Staff Picks

New Staff Lists

The Town's TBR: A Community Generated Booklist

Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran recommends 5 must-read non-fiction books about Oakland on Instagram and Oaklanders chimed in!

Happy 250th Birthday USA!

This list includes books on the founding period, political development, and major social and historical changes in the USA.

Cookbooks for the Cookout

Spend the summer outside with your loved ones with these cookbooks about grilling meat, fish, vegetables, and more.

Go Analog!

Go Analog! We hope you try slowing down, being creative, or trying something new!

Fiction

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July 2026

This book list brings together fiction and nonfiction from our catalog that touch on mental health across diverse communities.

Adult Hot Summer Reads ️

Recommended to you by Library Aide Xana Pierone

Celebrating LGBTQ Month at Oakland Public Library, 2026

Below is a list of both fiction and non-fiction books that are held at the Oakland Public Library dedicated to the LGBTQ topics.

Celebrate AANHPI Voices (for all ages)

A selection of books by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander authors for adults, teens, and children

Non-fiction

The Town's TBR: A Community Generated Booklist

Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran recommends 5 must-read non-fiction books about Oakland on Instagram and Oaklanders chimed in!

Happy 250th Birthday USA!

This list includes books on the founding period, political development, and major social and historical changes in the USA.

Cookbooks for the Cookout

Spend the summer outside with your loved ones with these cookbooks about grilling meat, fish, vegetables, and more.

Go Analog!

Go Analog! We hope you try slowing down, being creative, or trying something new!

Non-fiction

Graphic Novels on Monsters & Monstrosity

These horror graphic novels take a look at monsters and monstrosity from different angles.

Superman: Finding Home

Delve deeper into Superman's lore or discover other graphic novels & books that explore themes of identity, belonging, courage, & empathy.

2024 Harvey Award Nominees

The nominees for this year’s Harvey Awards, celebrating the best comics of the prior publishing year. How many can you read by award time?

Within the Kingdom of magic and madness: Studio Ghibli

Enjoy the wonders of Studio Ghibli's animations' other works through music, art books, graphic novels, documentaries, and more.

Staff Favorites

Best of

For teens

Teens

Go Analog!

Go Analog! We hope you try slowing down, being creative, or trying something new!

Disability Pride for All Ages

July is Disability Pride Month. Celebrate and learn with one of these great books!

10 Weeks of Adventure: Middle Grade Summer

Ten middle grade books to inspire an exciting summer. Jump into the deep end with your summer reading!

For children

Children

Books for Families Impacted by Incarceration

A collection of titles about the varied experiences of families and children impacted by incarceration.

Asian Experiences in Children's Books

We selected our favorite books reflecting Asian experiences.

Favorite Family Read-aloud Books

Your OPL librarians selected our favorite books for reading aloud as a family. We hope you enjoy reading this stories together!

Libby AppLibby App

Find out all about using this exciting resource with your OPL card.
Find out all about using this exciting resource with your OPL card.
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