All Contra Costa County library branches offer programs for children, teens, adults and families. All branches will be closed Nov. 11 for the observance of Veterans Day, and Nov. 25-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. For updated information and regular operating hours, contact the local branch, call 800-984-4636 or visit www.ccclib.org.

  • At the Clayton Community Library, Story Time sessions are free.

    Patty Cakes Story Time: for children up to 3 years old attending with a caregiver, is at 11 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 1, and features songs, rhymes and stories with an aim to early literacy.

    Picture Book Time: for children 3-5 years old who may attend without a caregiver, is at 11 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 3.

    Midwives on Mission of Service — a Clayton Reads Program: 2 p.m. Nov. 8. Patricia Ross and Christie McManus work with low-income women in the rain forests of Sierra Leone to educate birth attendants with a focus on improving maternal and infant health.

    Daughters of Afghanistan documentary — a Clayton Reads program: 7 p.m. Nov. 9. The movie follows four women and a girl as they pursue their dreams of liberation in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

    Three Cups of Tea book discussion — a Clayton Reads program: 7 p.m. Nov. 16. Librarian Karen Hansen-Smith will moderate the discussion.

    Tea

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    Party — a Clayton Reads program: 4 p.m. Nov. 19. For children ages 6-10 (and a parent or caregiver). Participants will enjoy light refreshments and surprises. Advance registration is required. Call 925-673-0659 or visit the library.

    2009 Tax Incentives for Individuals & Businesses: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 5. Zachary Sahar, a CPA with the firm Capital Tax & Accounting, will present topics such a tax issues related to foreclosure, short sale and bankruptcy; energy tax credits, part of unemployment benefits that may be tax free, expansion of child tax credit and more. Register at 925-646-5377.

    The library is at 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. Call 925-673-0659. Hours: 1-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

  • At the Concord Library, Story Time programs are free. For morning programs, registration is suggested, but not required.

    Baby Time: from 10-10:20 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 1, is for children ages 6 months to 2 years attending with a caregiver. It features short picture books, songs, bounces and finger plays.

    Toddler Time: for children ages 2-3½ attending with a caregiver, is from 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 1, and features short picture books, songs, finger plays and flannel board stories.

    Preschool Story Time: 1:30-2 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 2 (no sessions Nov. 11, 25), for children 3½-5 and featuring stories, songs and finger plays.

    Family Story Time: 7-8 p.m. Mondays through Nov. 30. The Nov. 9 session is "High Seas Adventures" and participants will make a fish using recycled CDs and hear salty stories.

    Games! Games! Games! 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 19, for ages 8-11. Register at the library.

    Wii Gaming for Teens: 4:30-5:30 p.m. during the Tuesday Teen Lounge the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

    Teen Lounge Crafts: 4:30-5:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Teens are invited to participate in craft programs.

    Day of the Dead: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5. The library hosts a Day of the Dead program with crafts, pastries and performers. Register online or at 925-646-5455. All are welcome.

    Teen Advisory Group: 2:30 p.m. Nov. 7. TAG members help create and organize teen programs, recommend books, movies and music, design displays and brainstorm ideas. To be a member, fill out the volunteer application — an make a note about interest in TAG — and drop it off at the library.

    Teen Book Club @ the Concord Library: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Teens are invited to discuss "The Knife of Never Letting Go," by Patrick Ness, the first book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, in which power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron pursue Todd and Viola across New World as they search for answers about his colony's true past and seek a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers.

    New Moon Party at the Concord Library: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Teens celebrate the movie release for Stephenie Meyer's book, "New Moon," the second in the Twilight series. There will be activities and prizes. Sign up at the library.

    Free Practice ACT & SAT Tests with Kaplan: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 14, and follow-up session from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 19, for parents and students. Students take the ACT or SAT on Nov. 14, and the next week learn to score higher using Kaplan strategies and maximizing efficiency. Registration is required at www.kaptest.com/college., call 800-KAPTEST (800-527-8378) or call the library at 925-646-5455.

    For adults, the Concord Mystery Book Club: 2:30 p.m. the second Sunday of every month. The Nov. 8 discussion is on "Frumious Bandersnatch" by Ed McBain.

    Holiday Book Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 28. Concord Friends of the Library fall sale has books for all ages and interests.

    Bag o' Books Sale: 1-4 p.m. Nov. 29. Buy a bag of books for $3.

    The library is at 2900 Salvio St., Concord. Phone: 925-646-5455. Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.