Search in a Flash

Want a complete list of DVDs at the Corte Madera Library? A list of audio books at the Novato Library? Music CDs at the Fairfax Library? New books at the Civic Center Library? Use Quick Searches! You can find out what your local library has in only one click. Happy searching!

Fair's Fair!

Visit the Marin County Fair website for information on the exciting attractions and activities scheduled for this year's fair which runs from July 1-5. The 2004 Marin County Fair theme is "The Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright in Marin County" so be sure to also schedule a visit to the California Room's Frank Lloyd Wright resources page which includes a chronology and photo album of the Civic Center. Remember - you don't have to buy a ticket or stand in line to find the Wright stuff at our library!

Award-Winning Fiction

Looking for something to read? Check out our Awarding Winning Fiction list, containing winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and more, from 1980 to the present.

West Nile Virus information for Marin residents

It's West Nile Virus season, and you need to fight the bite! The Marin County Department of Public Health has a webpage with a lot of information on how to avoid getting WNV (including this great printable brochure) as well as statistics relating to WNV in the county, state, & nation. So far this year there have been no human cases of West Nile Virus in Marin County--let's keep it that way! Find out everything you could ever want to know about West Nile Virus and more at the County's informative website!

Try NoveList!

Looking for something good to read? Have you really enjoyed something you recently read and would like to find similar books? Really like a particular author and want to find similar authors? Try NoveList!

NoveList is one of the many Marin County Free Library's online resources. With it, you can find new fiction books and authors based on your old favorites. For adults and kids books!

Access NoveList from the Literature & Books section of our Information Resources page. You can access NoveList from home with your library card from any MARINet Public Library, or you can come into any of our libraries!

Book a Get-away

Dreaming of a vacation on the riviera? Can't quite get there at the moment? Books are an inexpensive travel substitute, with the added bonus of not having to sweat the airport security lines... So, if you're hankering to experience Europe this summer, but could do without the hassle, check out this new booklist from the Corte Madera Library, Continental Sleuths. These mysteries will give you the flavor of being abroad, in the comfort of your own armchair, or beach towel. For more suggestions, try the other booklists on MCFL's web site. We also have Vacation Mysteries, Stories from Other Lands, Far Away Fiction, and many more!

From Palouse to Bhutan

The Dome Gallery at the Civic Center Library is transported first to the wheat fields of the Palouse region of eastern Washington and Idaho and then to the people of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This international magic carpet ride is brought to us by the photographs of Marin Photography Club President, Jane Allen. Jane’s exhibit will continue through July 20. Visit the Marin Photography Club at http://www.marinphotoclub.org/.

Go on Safari for online technology books!

Check out Safari Tech Books Online, our new database of online technology books. You can easily access this database of online tech books by going to the “Literature and Books” section on our “Information Resources” webpage. Safari Tech Books Online provides access to technology books on a wide range of topics such as web design, Linux and MP3. Enjoy!

Scholarship Resources

Know anyone who's going away to college this fall? Want some money to help out? Check out the Marin Education Fund, an organization devoted to funding the postsecondary education of Marin residents. You should also take a look at FinAid, a great site with information on everything related to student financial aid, from scholarships to grants & loans.

Oprah Who?

On July 28, join the Civic Center Brown Bag Book Club for a discussion of The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich. The club meets from 12-1 in the Civic Center Library. For more information, call Becky or Livia at 499.6058 or e-mail ldimare@co.marin.ca.us.

Fun Events for Kids this Summer!

Libraries around Marin are holding dozens of fun events for children this summer to go along with our Summer Reading Program.

• Samba music
  
• paper flower crafts
  
• puppet shows
  
• wild animal visits
  
• bubble shows
  

For a list of the programs & more information, see our Events Calendar!

Know Your Weather

The National Weather Service provides weather information for San Rafael, including a 7 day forecast. Today the temperature will reach 90°!

The Book Place

The Book Place is a used book store operated by the Friends of the Marin County Free Library, offering thousands of titles for all ages and interests.
Every penny of profit goes to support library needs.

Bargain Sunday is from noon-4 pm on the first Sunday of each month, with various categories on sale each month.

Open Hours: Tues/Thurs/Sat 10-4; Weds 12-4; Fri 10-8.

Location: 1608 Grant Avenue, Novato.

Call 415-878-0212 for information.

Marin County Board of Supervisors Archive

On the BOS Meeting Archive of the County of Marin site, you can find text of agendas and minutes dating back to 1995, and audio of meetings from August 2002 to the present. Check it out!

Free Tutoring at the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library offers free, one-on-one tutoring on Microsoft Word, Excel, searching the Internet, using the library catalog, and any of the library's databases. Basic computer skills -- familiarity with using a mouse and keyboard -- required. For more information, or to schedule a session, call (415)507-4049.

Marin Poetry Center

The Marin Poetry Center's Traveling Show will be visiting the Corte Madera Library on Tuesday, June 22, 7:30pm. Come hear local poets C.B. Follett, Gini Savage & Amber Flora Thomas read their work.

Blogging for Teens

Hey teens, looking for a way to be creative this summer? Want to learn how to set up your own blog? You can post your favorite photos, use it as a journal to keep your friends up-to-date, share web sites--your imagination's the limit! Come and learn all the secrets for creating a great blog at the Corte Madera Library this Thursday, June 17, from 2-4 pm. To reserve a spot call 415.924.6444 or sign up at the Corte Madera reference desk. This session is limited to teens only.

Links to Useful Web Sites

The reference librarians in the Marin County Free Library System have identified interesting and informative web sites on a variety of topics. Want to know the latest traffic updates? We have a link for that. How about tax information? We have a link for that. Want to learn how to get a free email account, or explore search engines beyond Google? We have links for that, too! Take a look at the Reference Links, available on the Digital Resources section of the MCFL web site. Happy surfing!

The Brown Bag Book Club at the Civic Center Library

On Wednesday, June 23, 12 noon to 1 p.m., the Civic Center Book Club will discuss The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. New members are always welcome! For more information, call Becky or Livia at 499.6058 or e-mail to ldimare@co.marin.ca.us.

Moving images

The American Museum of the Moving Image offers several fascinating online exhibitions such as “Shutters, Sprockets and Tubes” which explains the science behind motion pictures and television through a series of interactive tutorials and “The Living Room Candidate” which presents almost 180 presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to the present along with analysis and highlights. Check out the "Desktop Candidate" section of this exhibition which examines websites from the 2000 election.

Old Car Manuals Online

The Old Car Manual Project offers owner's manuals, brochures, photos, & ads for cars made in the 1970s or earlier. Need a manual for a 1960 Dodge Dart? A wiring diagram for a 1957 Hudson? An engine manual for a 1954 Lincoln? They've got it!

Summer Reading Program @ Your Library

Are you a reading trailblazer? Visit your Marin County Free Library this summer and sign up for our Summer Reading Game 2004 (starting June 14th) and Discover New Trails @ Your Library.

In our library explorations we’ve discovered lots of fantastic books for you to fish through all summer long. Pitch your tent next to some beloved old classics or stake your claim to some hot new titles.

Children, including pre-readers, may read for prizes all summer long. Wonderful performers and programs are scheduled, along with raffle contests and guessing games.

For more information, and some good reading lists for the summer, check out the Summer Reading Program's webpage.

Shakespeare Makes an Appearance in Marin

Find a little bit of culture this summer--check out the Marin Shakespeare Company. Tickets are on sale now for their summer season, including performances of Othello , The Taming of the Shrew, and She Stoops to Conquer. Want to read the play before you see it? Get a copy of Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, or She Stoops to Conquer at your local branch of the Marin County Free Library!

The South Novato Library has relocated to Hamilton! Help celebrate the reopening at their new location at 6 Hamilton Landing, Suite 140A. Ceremonies for the Grand ReOpening begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5th and will include ribbon cutting, food, and entertainment. New Library hours for the South Novato branch are:

Tuesday & Thursday............1:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Wednesday & Saturday.......11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday, Friday, & Sunday...Closed

Don't miss Venice Carnevale in the Civic Center Library's Dome Gallery

Be sure to visit the exotic and colorful images of Venice, Italy's Carnevale captured by award-winning photographer, Sandy Chandler, on exhibit in the Dome Gallery of the Civic Center Library through June 16. Sandy is an active member of the Marin Photography Club.

Quick Searches

Quick Searches are an easy way to view all of the DVDs, videos, audio books, E-books, large type materials, music CDs, Spanish language items, or periodicals available in the Marin County Free Library. You may also limit a certain material type to a specific
branch - here, for example, is a Quick Search of all of the (nearly 3,000) videos owned by the Civic Center Library.

Trailing Along

In conjunction with this year's Summer Reading Program, "Discover New Trails at Your Library," the Librarians' Index to the Internet has assembled a collection of websites "related to the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, exploration, discovery, different types of trails, people who are 'trailblazers,' travel, and more." Take a look!

Father's Day

This year Father's Day is Sunday, June 20, 2004. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. It has been celebrated annually since 1971.

The U.S. Census Bureau has compiled a few Dad-related statistics on their site . There is a wealth of information available from the Census Bureau, from population statistics to housing, geography to economics. Their American FactFinder resource provides quick access to collected data.

For information on how to make gifts for Dad and other nifty facts and games related to Father's Day, check out the Kids Domain web site.