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.

Featured Celebrations

Celebrate Nuestra Cultura at the Library!
Sept. 17 | 4 p.m. | Rancho Bernardo Library  

Decorate the sidewalk with chalk, listen to Latin music for kids, and enjoy a paleta (popsicle)! All ages welcome. No registration necessary. While supplies last.

 

Hispanic Heritage Celebration! 
Sept. 18 | 4 p.m. | Logan Heights Library  

Bring the whole family for an afternoon celebrating Hispanic culture. Participants will have an opportunity to create crafts, play Loteria and gain insights into the richness of Hispanic Heritage!

Día de los Muertos Storytime with Ms. Jackie

In honor of Nuestra Cultura and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Ms. Jackie will read stories, sing and play guitar. Events marked with an asterisk (*) are followed by a sugar skull craft, while supplies last.

• Oct. 14 | 4 p.m. | Otay Mesa - Nestor Library*
• Oct. 15 | 10:30 a.m. | College-Rolando Library*
• Oct. 16 | 3 p.m. | University Heights Library*
• Oct. 21 | 6 p.m. | Tierrasanta Library
• Oct. 22 | 10 a.m. | Ocean Beach Library
• Oct. 22 | 3 p.m. | La Jolla Library*
• Oct. 23 | 10:30 a.m. | Point Loma Library*
• Oct. 23 | 4 p.m. | Pacific Highlands Ranch Library
• Oct. 24 | 11 a.m. | Mira Mesa Library
• Oct. 25 | 10:30 a.m. | Kensington Library*
• Oct. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Rancho Bernardo Library*
• Oct. 29 | 10 a.m. | Carmel Valley Library
• Oct. 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Carmel Mountain Ranch Library*
• Oct. 30 | 10 a.m. | Balboa Library
• Oct. 31 | 2 p.m. | City Heights/Weingart Library*
• Nov. 1 | 10 a.m. | Paradise Hills Library*
• Nov. 4 | 6 p.m. | Rancho Peñasquitos Library 

Storytimes & Crafts

Dance It Out! Bilingual Storytime /¡Baila! Hora de cuentos bilingüe
Sep. 17 | 10 a.m. | Logan Heights Library 

Nuestra Cultura Storytime 
Sep. 17 | 11 a.m. | Mira Mesa Library

Spanish Storytime 
Sept. 22 | 3 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library 

Bilingual Storytime Play & Stay - ¡Cuéntame un cuento! 
Sept. 26 | 10:30 a.m. | Skyline Hills Library  

Arts and Crafts 

Thursdays | 3:30 p.m. | Logan Heights Library 

• Papel Picado | Sept. 25   

• Tin Bracelet | Oct. 2  

• Mini Piñata | Oct. 9  

   

DIY @ the IDEA Lab: Modeling Clay Skull | Teens 
Sept. 30 | 4 p.m. | Logan Heights Library 

Nuestra Cultura Storytime 
Oct. 8 | 10 a.m. | Carmel Mountain Ranch Library

Amate Art  
Oct. 11 | 1 p.m. | Central Library | Discovery Corner 

 

Adult Programs

Mexican Milagro Hearts
Sept. 17 | 3 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library | Registration Required

Picture This: Encanto (2001)
Sept. 19 | 1 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library

Healthy Cooking: Hispanic Heritage Edition
Sept. 25 | 4 p.m. | Logan Heights Library

Amantes de la Lectura. Novelas Hispano-Americanas en Español 
Sept. 27 | 2 p.m. | North University Community Library

Latin Jazz Concert: Julio Valdés y Mar Picao!
Sept. 27 | 4 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library

Picture This: In the Time of the Butterflies (2001)
Sept. 30 | 4 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library

Book Discussion: Afterlife
Sept. 30 | 5 p.m. | Logan Heights Library

Book Club: Anita de Monte Laughs Last
Oct. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library

Cinema Club: Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Oct. 28 | 5:30 p.m. | La Jolla/Riford Library

Oasis Lecture: Cortés and Moctezuma II, The Meeting of Two Worlds with Maria Butler
Nov. 15 | 2:30 p.m. | Mission Hills/Hillcrest Library

Nuestra Cultura Heritage Month Reading Challenge & Booklists

Nuestra Cultura Heritage Month Reading Challenge

Celebrate Nuestra Cultura Month with our all-ages reading challenge! From Sept. 15—Oct. 15, read any combination of 5 books or 5 hours to complete the challenge. Participants are encouraged to read books written by Latin American and Indigenous authors and take it as a journey of learning and insight! This reading challenge is designed for self-enrichment, no physical prizes will be awarded. 

Featured Art

Videos

Library & Community Resources

Community Resources

San Diego is home to many community groups that celebrate Nuestra Cultura . Learn more about each organization by clicking the name to visit their website.

• Barrio Logan’s Art Crawl: 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.
• Barrio Logan's Día De Muertos Celebration: Día De Muertos Celebration in Barrio Logan is a free, family friendly event highlighting the rich culture, traditions, and art of the vibrant community. At the Día De Muertos Celebration in Barrio Logan, attendees can enjoy a variety of attractions including delicious food, a bustling market, engaging kid’s activities and workshops, art installations from local artists, and captivating live performances by local bands, Mariachi, Baile Folklorico, Danzantes, and more.
• Centro Cultural de la Raza: The Centro’s mission is to create, preserve, and educate about Chicano, Mexicano, Latino and Indigenous art and culture.
• Chicano Park Day Celebration and Steering Committee: The celebration is a family-friendly event that highlights the history and culture of the Chicano community. Chicano Park, located under the Coronado Bridge in Barrio Logan, was established after the community occupied the land to prevent the construction of a California Highway Patrol substation. The park is now a National Historic Landmark and recognized for its murals, which depict the community's history and struggles. The Steering Committee organizes cultural programming throughout the year.  
• Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center: The Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center serves as an educational and cultural hub by providing resources, programming and care to the Chicano community. The center is also a community archive, documenting the history of the park and its community.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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.