Summer Reading Festival

Contra Costa County Library kicks off its annual Summer Reading Festival with a special appearance by best-selling and critically-acclaimed author, Jonathan Franzen (Freedom, The Corrections). Mr. Franzen will appear at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $12.00 and are available now at 925.943.SHOW (7469) or online at www.lesherartscenter.org.

Closer to Home

Our Summer Reading Festival (Dream Big – Read) runs Saturday, June 9 through Saturday, August 18. Reading records are available at Hercules & Pinole Libraries — pick one up to earn prizes just for reading! The Summer Reading Festival is for all ages, with programs for babies, kids, teens and adults.  Check out live music, arts & crafts, and the opportunity to reap the benefits of reading and earn thrilling prizes all summer long. 

Music and live performers

We have plenty of live entertainment, starting with Patrick Landeza at the Hercules Library on Saturday June 30 at 3 p.m. The San Francisco Chronicle says Patrick plays Hawaiian Slack Key from the heart and soul, through the fingers, exuding the spirit of aloha in his music. The Oakland Tribune calls Patrick one of the most talented and passionate guitarists you can see play live. Our musical journey wends its way from the Hawaiian Islands to the Emerald Isle with Celtic Sands, an Irish folk trio that’s been described as little bit Gypsy and a dazzle of poetry and fun in Hercules on Saturday July 14 at 3 p.m. Our three-hour tour ends in the Caribbean via the Pinole Library with Shabang! Feel the sand between your toes as you enjoy authentic Caribbean calypso steel drum music Wednesday July 11 at 7 p.m.

The campfire may be imaginary, but the singing is definitely for real when kids join Bonnie Lockhart in the night-time tradition of spirited singing around the fire in the Pinole Library July 11 at 7 p.m. For families who want comedy, check out Thomas John for juggling and zany fun at the Hercules Library Monday July 16 at 1 p.m  You'll laugh and laugh at clever tricks coupled with shenanigans.

Science and technology

Young naturalists can explore this summer as we bring the zoo and museum to you! Dinosaurs rock Monday July 30 at 7 p.m. at the Hercules Library. Investigate massive fossils and exciting dinosaur artifacts. The Oakland ZooMobile brings its animal ambassadors to the Pinole Library! Small animals and animal artifacts will be on hand to teach kids Wednesday August 1 at 2:30 p.m. Please note this is an afternoon program, as the animals have an early bed time.

Snoopy and the Peanuts gang are coming! The Schulz Museum turns the Hercules Library into a science museum with over 15 fun, nature-related interactive exhibits. Students will explore and learn about the environment by making their own recycled paper, designing and racing solar cars, planting a garden to take home, measuring their carbon footprint, experimenting with animal adaptation, and more on Tuesday June 26 at 3 p.m. At the Pinole Library children will draw Snoopy cartoons and make crafts while learning about the beloved artist and his characters on Monday August 13 at 3 p.m. Both activities are designed for school-age children. Younger children are welcome with an adult.

We have science and technology for the adults, too. Search for another Earth and Intelligent Life in the Universe with UC Berkeley Astronomy Professor Geoff Marcy, Monday July 9 at 2 p.m. at the Hercules Library. Our eReader workshops continue this summer as well with Kindle workshops at the Pinole Senior Center (call the senior center at 724-9800 to register) on Monday July 9 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and a Nook & Sony Reader workshop at the Hercules Library (245-2420) Thursday July 19 at 1 p.m. Space is limited in all of these workshops so reserve your spot ahead of time.

Keep Dreaming, Keep Reading!

Are you like us and just can’t stop reading?  This year, starting June 30, everybody can Keep Dreaming, Keep Reading! Finishers will receive an invitation to join us. Participants can continue to track their reading hours and submit book reviews. At the end of the summer they can print a congratulatory certificate.