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.

Summer Reading Adventure 2021
Row of young adults sitting along wall with books

June 1-August 31: Our Summer Reading Adventure is here! It's for all ages. Adults, teens, and children can discover great books, enjoy activities and online events, and earn prizes. Sign up today!

Garden Talk: Fall Crops

Outdoor wooden barrel with broccoli, cabbage, and other growing vegetables

Wednesday, Aug. 4: Let's help you get growing with some wonderful cruciferous vegetables!

Book groups – online!
Books, stacked diagonally

Join us virtually, to talk about some great reads! Our new Melanated Reads group meets on the 1st Monday of each Month, our Fiction Book Group (formerly the "Literature 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.

Melanated ReadsMonday, Aug. 2My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Fiction Book GroupTuesday, Aug. 10Ficciones, by Jorge Luis Borges
Mystery Readers GroupWednesday, Aug. 18
Famous Historical People as Detectives
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book GroupMonday, Aug. 23The Empress of Salt and Fortune, by Nghi Vo
Melanated ReadsMonday, Sep. 13Kindred, by Octavia Butler

Uneven Ground:
Inequity on the Mid-Peninsula
Map of the local area, with qualities and problems labeled

Monday, Aug. 9: Journalist Kate Bradshaw discusses her groundbreaking report on the myriad ways land use decisions affect health in the communities of North Fair Oaks, East Palo Alto, and Belle Haven.

Storyteller Diane Ferlatte: Better Days a Comin’Storyteller Diane Ferlatte at a microphone, in front of theatrical curtains

Thursday, Aug. 12: Grammy-nominated storyteller Diane Ferlatte, accompanied by musician Erik Pearson, shares tales to remind us to never lose hope, because better days are coming.

Story Time for Adults
Tiny toy people with books, sitting on the edge of a real book

Every other Friday: 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.

Missing the Cinema?

Old-fashioned cinema film reel, with film partially unspooled across table
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, Aug. 2 Film Discussion Meetup: Jafar Panahi’s Taxi

Menlo Park Equity Series
with Mary Montle Bacon, Ph.D.
Head shot of Dr. Mary Bacon, plus images of hands holding up the letters spelling equity

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, Aug. 17The Promise of America, Far Greater Than Its Reality: Achieving Equity, an Introduction
What are the underpinnings of a truly equitable society, and how does the notion of privilege impact our daily lives?
Tuesday, Aug. 31Touch Each Life; Teach Each Child: Achieving Excellence in the Context of Equity for All
What are the barriers to academic achievement for students of color, those with fewer economic advantages, or those with differing learning, communication, or behavioral styles?
Tuesday, Sep. 14Implicit Bias: The Equal Opportunity Virus
Explore how our unconscious associations get in the way of our public embrace of the concept of equity.
Tuesday, Sep. 28Opportunities 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. 12Beyond 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.


From Yellow Peril to the Model Minority Myth: Asian Americans in the U.S.
Label stuck on wood is printed with the words "please remove this label"

Wednesday, Aug. 18: Over the course of our history, how has the view of Asian Americans gone from “Yellow Peril” to “Model Minority” – and what are the negative impacts of that Model Minority myth?

Toxic Positivity
Person in hazmat suit, smiling and gesturing thumbs-up

Wednesday, Aug. 25: Positivity is seen as a good thing, but serious contemporary issues impact many among us—and emotions did evolve for a reason. Dr. Stephanie Preston will address the topic.

The Chinese Kitchen Garden: Growing Techniques and Family Recipes
Various Chinese vegetables, including shiitake mushrooms and napa cabbage

Thursday, Aug. 26: It's a cooking demo and a gardening program! Learn how to grow and enjoy a wide variety of Asian vegetables with gardener, home cook, and author Wendy Kiang-Spray.

Book-ish Trivia

Stack of books, topped with a rack of wooden letters spelling out "TRIVIA"Friday, Aug. 27: We're celebrating the end of our Adult Summer Reading Adventure with an evening of fun book-related trivia! Have fun answering questions about books, movies, music and more.

Virtual Tour: GLBT Historical Society

Evening view through the windows of the GLBT Historical Society MuseumMonday, Aug. 30: Take a virtual trip to San Francisco’s Castro District, and learn about the Bay Area’s rich queer history.