For an appointment, call (661) 868-0770.
The Genealogy Room is open to the public during regular library hours. Genealogical Society Volunteers are available Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
| Day |
Date |
Time |
Event |
Meet friends, have fun, and win
prizes. The tournament will be held every Friday at
3:30 pm beginning on January 27th and ending on
February 24th. |
 Volunteer Opportunities: Beale's Orientation Meetings are in Gates Computer Lab, 2nd floor. For more information, call 661-868-0745.
Volunteer Orientation: Saturday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m.
Volunteers for all other branches, please call your local branch.
|
Library Tours: Library Tours are available by appointment. Elementary schools (Grades 1 - 6) please call the Arkelian Children's Library, (661) 868-0750. Secondary schools & adults (Grades 7 and up), please call the Reference Desk, (661) 868-0770.
For all other branches, please contact your neighborhood library. |
| Tue |
all |
11 a.m. |
Toddler Storytime - 18 months to 2 years. |
| Tue |
all |
3:30 p.m. |
Wii Kinect Teens @ the Library - Meet people & play video games. |
| Thu |
all |
5 p.m. |
U.S. Citizenship Class - Learn what you need to know in order to pass the U.S. Citizenship test and what to expect during the test. Classes will meet for 6 consecutive Thursdays from Feb. 2 through Mar. 6. Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Fri |
all |
10:30 a.m. |
Preschool Storytime - Stories for ages 3 - 5. |
| Fri |
all |
3:30 p.m. |
Teen Gaming Tournament - The competition continues with Dance Dance Revolution & Dance Central. Auditorium, 1st floor. |
| Sat |
all |
2 - 4 p.m. |
Math Clinic & Homework Help - Get help with math! Registration required: call 868-0770. GMP Room, 2nd floor. |
| Thu |
2/2 |
6 p.m. |
Homeschooling 101- Choosing to Homeschool. A month-long series to help parents learn the facts about educating their children at home. Each week will focus on a different topic. Lake Room, 1st floor. |
| Thu |
2/2 |
6:30 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Documentary Film Showing - PBS’s documentary film “American Experience: The Freedom Riders.” An inspirational documentary about a band of courageous civil-rights workers who traveled to the Deep South determined to test segregated travel facilities and put an end to prejudice and racism. Auditorium. |
| Sat |
2/4 |
1 p.m. |
Scrapbooking 101 - Bring in photos and markers for a hands on scrapbooking workshop. Lake Room, 1st floor. |
| Sat |
2/4 |
2 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Oral History Presentation - California Freedom Rider, Claude Liggins will share his personal experiences as a Freedom Rider fifty years ago and will evaluate the progress of racial equality today. He will be joined by Mrs. Janie McKinney, who was the 12 year old girl who offered water and help to the
Freedom Riders when the bus was bombed on the way to Jackson, Mississippi. Auditorium. |
| Tue |
2/7 |
11 a.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Toddler Time - Parents are invited to accompany their 18-month through 2-year old children for music, nursery rhymes, stories, interactive play; featuring works by African-Americans. Children's Library. |
| Thu |
2/9 |
6 p.m. |
Homeschooling 101- Where to Find Homeschooling Support Groups and Other Resources. A month-long series to help parents learn the facts about educating their children at home. Each week will focus on a different topic. Lake Room, 1st floor. |
| Sat |
2/11 |
11 a.m. |
Writer's Workshop. Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Sat |
2/11 |
11 a.m. |
Barks and Books - Children, build your reading skills by sharing stories with a Therapy Dog. |
| Wed |
2/15, 2/22, 2/29 |
11 a.m. |
Sensory Story Time - Join us for hands-on learning as we engage all of the senses through music, movement, stories and play. Ideal for children who have difficulty sitting through regular story times. Registration is required (call 661-868-0750). Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Thu |
2/16 |
6 p.m. |
Homeschooling 101- Father's Panel: Homeschool Dads Share Their Perspective. A month-long series to help parents learn the facts about educating their children at home. Each week will focus on a different topic. Lake Room, 1st floor. |
| Thu |
2/16 |
6:30 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Documentary Film Showing - PBS’s The Murder of Emmett Till. Emmett Till was a 14-year old black youth who was brutally murdered for whistling at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. His story became a powerful catalyst for the civil rights movement. Auditorium. |
| Fri |
2/17 |
10:30 a.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Preschool Storytime - Families are invited to learn tips and tricks on creating family storytimes, featuring stories by African-Americans. Children's Library. |
| Sat |
2/18 |
2 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Panel Book Discussion - An engaging discussion addressing some of the racial, moral, and domestic abuse issues posed in Kathryn Stockett’s novel, “The Help”. Panelists will share personal and family experiences of the domestic work world in the Deep South during the 1960’s. Auditorium. |
| Tue |
2/21 |
5 p.m. |
Beginning Guitar Class - Bring your own guitar to learn chords and songs. Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Wed |
2/22 |
3:30 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Children's Art Event - ‘60s Art: Art activity for school-aged children. Supplies will be provided. Children's Library |
| Thu |
2/23 |
6 p.m. |
Homeschooling 101- How to Get Your Homeschooler into College. A month-long series to help parents learn the facts about educating their children at home. Each week will focus on a different topic. Lake Room, 1st floor. |
| Sat |
2/25 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
2012 Harlem & Beyond: Lecture - Your Story: Research Your African American Ancestry. An introductory class on how to begin tracing your African American heritage using FamilySearch.org and other genealogical resources; Presented by the Kern County Genealogical Society. Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Tue |
2/28 |
5 p.m. |
Crochet - Bring your own crochet hook (any size), and smooth, lightweight yarn. Tejon Room, 2nd floor. |
| Wed |
2/29 |
4 p.m. |
Read Across America - Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with educators from the Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association reading favorites from Dr. Seuss. |
| Free Computer Classes |
All classes are held in the Beale Memorial Library, Gates Computer Lab, 2nd floor, 701 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301. All classes except Computer Basics require knowledge of keyboard and mouse. The Gates Computer Lab is closed 30 minutes before and after each class. For more information call: 661-868-0770.
Want to learn more? See the Computers and Technology page for more tutorial resources. |
| Wed |
all |
11 a.m. -
1 p.m. |
Personal Computer Coach - Sign up at the Reference Desk or call 868-0770 to reserve 30-minute sessions with a volunteer for one-on-one computer coaching. |
| Fri |
2/10 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Computer Basics: Keyboard & Mouse - Learn to use the mouse and keyboard commands and shortcuts in this introductory class. |
| Sat |
2/11 |
4 - 6 p.m. |
Internet Basics - Online experts will discuss their tips and tricks for finding reliable websites and for developing effective search strategies. |
| Sat |
2/18 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Microsoft Word 2003: Templates & Themes - Explore several of the templates that come with Microsoft Word: create resumes, calendars, memos and brochures using the formatting & styles of the templates. Basic knowledge of MS Word is required. |
| Fri |
2/24 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Finding Funders for Nonprofits - Learn tips, tricks, and tools on searching for online grant funding sources for nonprofit organizations. |
Located in downtown Bakersfield, the Beale Memorial Library is the central research library for Kern County. The 127,000 square feet facility is built around a 4,000 square feet atrium and has room for 200 vehicles in the parking lot. Many of the furnishings, art and specialized collections in the new facility were provided through private donations to the Kern County Library Foundation.
The original Beale Memorial Library was dedicated on June 2, 1900, a gift to the city of Bakersfield by Mrs. Mary E. Beale and her son Truxtun in memory of their husband and father, General Edward Fitzgerald Beale. That building was destroyed in the 1952 earthquake. A second Beale Library was completed in 1957; the library moved to the present location in April, 1988.
701 Truxtun Avenue