July is Pride season in San Diego, and the City of San Diego Public Library (SDPL) invites people of all ages to join the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community’s diverse voices, resilient spirits and meaningful identities that shape our world.  

This year’s Pride programming centers around the theme, “Pride Shines On,” which the Library will be celebrating as a participant in the San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, July 18.  

“Today, unity and community are more important than ever before,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “Pride connects San Diegans with an environment of love and support, and every City library is proud to provide a place for folks to learn, create and celebrate diverse identities.” 

SDPL is hosting the PRIDE! Reading Challenge, happening until July 19. Participants can register on Beanstack and enjoy five books or five hours of reading by LGBTQIA+ authors to earn a badge. Easily find books by LGBTQIA+ authors by using SDPL’s curated Pride month book recommendations.  

Other upcoming events include: 

• Pride Storytime at City Heights/Weingart Library (All ages) | Friday, July 10 | 10 a.m. 
• Take Pride in Your Style (Registration required, ages 15+) | Saturday, July 11 | 2:30 p.m.  
•  Crafternoon with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Adults)| Tuesday, July 14| 5 p.m.  
• Pride Storytime at University Heights Library (All ages) | Thursday, July 16 | 4:30 p.m.  
•  Arts and Crafts at the Mira Mesa Library IDEA Lab (All ages) | Saturday, July 18 | 3 p.m.  

Further commemorating Pride is the annual Library Card Contest, which receives hundreds of submissions each year. University Heights resident Kori Callu (he/him) created the winning design for 2026, which will be available while supplies last at all 37 SDPL locations beginning Saturday, July 11. All library card replacement fees are waived for the month of July. 

“I'm a queer trans first-generation Mexican American, born and raised in San Diego,” said Callu. “I hope to capture the joy I feel while creating my art and hope that my work makes people smile, feel seen and find a little bit of magic in themselves.” 

The card will also be available at the Lit Café at the San Diego Pride Festival on July 18 and 19. For more information on the library’s Pride celebrations, community resources and book recommendations, visit the SDPL LGBTQIA+ page.