CLOSED: Christmas

All Palo Alto City libraries will be closed Thursday, December 25 for Christmas. Mitchell Park and Rinconada libraries will reopen on Friday, December 26 at 10 a.m. Please note: Downtown, College Terrace & Children's Library will remain closed December 24 through Janu......More

All Palo Alto City libraries will be closed Thursday, December 25 for Christmas. Mitchell Park and Rinconada libraries will reopen on Friday, December 26 at 10 a.m. Please note: Downtown, College Terrace & Children's Library will remain closed December 24 through January 1. Our eLibrary is open 24/7!

Meditation with Sara

Join us for a guided meditation experience with Sara.  Welcome to all experience levels.  This will be a seated meditation session that lasts about 30 minutes. 

Tai Chi with Nelson Ng

Join us for a weekly Tai Chi session with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance, through slow and gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Che......More

Join us for a weekly Tai Chi session with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance, through slow and gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Chen's Tai Chi in 1989 from Master Gene Chen, who was a disciple of Grandmaster of Feng ZhiQiang. Nelson has been teaching since 2014. This class is free and open to beginners as well as those who have previous Tai Chi experience. People of all ages are welcome. You must sign in upon arrival.

ICYMI Movie Double Feature

In case you missed it in theaters, you can see it at the library! Close out 2025 with a double feature of The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! and ......More

In case you missed it in theaters, you can see it at the library! Close out 2025 with a double feature of The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! and The Naked Gun. Feel free to bring along an extra comfy chair and settle in for a cozy afternoon at the Rinconada Library. 1:30pm The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) 3:00pm The Naked Gun (2025) Light snacks will be provided.

Early Closure: New Year's Eve

Mitchell Park and Rinconada libraries will be closing early at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31. Please note: Downtown, College Terrace & Children's Library will remain closed December 24 through January 1. Our e......More

Mitchell Park and Rinconada libraries will be closing early at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31. Please note: Downtown, College Terrace & Children's Library will remain closed December 24 through January 1. Our eLibrary is open 24/7!

CLOSED: New Year's

All Palo Alto City libraries will be closed on Thursday, January 1 for New Year's Day. Our eLibrary is open 24/7!

Meditation with Sara

Join us for a guided meditation experience with Sara.  Welcome to all experience levels.  This will be a seated meditation session that lasts about 30 minutes. 

Acting for Stage & Camera Workshop

Whether you’re new to acting or already have experience, in this fun, no-pressure class, you’ll learn how to make any scene feel more real and more you. We will explore simple tools that help you get out of your head, connect with a partner, and bring truth and spontan......More

Whether you’re new to acting or already have experience, in this fun, no-pressure class, you’ll learn how to make any scene feel more real and more you. We will explore simple tools that help you get out of your head, connect with a partner, and bring truth and spontaneity to the moment. Come ready to play, explore, and surprise yourself. No prepared material required. Instructor: Sarah Gaboury. On-set acting coach Sarah Gaboury recently wrapped work on Season 3 of the Netflix hit XO, Kitty and will next be heading to Canada to coach all the young members of the cast on a feature film with J.K. Simmons. Her recent on-set credits include NBC’s This Is Us, Hulu’s Paradise, and Ryan Murphy’s Doctor Odyssey on ABC. Sarah also works privately with professional actors preparing for major TV, film, and theatre roles — including coaching a main cast member of Ozark for their Season 3 scenes. Based in Los Angeles, Sarah has led her on-camera and online acting studio for over 20 years, supporting both emerging talent and established performers in bringing their most authentic work to the screen. Instructor: Matt Pittenger. Recent acting credits include 9-1-1 on FX, Community and Mr. Robinson on NBC and the film Thief Collector. Matt continues to work professionally in commercials, television, film, and audiobook narration, bringing the same creativity and joy he inspires in his students to every project he takes on.

Tai Chi with Nelson Ng

Join us for Tai Chi sessions with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance through slow, gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Chen's Tai Chi ......More

Join us for Tai Chi sessions with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance through slow, gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Chen's Tai Chi in 1989 from Master Gene Chen, who was a disciple of Grandmaster Feng ZhiQiang. Nelson has been teaching since 2014. This class is free and open to beginners as well as those who have previous Tai Chi experience. People of all ages are welcome. You must sign in upon arrival.

Shut Up & Write!

Looking for a place for a weekly silent writing session? Join us in Rinconada Library's spacious Embarcadero Room every Wednesday morning right after the library opens. Feel free to find a table in the library to continue writing until closing at 6 p.m.  It's not nece......More

Looking for a place for a weekly silent writing session? Join us in Rinconada Library's spacious Embarcadero Room every Wednesday morning right after the library opens. Feel free to find a table in the library to continue writing until closing at 6 p.m.  It's not necessary to register but you will receive email reminders if you do, or you can keep track of all local SUAW! events on MeetUp at Shut Up & Write!® Silicon Valley.

Year of Letters: Celebrate Connection Through Greeting Cards

Join us at the library for Year of Letters, a heartwarming program where people come together to create and send greeting cards!  Whether you want to brighten someone’s day, share a special message, or simply enjoy the art of card making, this is the perfect space to e......More

Join us at the library for Year of Letters, a heartwarming program where people come together to create and send greeting cards!  Whether you want to brighten someone’s day, share a special message, or simply enjoy the art of card making, this is the perfect space to express yourself.  Come craft beautiful, handmade cards, meet fellow card makers, and celebrate the timeless joy of thoughtful communication.  No experience needed, we'll have all the supplies on hand, just bring your creativity and a warm heart!  Drop by and be part of a year filled with kindness, connection, and handwritten love.  Let’s make every letter count!

Pageturners: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Palo Alto Pageturners meets on the second Thursday of the month in the Embarcadero Room. At the end of each year, we suggest ......More

Palo Alto Pageturners meets on the second Thursday of the month in the Embarcadero Room. At the end of each year, we suggest and vote on books to read and sometimes invite local authors to discuss their books.  You don't have to register, but you will receive a reminder email if you register. Here's our reading list for 2026: My Friends by Fredrik Bachman - January The Wager: A Tale of a Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann - February South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami - March Trespassers at the Golden Gate: A True Account of Love, Murder, and Madness in Gilded-Age San Francisco by Gary Krist - April The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui - May The Wedding People by Alison Espach - June Unlikely Animals: A Novel by Annie Hartnett - July Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe  - August The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - September We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - October What We Can Know by Ian McEwan - November The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon - December Sign up for the library newsletter and never miss another program!

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

Meditation with Sara

Join us for a guided meditation experience with Sara.  Welcome to all experience levels.  This will be a seated meditation session that lasts about 30 minutes. 

Chinese Calligraphy with Jojo Liu

Join us for a class in Chinese calligraphy with Jojo Liu.Chinese calligraphy is one of the most traditional art forms in the world and is truly representative of Eastern art and culture. Teacher Jojo Liu's grandfather inspired and taught her to practice Chinese calligr......More

Join us for a class in Chinese calligraphy with Jojo Liu.Chinese calligraphy is one of the most traditional art forms in the world and is truly representative of Eastern art and culture. Teacher Jojo Liu's grandfather inspired and taught her to practice Chinese calligraphy from a young age.  A current board member for the San Francisco Chinese Arts Association (舊金山中華藝術學會) as well as a member of the American Artist Association (美國藝術家協會), Jojo Liu's work was published in the 2018 San Francisco Chinese Arts Association Member Catalogue and in the 2019 Chinese American Artists in Los Angeles Member Catalogue. Materials will be provided and you will leave with an example of Chinese calligraphy.

Tai Chi with Nelson Ng

Join us for Tai Chi sessions with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance through slow, gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Chen's Tai Chi ......More

Join us for Tai Chi sessions with Nelson Ng! In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind Tai Chi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance through slow, gentle movement.  Nelson started learning Chen's Tai Chi in 1989 from Master Gene Chen, who was a disciple of Grandmaster Feng ZhiQiang. Nelson has been teaching since 2014. This class is free and open to beginners as well as those who have previous Tai Chi experience. People of all ages are welcome. You must sign in upon arrival.

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

Shut Up & Write!

Looking for a place for a weekly silent writing session? Join us in Rinconada Library's spacious Embarcadero Room every Wednesday morning right after the library opens. Feel free to find a table in the library to continue writing until closing at 6 p.m.  It's not nece......More

Looking for a place for a weekly silent writing session? Join us in Rinconada Library's spacious Embarcadero Room every Wednesday morning right after the library opens. Feel free to find a table in the library to continue writing until closing at 6 p.m.  It's not necessary to register but you will receive email reminders if you do, or you can keep track of all local SUAW! events on MeetUp at Shut Up & Write!® Silicon Valley.