2023 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:
Celebrations
Celebracion de la Independencia
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Logan Heights Library
Come celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Logan Heights Library. The library will be hosting a craft, as well as the Baile Folklorico dancers.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Mt. View/Beckwourth Library
Celebrate Hispanic/Latin Heritage at the Mountain View/Beckwourth Library. There will be free fun cultural themed activities and crafts for the whole family to enjoy!
Event Schedule
4 p.m. | Spanish Storytime
4:30 p.m. | Folklorico Painting Craft
4:30 p.m. | Face Painting and Balloon Animals
5 p.m. | “I Love Drumming” educational concert with Drummers Without Borders
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Central Library
Celebrate Nuestra Cultura with stories, traditional tortilla making, and a screening of Encanto. Join us for some Spanish and a side of tortilla!
Event Schedule:
5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Storytime and tortilla making
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Screening of Encanto
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
Join us for a Fiesta to celebrate Latine Heritage Month. Make some música in a fun drum circle, create some arte, and listen to some bilingual cuentos! Drum circle is presented by Drummers Without Borders.
Lotería
Come and play the traditional game of Lotería with the library! Win prizes and have fun with new friends.
- Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
- Thursday, September 14, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
- Friday, September 15, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library
- Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Otay Mesa-Nestor Library
- Sunday, September 17, 2023 | 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Otay Mesa-Nestor Library
- Monday, September 18, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Kensington-Normal Heights Branch
- Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | San Ysidro Library
- Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | North University Community Library
- Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Mission Hills Library
- Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Tierrasanta Library
- Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Point Loma/Hervey Library
- Saturday, October 7, 2023 | 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Otay Mesa-Nestor Library
Storytimes
Tiny Tots University/Universidad de Pequenos
Thursday, September 14, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Cuentos y Cantos (Bilingual Storytime for Children)
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Central Library
Nuestra Cultura Storytime & Chalk Art
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Rancho Bernardo Library
Tiny Tots University/Universidad de Pequenos
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Friday, September 29, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Thursday, October 12, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Balboa Library
Preschool Storytime & Craft with Ms. Dana: A Nuestra Cultura Program
Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Point Loma/Hervey Library
Bilingual Storytime: Spanish (Hora del Cuento Bilingüe: Español)
Saturday, October 14, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | North University Community Library
Children’s Programs
Libraries across the City are hosting story times, crafts, and more that explore Nuestra Cultura!
Vejigantes Mask Take-home Kit
Friday, September 1 - Saturday, September 30 | Skyline Hills Library
While supplies last.
Every Tuesday | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Logan Heights Library
Note: To register your child, please email LOstaff@sandiego.gov
Create-It Thursday: Shrink-a-dinks
Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Create-It Thursday: 3D Alebrije Workshop
Thursday, September 14, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Quetzalcóatl Paper Chain Take & Make Craft Kit: A Nuestra Cultura Program
Monday, September 18, 2023 | 11:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Point Loma/Hervey Library
While supplies last.
Create-It Thursday: Nicho Boxes
Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Crafting Culture: Huichol (All Ages)
Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | College Rolando Library
Registration required.
Afternoon Crafting: Ojos de Dios
Saturday, September 27, 2023 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Pacific Beach Library
Create-It Thursday: Guatemalan Kites
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Art Smarts presents Axolotl Art - Celebrating Nuestra Cultura!
Monday, October 2, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | San Ysidro Library
Registration required.
Latino Heritage Month: Making Altar Boxes
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Mira Mesa Library
Registration required.
Adult & Teen Programs
Oasis Presents: Frida Kahlo's Art (multiple locations)
- Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Mission Valley Library
- Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Mission Hills – Hillcrest/Knox Branch Library
- Monday, September 25, 2023| 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Ocean Beach Library
Pesos: The Rise and Fall of a Family (Author Talk)
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. | La Jolla Library
Celebrating Nuestra Cultura: Repujado
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library
Registration required.
Mexican Inspired Knotted Headband (Teens)
Thursday, October 10, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Logan Heights Library
Registration required.
Amantes de la Lectura - Novelas Hispano-americanas en Espanol
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | North University Community Library
Film Screenings
Picture This: Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library
Picture This: Spare Parts (2015)
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library
Monday, September 18, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. | Central Library’s Neil Morgan Auditorium
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | College-Rolando Library
Featured Art at Logan Heights Library
Information about the Artists and featured artwork: Fast Facts | Exhibition Checklist
Book Display
Videos
Books for Good Trouble
Conversations with Poets
Conversations with Poets
Conversations with Poets
Conversations with Poets
Conversations with Poets
General Interest
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.
Community Resources
Booklists