Narrow Escapes at the Library

Looking to escape from holiday stress? Read about the real life adventures and survival stories of intrepid explorers and people who have faced grueling ordeals in the wilderness. For a selection of titles, you can browse the Narrow Escapes booklist on the library web site. The library has collected resources like booklists of recommended reads, information on book clubs, literature databases, and other web sites of interest to book lovers into a Readers Corner. Perfect for browsing on those long winter evenings...

For the birds!

Join local naturalists David Lukas and Simone Whitecloud for "An Introduction to Waterbirds of Richardson Bay" on Monday, December 6th from 7:30-8:30pm at the Fairfax Library. Author David Lukas writes a natural history column for the LA Times and his publications include "Sierra Nevada Natural History" and "Wild Birds of California." Simone Whitecloud is on the faculty of the College of Marin and teaches programs for all ages at the Tiburon Audubon Center. This slideshow presentation on the life history and identification of winter waterbirds is free as a bird so don't miss this fascinating program about our local feathered friends!

The Berger House

Photograph copyrighted by Scot Zimmerman.

Many residents of Marin are familiar with the Berger House, a beautiful home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1950s for Robert and Gloria Berger. Located in San Anselmo, the house has become an attraction for architectural historians and students. An essay about the Berger House, as well as four photographs of the house, have been posted on the Library's California Room Digital Archive. Come explore this wonderful architectural treasure of Marin!

Thanksgiving Survival Guide

Need last minute cooking tips? For help with all things turkey and beyond, check out the Epicurious web site. For a slightly different perspective, you can take a look at how NASA celebrates Thanksgiving in space. And, for more information about the origin of Thanksgiving, the Pilgrim Hall Museum web site offers historical background about the evolution of the holiday.

Giving Thanks!

Although Marin County Free Library branches will be closed on November 25th and 26th for the Thanksgiving holiday, there are many features of our website that, thankfully, provide easy access to library resources and services 365 days of the year! You can always look up books, videos, DVDs, music CDs and other resources using the "Catalog" link on our website. You can also reserve materials and renew checked out items from our "Holds and Renewals" webpage. Don't hesitate or wait to ask a reference question; use our email reference option or the live online reference service called AskNow from our "Ask Us a Question" link on the "Reference & Information" webpage. Looking for a quick list of all the videos or DVDs available at your home branch? Hoping to read a full-text magazine article or check an encyclopedia entry online? Try the "Quick Searches" and "Databases" links on our "Reference & Information webpage" too. There's alot to be thankful for when you visit this website, especially on holidays!

Libros y Revistas en Español

Corte Madera Library's Spanish language collection continues to grow. Come in to the library to see our selection of books, videos and DVDs that may be checked out. You can also browse the catalog to see the latest additions to the collection. Several Spanish language magazines and a bilingual newspaper will be available starting in January. Other resources include Spanish language databases available in the library and through our web site. Currently, the library provides the World Book Encyclopedia/Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos (presione "Spanish Encyclopedia") , CQ Researcher/ CQ Researcher en español and a magazine database, EBSCOHost/Artículos de revistas en EBSCO (interfaz en español) . Check with the reference librarian for assistance in accessing these resources.

Veterans Day Resources

Veterans Day is tomorrow (Thursday, November 11th). All branches of the Marin County Free Library will be closed, but here's what we can offer you instead!

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has an informative page about Veterans Day, including printable color posters for Veterans Day from 1978 to 2004. The U.S. Census Bureau has a wonderful page full of facts and statistics about veterans in the U.S. For example, did you know that there are 24.9 million military veterans in the United States?

Celebrate Veterans Day by reading one of the many books your Library has about veterans...books about:

• Veterans of the Koren War
• Veterans of the Persian Gulf War
• Veterans of the Civil War
• Veterans of the Vietman War
• Veterans of World War I
• Veterans of World War II

Photographic Study of the Marin Civic Center

The Dome Gallery in the Civic Center Library currently features the extraordinary work of local photographer, Edgar Angelone. On exhibit are 15 photographs from the series, A Study of Frank Lloyd Wright and His Marin Civic Center. Edgar expresses his appreciation for the detail and beauty of the building by creating semi-abstract compositions based on form and color that are works of beauty in their own right. Other examples of Edgar's photography may be found at Edgar Angelone Photography.

Author Talk at Novato Library!

Retired police detective Bill Palmini discusses his new book Murder On The Rails: The True Story Of The Detective Who Unlocked The Shocking Secrets Of The Boxcar Serial Killer at 7pm on November 18th at the Novato Library. This free event is one of many informative and interesting programs available at your local Marin County Free Library branch. Check our Events and Classes webpage for further details!

Business Resources at the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library’s reference collection includes many business-related resources. Two newly created pathfinders -- Looking Up a Business, and Resources on Stocks -- highlight the Civic Center’s business directories, financial newsletters, magazines, databases, and other resources available to assist you in your information needs.

Teen Zone

Visit the Library's Teens website! You can get all sorts of good information, including homework help; recommended books, CDs, & videos; book & movie reviews from Marin Teens (which you can contribute to as well!); standardized testing, college, financial aid, and job information; a whole section devoted to what to do if you're bored (including games, music, sports, anime); and a new health section with links to sites devoted to teen health. Have fun!

Library News

Get your monthly dose of library news from E-Connect, Marin County Free Library's electronic newsletter. The November issue was just posted, and includes tips on upcoming bestsellers, programs at the branches, what's new on the library web site, and information about a sale at the Book Place. Check it out!

Computer Tutoring at the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library offers free, one-on-one tutoring on using the library catalog, library databases, Microsoft Word, Excel, searching the Internet, and email. We also offer classes for computer beginners – no experience necessary! Sessions last for one hour. For more information, call Tom at (415) 507-4049.

Brown Bag Book Club at the Civic Center Library

Join the Civic Center Library’s Brown Bag Book Club on Dec. 8, 12-1, for a discussion of Stones for Ibarra, by Harriet Doerr. Remember - it is ok to bring your lunch! For more information, call Becky or Livia at 499-6058, or email ldimare@co.marin.ca.us.

Love to Read? Let's Talk!

Join the Fairfax Library Book Discussion Group this Thursday, November 4th, at 7pm, to discuss "Watermelon Nights" by Greg Sarris. A moderator provides discussion questions, book reviews and author interviews. The Fairfax Library Book Discussion Group is sponsored by the Friends of the Fairfax Library and meets at 7pm on the first Thursday of each month in the library meeting room. For more information on this and other library book discussion groups, visit the Readers Corner webpage.