Adventures in Storytelling with Sandi and Toodles

All the way from Illinois, multi-talented Sandi Sylver will be appearing at several Marin County Free Library branches this week in a program abrim with wonderful stories, songs, and ventriloquism! A nationally touring storyteller, Sandi appears with her sidekick Toodles to share a story bag full of tall tales, folk fables and stories from around the world that will entertain kids of all ages. Sandi and Toodles will be at the Novato Library on Tuesday, Aug. 1st at 7pm, on Wednesday, Aug. 2nd at the Marin City Library at 11am and the Fairfax Library at 7pm and on Thursday, Aug. 3d at the Corte Madera Library at 7pm. Don't miss this golden opportunity to see Sandi and Toodles at your local library!

The Civic Center Book Club Announces New Selection!

The Civic Center Library's Brown Bag Book Club will next meet on August 23, from 12 to 1, for a discussion of Jane Smiley’s novel, Moo.

The Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, at the Civic Center Library. For more information, call Livia Lewin at (415) 499-6058, or email llewin@co.marin.ca.us. New members are always welcome!

Download a Classic -- Digital Music from the Library

Digital music downloads are now available from the library's online eBooks collection. From the library's databases & eBooks page, just click on the link for Digital Books, where you'll find 97 classical music titles from Naxos that can be accessed from the Califa Digital Library web site. The music is in the OverDrive Music Console format, and listening to it requires a download of free software, available on the site.

So how do you get started? Here are a few FAQs that might help:

What kind of music is available?

A variety of classical music, including ballet, chamber music, choral, concertos, instrumental, opera & operetta, and orchestral selections. You can browse the collection by selecting "All OverDrive Music" from the Califa home page.

Can the music be burned to CD?

No.

Can the music be transferred to a portable player?

Yes, if the portable player supports the Windows Media format.

Can the music be transferred to an iPod?

No.

Do I need to download new software to use the music titles?

OverDrive Music titles require the same software as OverDrive audio books: Windows Media Player (either version 9 or 10) and OverDrive Media Console (version 2). OverDrive Media Console is available as a free download from the Califa web site. If you are still running OverDrive Media Console version 1 and you are having problems with either the audio books or the music titles, please upgrade to version 2 before asking for support.

How do you get help with using the music titles?

The same as with the audio book titles. First, read and follow the installation, downloading, and troubleshooting instructions found under "Digital Library Help" on the Califa web site. If you are still having problems, follow the link "Please contact support..." on the "Digital Library Help" page, and click on the link for MARINet.

Critter Sing-Along with Bonnie Lockhart

Clap your paws and sing-along with Bonnie Lockhart at the South Novato Library on Tuesday, July 25th! Enjoy a spirited family concert that features animal songs from cultures around the world. Bring your favorite stuffed animal, too, and we'll read to it after the program. This free event begins at 6:30pm. For further information, call the South Novato Library at 506-3168.

Getting Started with Statistics

The Civic Center Library has compiled a new subject guide! Getting Started with Statistics at the Civic Center Library provides an annotated list of reference books, websites, and other resources that contain statistics on population, health, crime, business, and dozens of other topics.

For more Civic Centric subject guides, visit the Civic Center Library Resources page!

Read me a Story

Come to storytime for kids age 3 and up at the Corte Madera Library, Wednesday mornings at 11 am throughout the summer.

Corte Madera also has Tuesday storytimes in July at 3 pm for kids age 4 to 8.

For storytimes at other branches of the library, you can check out the Storytimes page on our web site. And don't forget, you can always Dial-A-Story if you can't make it to storytime and want to hear a story from home!

For other special storytime programs taking place in the library this summer, take a look at our Kids Events page.

Animals of the Rain Forest

Want to meet a binturong and kinkajou? Then come to the Stinson Beach Library on Monday, July 17th at 10:30am or the Point Reyes Station Library at 1:30pm where Wildlife Associates will transport you to a tropical rain forest! You'll also meet a two-toed sloth and squirrel monkey while learning about the people, plants and habitats of rain forests. For more information on these free and fun programs, call the Stinson Beach Library at 868-0252 or the Point Reyes Station Library at 663-8375.

Summer Blowout Sale at the Book Place!

The Book Place, located in Novato, is a used book shop operated by the Friends of the Marin County Free Library. All proceeds from sales are used for funding programs, purchasing materials, and filling other needs of the Marin County Free Libraries!

From Aug 5-12 the Book Place is having a Summer Blowout Sale - 50% off all items!

For more information, including store hours and directions, visit the Book Place website.

Origami

Come to the Corte Madera Library and learn how to make dazzling creations from paper. Kiyoshi will teach kids age 8 and up how to practice the ancient Japanese art of origami. This free program will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Corte Madera Library. Please call the Children's Reference Desk at 415-924-6382 for more information. Click here for directions to the library.

Dog Days at the Corte Madera Library

Four Thursdays

August 3, 10, 17, 24

Kids ages 5 - 9 are invited to drop by the Corte Madera Library between 2 and 3 p.m. and read to a dog.

This special program is presented by the Marin Humane Society. For more information, call the Children's Librarians at 415-924-6382. Click here for directions to the library.

Wildlife Visits the Library

Corte Madera Library will be hosting two very special animal visitors to the Children's Room on Wednesday, July 26th at 11 am. Kids age 3 and up are invited to come see a porcupine and a kookaburra, courtesy of Wildlife Associates. Please call the Children's Reference Desk at 415-924-6382 for more information. Click here for directions to the library.

Come experience "Flute Sweets & Tickletoons" at the Corte Madera Library at 11 am on Wednesday, July 12th!

If you can't make it then, the performers will be at the Novato Library at 1:30 pm, and at the Civic Center Library at 3:30 pm.

Contemporary stories along with fairy tales both original and classic are transformed into a musical event sure to delight children ages 3 and up! For additional information about this program, contact the Corte Madera Library Children's Reference Desk at 924-6382.

Flute Sweets & Tickletoons

Listen and delight to a flutonious orchestra of one at the Novato Library on Wednesday, July 12th! This free program will begin at 1:30pm and promises to hit all the high notes as it combines the magical storytelling of Keith Torgan with the musical mastery of Barbara Siesel on the flute. Contemporary stories along with fairy tales both original and classic are transformed into a musical event sure to delight children ages 3 and up! For additional information about this program, contact the Novato Library Children's Reference Desk at 897-1143.

Let’s Go for a Bike Ride!

Check out our new subject guide, Let’s Go for A Bike Ride! Here you can find information on different types of bicycles, tips on buying a bicycle, a list of books about bicycling at the Civic Center Library, links to recommended websites, and more. Enjoy!

Green Golly & Her Golden Flute

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your...flute?! Rapunzel may have been unhappy spending her days trapped in that tower but not Green Golly who was delighted at the opportunity to practice and play her golden flute! Inspired by all that whizzed past her window, Green Golly couldn't help but make music! If you'd like to hear Green Golly's story and her golden flute, come to the Fairfax Library at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, July 5th! This fun and free program presented by Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan will introduce children in a wonderful, whimsical way to the flute and classical music. For further details, call the Fairfax Reference desk at 457-5629.