For an appointment, call (661) 868-0770.
The Genealogy Room is open to the public during regular library hours. Genealogical Society Volunteers are available Monday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
| Day |
Date |
Time |
Event |
| The Civil War & Kern County, Saturday 7/24, 11 am. Join the discussion, read soldiers' letters home, and learn how the War influenced local history. Presented by Local History Librarian, Christopher Livingston. Lake Room. |
| Wed |
|
10 a.m. |
Library Tours - Elementary school classes call the Arkelian Children's Room, (661) 868-0750. |
| Fri |
|
10 a.m. |
Library Tours - Secondary school classes call the Reference Desk, (661) 868-0770. |
| Thu |
7/1 |
11:15 a.m. |
Let's Talk Book Discussion: Mudbound, by Hilary Jordan. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/8 |
11:15 a.m. |
Let's Talk Book Discussion: Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/8 |
2 - 4 p.m. |
Volunteer Orientation, call for information: 868-0784. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/8 |
6 p.m. |
Free Movie: Lovely Bones, rated PG-13, 136 mins. Auditorium. |
| Wed |
7/14 |
4 - 6:30 p.m. |
Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc. Book Sale Begins! Pre-Sale Day for Members Only. Memberships will be sold at the door. Auditorium. |
| Thu |
7/15 |
11 a.m. -
6:30 p.m. |
FOL Book Sale Open to the Public. |
| Thu |
7/15 |
11:15 a.m. |
Let's Talk Book Discussion: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. |
| Fri |
7/16 |
10 a.m. -
5:30 p.m. |
FOL Book Sale. Auditorium. |
| Sat |
7/17 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Volunteer Orientation, for information call 868-0784. Lake Room. |
| Sat |
7/17 |
10 a.m. -
5:30 p.m. |
FOL Book Sale. Half-Price Day. Auditorium. |
| Tue |
7/20 |
4 p.m. |
TAG! Teen Advisory Group Meeting. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/22 |
11:15 a.m. |
Let's Talk Book Discussion: Cream Puff Murder, by Joanne Fluke. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/22 |
2 - 4 p.m. |
Volunteer Orientation, call for information: 868-0784. Lake Room. |
| Sat |
7/24 |
11 a.m. |
The Civil War & Kern County. Join the discussion, read soldiers' letters home, and learn how the War influenced local history. Presented by Local History Librarian, Christopher Livingston. Lake Room. |
| Thu |
7/29 |
11:15 a.m. |
Let's Talk Book Discussion: Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Lake Room. |
| Sat |
7/31 |
10 a.m. -
2 p.m. |
Go West Day. Kern County Library presents a program of music, storytelling, and historical vignettes, for all ages, at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. Admission is a $1 donation to the BMA. |
| Kids Summer Reading Program Events |
| Fri |
all |
10:30 a.m. |
Make a Splash Storytime |
| Thu |
7/1 |
4 p.m. |
Omnipresent Puppet Theater presents, "The Fisherman's Wife" |
| Thu |
7/8 |
4 p.m. |
Aquarium Mural Art |
| Thu |
7/15 |
4 p.m. |
Pirate Luau |
| Thu |
7/22 |
4 p.m. |
Working Wildlife with Jeff Lee |
| Teen Summer Reading Program Events |
| Fri |
7/2 |
3 p.m. |
Slight of Hand: The Card Tricks of David Reichelt - See amazing slight of hand magic and learn some tricks. Tejon Room |
| Wed |
7/7 |
3 p.m. |
Teens Talk Books: 24 Girls in Seven Days by Alex Bradley. What to do when every girl wants to be your date. Lake Room |
| Fri |
7/9 |
3 p.m. |
Teen Double Event: The Vampire's Assistant, by Darren Shan and movie screening of Cirque du Freak: Vampire's Assistant. Auditorium. |
| Wed |
7/14 |
3 p.m. |
Teens Talk Books: Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. Be you a fan or a critic, come and share your views of this best-selling teen series. Lake Room |
| Fri |
7/16 |
3 p.m. |
Bubble Science - Make bubbles and discover their secrets. Tejon Room |
| Wed |
7/21 |
3 p.m. |
Teens Talk Books: The Best & the Worst. Bring your favorite and the not so favorite summer reads. Lake Room |
| Fri |
7/23 |
3 p.m. |
Water Olympics - Join other teens and compete for prizes. Tejon Room |
| Computer Classes |
| The Gates Computer Lab seats 20 people, first come first seated. All classes are free and open to the public. The Lab is closed to the public 30 minutes before and after each class. |
| Sat |
7/10 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Computer Basics |
| Sat |
7/17 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Internet Basics |
| Sat |
7/24 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
You've Got Mail! Introduction to email, set up and learn to manage an email account. |
| Sat |
7/31 |
10 a.m. -
12 p.m. |
Microsoft 2003 Word |
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