CONNECT with the City2024 Nuestra Cultura Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15
San Diego Public Library presents Nuestra Cultura, a series celebrating and recognizing the rich heritage, history, contributions and culture of our Latin American and Indigenous communities. We recognize that there is deeply rooted pride in heritage and that self-identities are important, unique and may change over time. We celebrate with an array of programs for all ages and recommended reading and listening lists from our English and Spanish collections.
La Biblioteca Pública de San Diego presenta Nuestra Cultura, una serie que celebra y reconoce la rica herencia, historia, contribuciones y cultura de nuestras comunidades latinoamericanas e indigenas. Reconocemos que existe un orgullo profundamente arraigado en la herencia y que las identidades propias son importantes, únicas y pueden cambiar con el tiempo. Celebramos con una variedad de programas para todas las edades y listas de lectura y escucha recomendadas de nuestras colecciones en inglés y español.
Quick links:
Featured Programs
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Reach for the Stars
Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Oak Park Library
Celebrate Nuestra Cultura at our family fiesta! Join us for our student essay contest award presentation, storytime, crafts, ballet folklorico, local Latino authors, and more. Refreshments will be provided and opportunities to win copies of the books From Farmworker to Astronaut and El Niño Que Toco Las Estrellas. Presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Library.
Día de los Muertos Storytime with Ms. Jackie
In honor of Nuestra Cultura (our library's version of National Hispanic Heritage Month) and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), we will host a special storytime led by Ms. Jackie! She will read stories and sing and play guitar. The storytime will be followed by a sugar skull craft.
- Monday, October 21, 2024 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. | North University Community Library | While supplies last
- Monday, October 21, 2024 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | San Ysidro Library | While supplies last
- Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Mira Mesa Library | Registration Required
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Carmel Valley Library
- Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Clairemont Library
- Monday, October 28, 2024 | 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Mission Hills Library | Registration Required
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | While supplies last
- Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | University Community Library
- Thursday, October 31, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Balboa Library | Registration Required
Storytimes
Dance It Out! Bilingual Storytime /¡Baila! Hora de cuentos bilingüe
Every Wednesday | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Logan Heights Library
Join us in this dancing storytime that geared towards toddlers and their parents. Enjoy new and classic stories of all kinds and get ready to get all those wiggles out and dance away the jiggles and pent-up energy!
Únase a nosotros en esta hora de cuentos con baile dirigida a los niños pequeños y sus padres. ¡Disfruta de historias nuevas y clásicas de todo tipo y prepárate para sacar todos esos movimientos y bailar para alejar los movimientos y la energía reprimida!
Afternoon Spanish Storytime at Pacific Beach/Taylor Library
Bilingual Storytime with Ms. Patricia
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
Join us every 2nd Tuesday for Spanish Bilingual Storytime! This storytime is meant for children to experience early Spanish literacy skills.
¡Únase a nosotros para la hora de cuentos bilingües en español! Esta hora de cuentos está destinada a que los niños experimenten el aprendizaje temprano en español.
Bilingual Storytime - SPANISH/ENGLISH (Ages 5-8)
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 & October 22, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Rancho Bernardo Library
Join Ms. Lea for an engaging storytime with stories and songs in English and Spanish!
Spanish Storytime
Monday, October 14 & 28, 2024 | 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library
Enjoy bilingual stories and songs for children!
Bilingual Storytime!
Thursday, October 17, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Mountain View/Beckwourth Library
Join us every third Thursday of the month for a very special bilingual Spanish storytime. Here children will be introduced to different languages, songs, stories and fun!
Día de los Muertos storytime
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 10:30a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Kensington-Normal Heights Library
In honor of Nuestra Cultura (our library's version of National Hispanic Heritage Month) and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), we will host a special storytime led by Ms. Jackie! She will read stories and sing and play the jarana. The storytime will be followed by a sugar skull craft.
Crafts & More
Create-it Thursday: Nuestra Cultura 3D Paper Alebrijes
Thursday, October 3, 2024 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration Required
Join us to celebrate Nuestra Cultura by making your own paper 3D Alebrije! Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican Folk Art Sculptures of mystical creatures. We see and hear a lot about Alebrijes during Day of the Dead celebrations!
Children's Bilingual Spanish Conversation Night (Grades 1-5)
Monday, October 7, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Carmel Valley Library
Bilingual Spanish/English conversation night - practice your Spanish while mingling with others or playing Lotería. We will play games, and converse in Spanish. *(Program Age is ideally set for grades 1st to 5th)
Create-it Thursday: Nuestra Cultura Repujados
Thursday, October 10, 2024 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration Required
Join us to celebrate Nuestra Cultura! Join us to craft your own Repujados or Heart Tins! “Repujados” refers to the technique used to create embossed or raised designs with metal or leather. They are a popular Mexican art form.
Nuestra Cultura: Make your own Tortillas
Monday, October 14, 2024 | 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Central Library, 1st Floor Denny Sanford’s Children Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us at the library by joining our hands-on workshop, Make Your Own Tortillas! No prior cooking experience is needed.
Featured Art
The Aztec Brewing Company Rathskeller at Logan Heights Library
Formerly located in Barrio Logan, the Aztec Brewing Company was one of the largest breweries on the West Coast. The brewery had a lavishly decorated tasting room called the rathskeller that featured colorful murals by Spanish artist Jose Moya del Pino. Thanks to grassroots efforts by the community, these murals have been preserved and now are on display in the community room of Logan Heights Library.
For more information on the works on display at Logan Heights Library:
Videos
2023 San Diego Central Library staff dance to
"La Chona" by Los Tucanes de Tijuana
Dreamers Lost + Found with Lizz Huerta
Books for Good Trouble
Margarita Pintado from Puerto Rico to San Diego
Conversations with Poets
Adrián Arancibia on empowering the next generation
Conversations with Poets
Looking back with Deborah Ramos
Conversations with Poets
Karla Cordero on Teaching & Creating Space for Students
Conversations with Poets
Olga García, Influence of Grandmothers & Being a Poet
Conversations with Poets
Community Resources
San Diego is home to many community groups that celebrate Nuestra Cultura. For more information, visit the links below:
- Sherman Heights Foundation: The Sherman Heights Community Center (SHCC) was founded in 1984 and serves 20,000 residents a year who live in Sherman Heights and the nearby communities of Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Barrio Logan, San Ysidro and other South Bay communities.
- House of Mexico: A nonprofit organization focused on developing and implementing on-going programs that serve the community and reflect our mission to share, celebrate, educate and promote the rich art, culture and history of Mexico to San Diego and its visitors.
- Centro Cultural de la Raza: The Centro’s mission is to create, preserve, and educate about Chicano, Mexicano, Latino and Indigenous art and culture.
- Barrio Logan’s Art Community: Barrio Logan is home to a thriving artists' community, with a rich cultural tradition headlined by the district's crown jewel, Chicano Park. The park is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is an iconic destination where visitors can explore Chicano history in one of the largest collections of public murals in North America. The art community in Barrio Logan has taken a nod from Chicano Park and is home to numerous artist collectives, galleries and events including the monthly Barrio Art Crawl.
- The Front Arte Cultura: The mission of the Front Arte Cultura is to boost Arts & Culture in the San Ysidro – Tijuana region, and to give space to new, diverse, and innovative projects and ideas.