Family Storytime

Join us on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on ......More

Join us on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!

Mindfulness Meditation

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no regist......More

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and/or meditation cushions. Chairs are available for those who do not bring them. Phuong is a Buddhist nun experienced in leading mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about Phuong here and can watch her meditation videos on the library's YouTube channel here.

Medicare Mysteries Solved!

Are you getting ready to apply for Medicare and are confused by the different plans to choose from? Join Sandra Karol, MS, RDMS, RVT, for a monthly workshop and learn more about the different plans that will work best for you and your family. Please register directly......More

Are you getting ready to apply for Medicare and are confused by the different plans to choose from? Join Sandra Karol, MS, RDMS, RVT, for a monthly workshop and learn more about the different plans that will work best for you and your family. Please register directly with Sandy at [email protected]. Attendee limit is 10 people per session.

Neurosphere: Neuroscience and More! Grades 2-7

Come join teen-led group NeuroSphere! NeuroSphere is a community for curious 3rd-8th graders about medicine! This session will dive into the basics of brain function, fun activities to test your brainpower, and an introduction to future career opportunities. There wil......More

Come join teen-led group NeuroSphere! NeuroSphere is a community for curious 3rd-8th graders about medicine! This session will dive into the basics of brain function, fun activities to test your brainpower, and an introduction to future career opportunities. There will be snacks- feel free to bring a friend! We're a group of high school students driven by a passion for neuroscience and the wonders of the brain. Our mission is to inspire curiosity and spark a love for science in younger students by creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Through NeuroSphere, we hope to share our knowledge, connect with the community, and encourage the next generation of future scientists and innovators! Questions? Email [email protected] This program is open for 3rd-8th graders only.

Vintage Media Lab

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park but......More

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park button near the top of the page. Otherwise, check back on the first Monday of the month for another chance to sign up. Each appointment includes a skilled volunteer or staff person to assist you. Appointments are limited to a single two-hour appointment per week per person. Because space and time in the Vintage Media Lab is limited, we appreciate your cooperation in regard to equipment, storage and cleanliness. What to Bring Laptop SD Card, Memory Card USB Drive, Flash Drive or Memory Stick External Hard Drive Your Vintage Media!

Y2K Approved! DIY Hershey Kiss Rose Bouquet

Celebrate an early Valentine's Day at the library with a creative, hands-on activity! Participants will craft a charming rose bouquet - perfect gift that will give you that 2000s nostalgia to gift or enjoy. This program is for intended for tweens, teens and adults onl......More

Celebrate an early Valentine's Day at the library with a creative, hands-on activity! Participants will craft a charming rose bouquet - perfect gift that will give you that 2000s nostalgia to gift or enjoy. This program is for intended for tweens, teens and adults only (Ages 11+). All supplies are provided. Registration required; space is limited.

Basics of Self-Care

Busy schedules can make it difficult to practice self-care, but there are still steps you can take to do it. During this interactive and experiential workshop led by La Selva Community Clinic, partici......More

Busy schedules can make it difficult to practice self-care, but there are still steps you can take to do it. During this interactive and experiential workshop led by La Selva Community Clinic, participants will discuss self-care and what it means to each of us. Participants will also learn the different types of self-care, why it is essential to practice it frequently, and basic and simple things you can do to have your own self-care practice. La Selva is an adult residential and outpatient behavioral health treatment program located in Palo Alto. La Selva Community Clinic provides a full spectrum of mental health services for English and Spanish speaking adults. Registration is not required but individuals who register will receive an email reminder prior to the program.

Vintage Media Lab

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park but......More

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park button near the top of the page. Otherwise, check back on the first Monday of the month for another chance to sign up. Each appointment includes a skilled volunteer or staff person to assist you. Appointments are limited to a single two-hour appointment per week per person. Because space and time in the Vintage Media Lab is limited, we appreciate your cooperation in regard to equipment, storage and cleanliness. What to Bring Laptop SD Card, Memory Card USB Drive, Flash Drive or Memory Stick External Hard Drive Your Vintage Media!

Vintage Media Lab

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park but......More

Preserve your old photographs, home movies, records and cassettes! How to Access Check the Vintage Media Lab page. If appointments are still available for the month, click the Book@Mitchell Park button near the top of the page. Otherwise, check back on the first Monday of the month for another chance to sign up. Each appointment includes a skilled volunteer or staff person to assist you. Appointments are limited to a single two-hour appointment per week per person. Because space and time in the Vintage Media Lab is limited, we appreciate your cooperation in regard to equipment, storage and cleanliness. What to Bring Laptop SD Card, Memory Card USB Drive, Flash Drive or Memory Stick External Hard Drive Your Vintage Media!

Graphic Novel Author Panel

Monthly book discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group! This program is for readers age 16 and up. 2025-2026 titles: September 11: Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud (1994), 224 pages......More

Monthly book discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group! This program is for readers age 16 and up. 2025-2026 titles: September 11: Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud (1994), 224 pages October 9: Artificial: A Love Story by Amy Kurzweil (2023), 368 pages November 13: The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2024), 160 pages December 11: The House by Paco Roca (2019), 134 pages January 8: In: A Graphic Novel by Will McPhail (2021), 272 pages February 12: Special presentations by book club members who are authors: Mimi & Soni Discover Dussehra Legends by Devika Joglekar (2019), Kye in the Valley of Gold by Kyle Hurlbut (2024), Smiling Through the Mask by Daniele Archambault (2022), as well as artist Deborah J. Miller who will be sharing her current project. March 12: Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls (2024), 400 pages April 9: Yellow Cab by Benoit Cohen (2022), 168 pages May 14: 40 Men and 12 Rifles: Indochina 1954 by Marcelino Truong (2023), 296 pages Titles can be borrowed from the Palo Alto City Library and through our Link+ system - click on the links above or search in our catalog for more information. Meetings are held in person in the Midtown Room at Mitchell Park Library and facilitated by Danièle Archambault. The GNBC has been meeting since 2015! Danièle Archambault, Ph.D. (Linguistics), is a researcher, author, and educator who is interested in comics as a way to document a society's cultural and linguistic landscape. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, she now lives in Palo Alto, where she is an artist in residence at the Cubberley Artist Studio Program, a program of the City of Palo Alto. In the past few years, she has published several full-color comic books, graphic novels, and electronic books. Ms. Archambault is a regular guest speaker on documenting culture and dialects through comics at various educational and cultural institutions. She teaches Visual Storytelling at the Palo Alto Art Center, and at other educational venues. http://danielebd.com/

Learn English: Beyond the Basics

English as a Second Language (ESL) / Learn English: Beyond the Basics is an in-person 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in......More

English as a Second Language (ESL) / Learn English: Beyond the Basics is an in-person 8-week class with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation, and idioms. It is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English and want to improve their pronunciation and understanding.  To register for the entire 8-week series, please include your email address and make sure it is entered correctly. Registration closes on the 3rd week of class.

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

Family Storytime: Celebrate Valentine's Day!

Join us on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on ......More

Join us on Saturdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library. Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!

Mindfulness Meditation

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no regist......More

Come and improve your mental and physical health in mindfulness meditation sessions led by Phuong Pham. Each session is 45 minutes of sitting and/or walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of group sharing and Q&A. It is open to all levels of experience and no registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and/or meditation cushions. Chairs are available for those who do not bring them. Phuong is a Buddhist nun experienced in leading mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about Phuong here and can watch her meditation videos on the library's YouTube channel here.

Family Craft: Pom-Pom Love Bugs

Make a cute little pom-pom love bug for someone special to celebrate Valentine’s Day using googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and colorful pom-poms. Family Craft events are designed for children ages 4-11 and their adult companions to enjoy together. Crafts will be available......More

Make a cute little pom-pom love bug for someone special to celebrate Valentine’s Day using googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and colorful pom-poms. Family Craft events are designed for children ages 4-11 and their adult companions to enjoy together. Crafts will be available while supplies last, so please arrive on time. While registration isn’t required and doesn't guarantee a spot, it is recommended if you'd like a reminder about the event.

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

ArtSEE Expression: “Glow Globe Art” – A Light-Up Craft Workshop

Join ArtSEE Expression for a hands-on art workshop where participants will create a glowing globe using simple materials. Each child will decorate a clear ornament with tissue paper and Mod Podge, then place it over an LED tea light to create a soft, glowing effect. Th......More

Join ArtSEE Expression for a hands-on art workshop where participants will create a glowing globe using simple materials. Each child will decorate a clear ornament with tissue paper and Mod Podge, then place it over an LED tea light to create a soft, glowing effect. This workshop focuses on creativity, color, and basic crafting techniques in a relaxed and supportive environment. All materials will be provided, and no prior art experience is needed.

External Event: Media, Information and AI Literacy

How do we know what’s real, what’s fake, and who’s behind the messages we see every day?In an age of endless content, viral trends, and AI-generated videos that look almost too real to be fake, learning how to navigate media is more essential than ever.Join us for an i......More

How do we know what’s real, what’s fake, and who’s behind the messages we see every day?In an age of endless content, viral trends, and AI-generated videos that look almost too real to be fake, learning how to navigate media is more essential than ever.Join us for an interactive workshop where parents and kids (3rd - 8th grade) will explore the evolving media landscape together, from social media feeds to the latest breakthroughs in AI-generated video tools. Through hands-on examples, guided discussion, and take-home strategies, families will walk away with: Tools to spot misinformation and manipulated media Simple questions to ask when evaluating online content A better understanding of how AI is reshaping what we see and what we believe Let’s build curiosity, clarity, and confidence in how we engage with the digital world together. This workshop will be hosted in the Reboot Room located on the second floor of Mitchell Park Library. This workshop is presented by Mei-Flower.

CLOSED: Presidents' Day

All Palo Alto City libraries will be closed on Monday, February 16 for Presidents' Day. Our eLibrary is open 24/7!