Long Beach Public Library

Visit our new Reflections of Long Beach page to learn more about cultural programming all year long. We are launching this initiaive with a focus on celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride month. Find more information about LGBTQIA+ Pride month and the rich history reflected in Long Beach.

Rainbow Piñata 

Participants will make a colorful piñata to help celebrate Pride. Goodies will be given to fill the colorful project. Please sign-up on our events calendar as space is limited. Ages – 6-12

Wednesday, June 1st @ Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 4:00 - 5:00 PM

Saturday, June 4th @ Brewitt Neighborhood Library, 1:30 - 2:30 PM 

Thursday, June 16th @ Alamitos Neighborhood Library, 5:00 - 6:00 PM 

Thursday, June 16th @ Billie Jean King Main Library, 5:30 - 6:30 PM 

Friday, June 24th @ Bay Shore Neighborhood Library, 3:00 - 4:00 PM 

Wednesday, June 29th @ El Dorado Neighborhood Library, 12:00 - 1:00 PM 

June 8th

Teen Café Macrame
4:00 - 5:00 PM @ Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library

Tweens, and teens will learn how to use knotting techniques to create a fun macrame piece to take home with them. Come learn, share ideas, and socialize with fellow teens. Grades 7-12

June 11th

Paint with PRIDE
1:00 - 3:00 PM @ El Dorado Neighborhood Library 

Join us as Wendy Berry teaches participants to paint a Pride related theme on Canvas. Registration is required. ASL translator will be present at the event.

Heart-Shaped Mess-Free Painting for Kids
1:30 - 2:30 PM @ Brewitt Neighborhood Library

Children ages 1-8 will express their love for Pride by creating a mess-free colorful heart project using paint. Please stop by to see how colorful you can make yours!

June 16 

Movie Matinee, “Moonlight” (2016)
4:00 - 6:00 PM @ Billie Jean King Main Library, Community Room A

Directed by Barry Jenkins. The film centers Chiron, a young black man in Miami, and follows him through three pivotal stages in his life that shaped the man he grew to become. Snacks will be served during the showing of the film and additional LGBTQIA+ resources will be given.

June 25

Let’s Talk about Coffee!
1:00 - 2:00 PM @ Mark Twain Neighborhood Library

Ken Davis from Hot Java Coffee will share his journey to becoming a successful LGBTQIA+ business owner in the wonderful world of Coffee. He will share his favorite recipes and maybe provide a sample for you..or two! If you enjoy coffee a latte, then this is the program for you!

June 26

LGBTQIA+ Resource Picnic & PAW PRIDE Walk 
1:00 - 4:00 PM @ Bach Neighborhood Library

The Bach Neighborhood library is hosting their first resource picnic which serves to provide information for the LGBTQIA+ community, families and allies as we celebrate Pride. There will be fun and engaging activities, giveaways, music, and a Paw Pride Walk. Guests are encouraged to bring their fur family members for a stroll around the library to express their support for equality.

June 28 

Penned Pride: an LGBTQ+ Author Panel for Teens
4:00 - 5:00 PM @ Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library – Community Room

In partnership with The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, this wonderful panel will feature authors Naz Kutub (The Loophole); Emery Lee (Café con Lychee); Sonora Reyes (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School); and Andrew Joseph White (Hell Followed with Us) to discuss their latest books and their inspiration for writing them. Each writer will discuss how representation of the LGBTQ+ community through writing is crucial toward the path for equality.

If you would like to submit questions for the authors in advance, please send them to: joshua.sanchez@lbpl.org.

The discussion will be broadcast over Zoom for those that cannot attend in person. Sign up on our event calendar!

Stay Crafty...Teen Macrame
5:00 - 6:00 PM @ Billie Jean King Main Library

Teens grades 7-12 will learn impressive knotting techniques and create macrame! Show your Pride and make a rainbow masterpiece.

June 30

“Drag” Me to Brunch 
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM @ Billie Jean King Main Library

Please join us for our first ““Drag” Me to Brunch” event. Participants ages 15-25 will enjoy a brunch while the fabulous Master of Ceremonies (MC), Cassie and Katalina, delivers an incredible performance with an additional stand-up routine. Our talented hosts will also engage our guests in a fun activity. There will be food, a photo booth, opportunity drawings, and fun conversations. Come mingle and make friends as we celebrate Pride! Space is limited to 50. Sign up on our event calendar!

Virtual Programs

YouTube Channel – Our Own Voices

Storytime Rainbow 

RED

Friday, June 3rd - 10:00 AM @ Bach Neighborhood Library

Get red-y for a storytime for toddlers featuring fire trucks, apples, and ladybugs galore!

Friday, June 24th 10:30 AM @ El Dorado Neighborhood Library

Join this preschool storytime featuring the Little Red Hen and lots of other red things!

ORANGE

Saturday, June 4th - 10:30 AM @ Bay Shore Neighborhood Library

Check out stories and songs about the orange things in life...like tigers, carrots, butterflies and aardvarks!

Friday, June 17th – 11:00 AM on Facebook Live! 

Tune in on Facebook Live! to watch this storytime featuring a regal, orange insect that flies thousands of miles every year!

YELLOW

Tuesday, June 7th - 4:00 PM @ Mark Twain Neighborhood Library

Don’t miss out on this mellow storytime about sunflowers, school buses, and the yellow-est of objects: the sun!

Saturday, June 11th – 3:00 PM @ Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library

Make a bee line straight to this buzzworthy bilingual storytime about bees and honey!

Vuelen derechito a esta hora de cuentos bilingüe acerca las abejas y la miel.

GREEN 

Friday, June 3rd – 10:30 AM @ Brewitt Neighborhood Library

You’ll be green with envy if you miss out on this storytime packed with frogs, alligators, and things that grow!

Saturday, June 4th – 10:30 AM @ Harte Neighborhood Library

The green grass grows all around in this storytime all about the great outdoors!

BLUE

Friday, June 10th – 10:30 AM @ Los Altos Neighborhood Library

Get blue, in a good way, with this storytime about bluebirds, blueberries, and of course...summer skies!

Saturday, June 11th – 11:00 AM @ Billie Jean King Main Library

Find serenity in this blue storytime about finding peace in oneself and in nature. Encuentra serenidad con esta hora de cuentos que se trata del azul y la paz en uno mismo y en la naturaleza.

PURPLE

Friday, June 17th – 10:30 AM @ Alamitos Neighborhood Library

Purple abounds in this storytime featuring books about all things lavender, amethyst, lilac, and even mauve!

Friday, June 24th – 12:00 PM @ Burnett Neighborhood Library

Sing the colors song and read about the color purple! ¡Canten la canción de los colores y lean un libro sobre el color morado!

LGBTQIA+ Loteria – All Ages

Join us as we celebrate Pride with this version of Loteria. Participants will learn LGBTQIA+ terms in this engaging hour of fun. Prizes will be given.

Saturday, June 11th @ Alamitos Neighborhood Library 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Thursday, June 16th @ Los Altos Neighborhood Library 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Wednesday, June 29th @ Burnett Neighborhood Library 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Rainbow STEAM 

What do you get when you mix mineral oil, water, and food coloring? A colorful rainbow rainstorm. Please stop by to see how colorful yours will be. Ages 8-12

Thursday, June 9th @ Alamitos Neighborhood Library 5:00 - 6:00 PM 

Saturday, June 11th @ Brewitt Neighborhood Library 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Saturday, June 25th @ Bayshore Neighborhood Library 1:00 - 2:00 PM