Live! From the Library
Live! From the Library brings our community together through engaging conversations and inspiring experiences that celebrate ideas, learning, the arts and the vital role of our libraries.
Live! programs are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm in the Oak View Room unless noted.
We hope you will join us for these free events!
2026-27 Live! Programs
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
October 13
WCLF is delighted to offer a delectable peek into Center REP’s Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 pm in the Oak View Room.
The nationally acclaimed hit Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors asks one simple question: Who doesn’t need a sharp and pointed belly-laugh right about now? Bram Stoker’s legendary creature of the night comes to titillating and scintillating life in this fast-paced, outrageous adaptation that will leave you screaming for more! Told by five actors performing nearly 20 characters, ridiculous is the name of the game in this gothic horror tale turned tour de force of physical performance. Center REP’s Matt Morrow also joins us in conversation.
From Grain to Glass - Beer 101
January 12, 2027
Dry January? No, thank you! Go behind the scenes of the craft beer industry with Matt Sager, a local professional brewer from Danville Brewing Company. Learn how a career in brewing begins, what actually goes into making beer, and what it takes to operate a small, community-focused brewery.
This approachable program will cover the essential ingredients and brewing process, common beer styles, popular misconceptions, and the business realities behind every pint. The evening will also include a guided tasting of four different beers, followed by an audience Q&A.
No prior beer knowledge is necessary. Attendees participating in the tasting must be 21 or older.
Charged Particles
December 8
WCLF is proud to welcome back Charged Particles: Jazz With a Spark on Tuesday, December 8 at 7 pm in the Oak View Room.
Highlights for the band in recent years have been a performance on the main stage of Yoshi's San Francisco jazz club accompanying French Vietnamese guitarist Nguyen Le playing his compositions, an appearance accompanying vocalist Kevyn Lettau singing her compositions at Cafe Cordiale in Los Angeles, and performances in the Los Angeles area with keyboardist David Garfield.
Where the Girls Were
March 9, 2027
Loosely based on her mother’s experience, Where the Girls Were tells the story of a bright teenage girl in the late 1960s in San Francisco who finds herself pregnant and is sent away to have the baby in secret and put it up for adoption. To protect the family's reputation and hide the shame, the girl is sent away to a private, isolated Victorian maternity home for unwed mothers. Inside the house, Baker connects with other pregnant teenagers, finding unexpected solidarity and strength amidst a system designed to keep them hidden.
The author and local educator Meg Honey will explore the books themes and connection to the Bay Area. A perfect selection for books clubs, the book can be purchased at Orinda Books.
Authors Against Banned Books
February 9, 2027
Maggie Tokuda-Hall is the author of numerous award winning, best-selling children’s and young adult books including Love in the Library, The Mermaid the Witch and The Sea duology, Squad, and The Worst Ronin. She has been called “… one of the most unflinching voices in contemporary genre literature.”
Join us for a talk with Maggie about the organization Authors Against Book Bans that she co-founded, when she faced censorship as an author, and the power of books, storytelling and diverse voices.
Live! From the Library, presented by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation, features free public lectures, literary events, and cultural programs at the Walnut Creek and Ygnacio Valley libraries.
Thank you to program sponsor Friends of the Walnut Creek Library.
Donations to WCLF provide funding for Live! From the Library.
* Special accommodations require 72 hours advance notice.
The views and opinions expressed in any program are those of the speaker/persons and do not reflect the views of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.
Program sponsors:
View past events
Missed a Live! From the Library program? Want to revisit one of our exceptional evenings with authors, educators, and cultural leaders?