hawaiian culture. Hawaiians—wherever they live—are challenging misconceptions by redefining the evocative storytelling art across the American mainland. |
Literature Book Club
Drop in to discuss a wide range of contemporary literary works: novels, short stories, essays, and poetry. Meets at the Main Library on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:15-8:30 p.m.
November 12: An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones
December 10: Dubliners, by James Joyce
January 14: The Sea, by John Banville
February 11: Improvement, by Joan Silber
Financial Planning Day
Saturday, November 16: (Main Library) Register now for a free, no strings attached private consultation with a financial expert, on financial issues that matter to you .
Intro to Manga
Saturday, November 16: (Belle Haven Branch) Register for a free introductory lesson in the art of Japanese comics--no artistic experience required!
Book-ish Trivia Night
Friday, November 22: (Main Library) It's a special, after-hours event just for adults 21 and over!
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club
Escape to other worlds through sci-fi, fantasy, horror, dystopia, and more. Meets at the Main Library on the 4th Monday of each month from 7:15-8:30 p.m.
November 25: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
December 23: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, by Cory Doctorow
January 27: 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
February 24: All Systems Red, by Martha Wells
Knitting Meetup
Meet the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7-9 p.m. to crochet, knit, sew and laugh! All skill levels welcome.
No meeting in November due to early library closure for Thanksgiving holiday.
Board Game Meetup
Would you like to play a game? Drop in and join us on the first Sunday of each month, from 12:30-3:30 p.m., for a chance to relax and unwind with other adults! A variety of games will be provided, and our facilitator will help explain how to play. Feel free to bring a game of your own to share! Please note: Beginning in 2020, our meetups will move to the second Sunday of each month.
Spinners Meet
It's a brand-new group! Meet up with hand spinning enthusiasts to spin and share techniques and ideas on creating your own beautiful unique yarns. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your spindles, spinning wheels or e-spinners! Meets the first Sunday of each month from 12:30-3:30 p.m.