Your Vote Counts

One week left until the Presidential Primary on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008. If you need to find out more about what's on the ballot, or where to find your polling place in Marin, here are some helpful links:

Find Your Polling Place and Current Ballot

California Presidential Primary Voter Information Guide

League of Women Voters of Marin County

“Adventures among Bats, Penguins, Crocodilians and Whales”

Although usually held on the third Monday of the Month, the Marin City Library Book Club will meet this evening, Monday Jan. 28^th, to discuss Dianne Ackerman’s wonderful book “Moon by Whale Light: Adventures among Bats, Penguins, Crocodilians and Whales” from 7-8 pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for a lively literature discussion. For more information, call the Marin City Library at 332-6157!

Civic Center Library Book Club - February Selection

Join the Brown Bag Book Club on Feb. 28, from 12-1, for a discussion of James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces. The club meets monthly at the Civic Center Library and new members are always welcome! For more information, call Tom at 499-6102, or email tmcgibney@co.marin.ca.us.

Celebrate The Year of the Rat

You are invited to the Pt Reyes Station Library as we kick off Chinese New Year 2008 with a series of exciting events! All events are free.

Saturday, February 23
10 AM - Storytime Chinese stories and folk tales for children
11 AM - Lion Dance performance by the team from the Marin Chinese Cultural Association

Monday, February 25
7 PM - The Environment in China Mark Dowie, prizewinning investigative journalist and author, speaking on the biggest environmental story of our time

Friday, February 29

7 PM - Yunnan a slide show depicting the daily street life in three cities in Yunnan Province, China - presented by John Kaufman and Celeste Woo

Sunday, March 2

3 PM - All in This Tea a new film by Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht follows David Lee Hoffman as he travels to remote areas of China in search of the finest handmade teas. Following the screening there will be Q&A with the filmmakers and Hoffman will present a tea tasting. This event is co-sponsored by The Dance Palace and will take place at The Dance Palace at 5th and B Streets in Pt Reyes Station.

For more information call the Pt Reyes Station Library at 415-663-8375

Go Green!

Seems like everyone’s “going green” these days. What does “going green” really mean? And what is “sustainability” all about? How do these concepts tie in with global warming? To find information sources that answer these questions, please visit the resource list, Sustainability Resources at the Marin County Free Library and Beyond, for library books, videos, and DVDs, and a list of websites concerning a green environment and a sustainable world. More books in the library on this theme are also listed on the Going Green booklist, found on the library website Readers Corner page, under Recommendations.

One Book One Marin, Travelers Discusson Opportunity

In light of the travel experiences of the characters in Amy Tan's book Saving Fish from Drowning, think about some of your own travel experiences. Ever had an "aha" moment of your own while traveling? Ever had an experience that made you rethink your life or provided you with fresh insight?

Come to the Civic Center Library and discuss this moment with fellow travelers. Librarian Pat Harper, will lead a discussion of these out of the ordinary travel moments.

If you would like to share 2-3 photos of this trip, please come to the Reference Desk and we will have directions for loading them into Flickr for a slide show.

When: February 26, 2008
Time: noon to 1 pm
Where: Civic Center Library

Free Computer Classes at the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library is offering the following free computer classes in February! For more information, and to register for a class, please call 499-6058.

Opening and Sending Email Attachments
Learn to open an attachment that is emailed to you, and to attach a file to an email message to send to someone else. Access to an email account (Yahoo Mail is preferable but not required) and experience in receiving/sending email messages are required.
Monday, Feb. 11
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Beginning Internet
A professional librarian will instruct the Beginning Internet class and you will be provided with an orientation on how to navigate and search the Internet in this hour-long hands-on class.
Wednesday, Feb. 13
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.

Library Catalog Basics and NoveList
This hands-on class is designed to help you use the library catalog to find books in the library whether you have a lot of information or a little. Also we'll take a tour of NoveList, a database library cardholders can use to pinpoint fiction to read.
Tuesday, Feb. 19
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.

Beginner’s Guide to Google
This hands-on class is designed for beginner Internet users and will provide an introduction to using the search engine Google to locate websites and information. The class will cover search tips and strategies, as well as other features of Google used for finding images, maps, and news. Experience using a keyboard and mouse if required.
Wednesday, Feb. 20
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.

Worm Composting

Composting is a great way to reduce waste and improve garden soil. Marin Master Gardener Joan Irwin will discuss how to successfully use worms for composting.

When: February 20, 2008
Time: noon to 1 pm
Where: Civic Center Library
Free
Need more information? Please call the Reference Desk @ 499-6058

Homework Help

School's in session, but don't stress-- Homework Help is here! The library can connect you with the information you need. Now, whether you use a PC or a Mac, you can get help from online tutors through the free Library Homework Help service.

1. Go to http://www.marinlibrary.org/ and click on "Learn"
2. Look for the Homework Help icon
3. Enter your subject (English, math, social studies or science).
4. Enter your grade (4th through 12th).
5. And soon you will be chatting with a tutor!

The service is available from 1pm to 10 pm daily.

Disponible en español en Matemáticas y Ciencia, Domingo a Jueves de 1:00 pm a 7:00 pm

Knit or Knot

Join our new Knitting Group starting at the Fairfax Library in 2008! Open to kids (age 9 and up) and adults of all skill levels, this group will meet for the first time on Saturday, Jan. 19th from 3-5pm. If you don’t know how to knit, we’ll help you get started! If you do know how to knit, come and enjoy the company of fellow knitters! For more information, contact the Fairfax Library at 457-5629.

Recommended Viewing from the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library has compiled two new lists of recommended DVDs from its collection!

Classic Films from the 1940s & 1950s highlights enduring favorites from the collection, such as Some Like it Hot and South Pacific.

Russian Films provides a list of the Civic Center’s films made in Russia, including silent films from the 1920s as well as contemporary titles.

For more recommended viewing (and also recommended reading and listening), check our Reader’s Corner. And don’t forget that you can view a complete branch-by-branch listing of DVDs and materials in other formats by checking our Quick Searches page!

What Should I Read?

Looking for a good book to enjoy in all the rainy weather? The library has a new service, BookLetters, with over 20 e-newsletters that highlight titles in specific categories. Choose from mysteries, new non-fiction, the New York Times list, books featured on TV, radio, and lots more! You can sign up to receive new lists via e-mail, or just browse the listings from the Readers Corner page of our website.

Disaster Preparedness @ the Civic Center Library

Are you ready for an earthquake or a fire? Did your New Year's resolutions include getting an emergency kit together? Let the American Red Cross show you how.

Learn how to be prepared for all types of emergencies at this free lunchtime program. The American Red Cross will explain how to make a disaster plan, assemble disaster supplies, and how to stay safe when disaster strikes.

When: January 16, 2008
Time: 12 noon to 1 pm
Where: Civic Center Library
Free

For more information please call the Reference Desk at (415)499-6058

Free Computer Classes at the Civic Center Library!

Do you have a New Year's resolution to learn more about computers? We can help! The Civic Center Library is offering the following free computer classes in January. For more information, and to register for a class, please call 499-6058.

Beginning Internet
A professional librarian will instruct the Beginning Internet class and you will be provided with an orientation on how to navigate and search the Internet in this hour-long hands-on class.
Wednesday, January 9
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.

Library Catalog Basics and NoveList
This hands-on class is designed to help you use the library catalog to find books in the library whether you have a lot of information or a little. Also we'll take a tour of NoveList, a database library cardholders can use to pinpoint fiction to read.
Saturday, January 11
11 a.m. - 12 noon

Opening and Sending Email Attachments
Learn to open an attachment that is emailed to you, and to attach a file to an email message to send to someone else. Access to an email account (Yahoo Mail is preferable but not required) and experience in receiving/sending email messages are required.
Monday, January 14
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Email Basics
This class is designed for people who do not have an email account. We will set up a free email account, and cover how to read and send email.
Friday, January 18
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.