See Description for times.

With the onset of summer vacation, the Livermore Public Library’s three locations will be offering a variety of programs for all ages, including a total of nine storytimes each week.

On Monday, Tuesday & Thursday mornings, while infants, preschoolers and their parents enjoy an indoor program of stories, music & fingerplays, schoolagers will gather outside for their own fun event with stories, games & jokes. In the evening, Family Storytimes offer a diverse program for the whole family. Programs last approximately 45 minutes.

Storytimes are part of the library’s Summer Reading Game, “Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library”--a free program in which children can earn prizes for reading books and attending storytimes, crafts, & special events. Participation is free, and registration is not required to attend events. The Summer Reading Game begins Friday, June 13 and ends Saturday, August 16.

Main Library Artist's Gallery

In addition to the reading game, teens are invited to discover the fascinating world of model rocketry through a presentation by Lunar.org, Livermore’s own model rocketry organization on Thursday, July 24, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Storytime/Craft Room of the Civic Center Library.

Register to play the teen reading game at any Livermore Public Library Information Desk beginning Tuesday, July 1. The program concludes Thursday, July 31 with “Snack and Movie Night” including a prize raffle and a screening of the 1999 motion picture “October Sky.” For more information, please contact the library at 925-373-5505 or visit TEEN SPACE on the library’s website at www.livermore.lib.ca.us

Main Library

Public Library’s Civic Center location July 2 as part of the library’s Summer Reading Game, entitled “Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library.”

Jungle Joe and the California Puppets perform internationally in live and broadcast events for audiences of all ages. In “The Animal Puppet Trainer,” Jungle Joe’s attempts to share facts about animals in the wild are interrupted when his funny furry friends instead train Joe—and the audience—to do animal tricks and voices.

The “Animal Puppet Trainer” event will take place on Wednesday, July 2 at the Livermore Public Library’s Civic Center location, 1188 South Livermore Avenue. The free public program will begin at 10:30am, and will take place outside the library, with the audience to be seated on tarps. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for best parking and viewing opportunities, and to bring protective sun gear.

7:00pm to 8:00pm
Main Library

Main Library
10:30am

Rincon
2:30pm

Wild Things, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that houses injured and abandoned wildlife. Animal ambassadors travel all over Northern California, teaching about conservation and environmental awareness. During the “Animals of the World” program, a variety of birds, mammals & reptiles from around the world, including an alligator and a kangaroo, will be introduced.

The Animals of the World presentation will take place twice on Wednesday, July 9. The 10:30am program will be at the Livermore Public Library Civic Center located at 1188 South Livermore Avenue. At 2:30pm, the program will be repeated at the Rincon Branch Library, 725 Rincon Avenue. The free public programs will take place outside the library and the audience will be seated on tarps. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for best parking and viewing opportunities, and to bring protective sun gear.

The Livermore Public Library’s “Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library” Summer Reading Game is a free program for all young people and their families. Children earn a variety of prizes for reading books, as well as attending storytimes, crafts, and special events at Livermore’s three library locations. Participation is free and no registration is required to attend events. Special events throughout the summer are scheduled to include magic shows, puppets, animals, and international music, performance, and stories.

Main Library

Adults are invited to this free program on the second Thursday of each month in the Community Meeting Rooms of the Civic Center Library, 1188 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore

Springtown Branch

The Happy Birds are a team of performing parrots that, along with their trainers Ed & Julie Cardoza, have been entertaining audiences since 1989. The birds’ feats include bike riding, roller skating, singing opera, playing basketball and doing animal impressions. The Happy Birds have appeared on television on The Tonight Show, The Ellen Show, America’s Funniest Home Videos, and Animal Planet.

The Happy Birds will perform Saturday, July 12th at the Livermore Public Library’s Springtown branch, located at 998 Bluebell Drive. This free performance will begin at 11am, and will take place outside the library, with the audience to be seated on tarps. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for best parking and viewing opportunities, and to bring appropriate sun gear. Happy Birds is sponsored by the Ross McDonald Company.

Rincon
Branch

Randel McGee is a seasoned storytelling performer who entertains children and adults alike with his lively tales, quick sense of humor, and thoughtful insights. McGee’s partner in fun is Groark, a loveable, mischievous, guitar-playing dragon. The internationally-renowned comedy duo have been performing together for over 27 years, and have been immortalized on CD, DVD and of course, You Tube.

Randel McGee & Groark will appear Wednesday, July 23 at the Livermore Public Library’s Rincon branch, 725 Rincon Avenue. The free performance will begin at 2:30pm, and will take place outside the library, with the audience to be seated on tarps. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for best parking and viewing opportunities, and to bring appropriate sun gear.

The series kicks off on Sunday, July 6 at 2pm with Jazz Talk Quartet with Guido Fazio. Saxophonist Guido Fazio and his quartet perform contemporary and traditional jazz, as well as original compositions. Guido is a San Francisco Bay Area native and has played professionally since 1968. Along with composing and arranging for big band, he has backed celebrities such as Mel Torme, Steve Allen, Wayne Newton, Phil Woods, and Poncho Sanchez. He has co-authored a book on jazz improvisation technique with the late jazz guitarist Warren Nunes.

On Sunday, July 13 at 2pm enjoy an afternoon of historic classic jazz performances on film presented by master archivist Mark Cantor at Mark Cantor’s Giants of Jazz on Film. A well-known authority on the subject of jazz on film and professional educator, Mr. Cantor has served as a consultant in the production of many documentaries and feature film presentations, as well as books and magazine articles related to music on film, and has been seen in dozens of presentations including the Academy Award-nominated “A Great Day in Harlem” and Ken Burns’s documentary “Jazz.”

Continuing on July 20 at 2pm, the Jazz in July series next features Mary Fettig’s Brazilian Footprints cooking up some hot Brazilian jazz. Mary Fettig’s storied career as a saxophonist and flutist began when she was asked by Stan Kenton to be the first woman instrumentalist in his ground-breaking big band. She has continued a diverse recording and touring career, including stints with NPR’s Marian McPartland, latin legend Tito Puente, and Brazilian icons Flora Purim and Airto Moreira.

Concluding the month of events will be Secrets of Jazz Improvisation. Las Positas instructors Cindy Browne Rosefield, Frederic Zimmerman and Tim Devine will unlock the mystery of improvisation and show us “live” just how this artistic interpretation is achieved.

All events take place at the Livermore Public Library - Civic Center at 1188 S. Livermore Avenue. The Friends of the Livermore Library have generously underwritten this program as part of the Friends Authors and Arts Series. For additional events, check the library’s website at: www.livermore.lib.ca.us. For more information, please contact Joyce Nevins at (925) 373-5500 extension 5577.