Catalog Shortcuts

Here's a tip for searching the library's catalog: if you want to find out what DVDs the library has, or what audiobooks, or large type books, or music, or just browse what's new... there is a shortcut. Use the Quick Searches on our website to look for those items in the whole county, or in a particular branch of the Marin County Free Library System. The Quick Searches for each branch are also available on each branch page. Questions? You can always ask us a question-- librarians live for questions! We're happy to help you find the information you seek.

Senior Librarian (Branch Manager) for West Marin

Ann Taylor, the Branch Manager for our libraries in West Marin (Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Inverness, Point Reyes Station and San Geronimo Valley) has left one beautiful area for another - she's retiring to the Big Island of Hawaii! The Marin County Free Library and the communities she worked with in West Marin will miss you very much Ann; mahalo for all your incredible work, and bon voyage!

Ann's departure means we have a key vacancy to fill! If you have three years of experience as a professional librarian, including two years of supervisory experience, are looking for an opportunity to develop innovative library services, and would enjoy working in a beautiful area nestled between redwood forests and the California coast, we may have the perfect job for you!

The Marin County Free Library is looking for a creative, customer-focused manager who values how libraries can energize their communities, As a Senior Librarian (Branch Manager), you would direct the day-to-day activities of the Library's five community branches in West Marin, and work closely with the West Marin community.

Please take a look at http://www.jobaps.com/marin/sup/Bulpreview.asp?R1=0402&R2=08&R3=03 for more information.

Writing Workshop at the Corte Madera Library

Opening The Writer’s Gate is a workshop where you can learn how to free your imagination, explore a variety of creative exercises to develop your natural writing voice and work with other tools to overcome writer’s block.

This free workshop will be taught by Susanne West, M.A., a Professor of Psychology at John F. Kennedy University, at the Corte Madera Library on Thursday, May 22nd from 6:15-8:45pm.

No prior experience is necessary but space is limited and pre-registration required. To register for this workshop, please contact the Corte Madera Library Reference Desk at 415.924.6444.

Best destination for Summer Book Bargains!

Be sure to include The Book Place in your summer travel plans as the best destination for book bargains and great gifts! Popular fiction, mysteries, nonfiction, kids books and more are available at the Book Place all year long but what better time than now to find that book you want to read on vacation! The Book Place is a used book store operated by the Friends of the Marin County Free Library, a nonprofit volunteer organization. The Book Place is located at 1608 Grant in Novato and open 6 days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 10-4, Wednesdays and Sundays 12-4 and Fridays 10-7). For more information, call the Book Place at 209-0212.

Author Amy Tan in Conversation with Michael Krasny

Following several months filled with a variety of programs inspired by internationally acclaimed author Amy Tan’s “Saving Fish from Drowning”, One Book One Marin 2008 presents a very special final event featuring Ms. Tan in conversation with Michael Krasny, host of KQED’s Forum, at Dominican University's Angelico Hall on Tuesday, May 6th from 7-9 pm. Admission is free but seating is limited and only available on a first come, first served basis so please plan to arrive early! Doors open at 6:00 pm.

Computer Tutoring at the Civic Center Library

The Civic Center Library offers free, one-on-one tutoring on using the library catalog and databases, Microsoft Word, email, and searching the Internet. For more information, or to schedule a session, please call (415) 499-6102.

Free Computer Classes at the Corte Madera Library

The Corte Madera Library is offering the following free computer classes in May & June! For more information, and to register for a class, please call 415.924.6444.

Computer Basics

This class is for the total computer beginner. Find out what the parts of the computer do, learn how to use a mouse, and how to start programs and manage windows. This class covers the PC environment only, it does not cover Macs.

Thurs. May 8, 10-11 a.m.

Thurs. May 29, 10-11 a.m.

Thurs. June 26, 10-11 a.m.

E-Mail Basics

This class is designed for people who do not have an e-mail account. You will learn how to set up a free e-mail account, and how to read and send e-mail. Basic computer skills are required (how to use a mouse, click, etc.)

Tues. May 20, 10-11 a.m.

Tues. June 10, 10-11 a.m.

Internet Basics

Learn how to use an Internet browser to surf the web and perform basic searches in this hands-on course. Bring your questions.

Tues. May 13, 10-11 a.m.

Wed. June 4, 10-11 a.m.

Tues. July 1, 10-11 a.m.

Gardening at the Dragon's Gate

Join us at the Fairfax Library on Tuesday, April 29^th for a talk, reading and book signing by Wendy Johnson, a founder of the Organic Farm and Garden Program at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Marin County. Wendy has taught gardening and environmental education since the early 1980s and established many garden programs in Bay Area public schools, local communities and hospice centers. Her book “Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate” is part memoir of a passionate gardener, part master class in organic gardening and sustainable agriculture and part meditation on the natural world. This free program will start at 7:30 pm. For more information, contact the Fairfax Reference Desk at 457-5629.

Civic Center Library Book Club - May Selection

Join the Brown Bag Book Club on May 28, from 12-1, for a discussion of Ha Jin's novel Waiting. The club meets monthly at the Civic Center Library and new members are always welcome! For more information, call 499-6102.

Free Computer Classes at the Civic Center Library

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

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 is required.
Monday, May 12
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.
Wednesday, May 14
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.

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, May 19
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

One Book One Marin @ Civic Center Library

Ethical Travel

Come to the Civic Center Library to hear Malia Everette, Director of the Global Exchange Reality Travel Program, talk about how to be a socially responsible traveler.

Date: Friday May 9, 2008
Time: Noon to 1 pm
Where: Civic Center Library
Free.
Pre-registration is not required.

Any questions? Please call the Reference desk @ 499-6058.

Corte Madera Library Book Club

Join the Corte Madera Library Morning Book Discussion Group on Wednesday, May 21st at 10 a.m. for a discussion of Julia Child's My Life in France. Ms. Child's joie de vivre shines through on every page. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month, January through June and September through November. New members are always welcome! The Library is located at 707 Meadowsweet Drive in Corte Madera. Please call 924-6444 for more information.

Art of the Buddha

Join Judith Taussig, docent at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, when she presents a slideshow on "Art of the Buddha" at the Fairfax Library on Tuesday, April 22nd at 7:30 pm. Judith will discuss the various artistic representations of the Buddha, showcasing images from the museum collection. This free program is part of our One Book One Marin series of events celebrating Amy Tan's novel "Saving Fish from Drowning." For more information, please contact the Fairfax Library at 457-5629.

History of the Nicasio Valley

Historian, Dewey Livingston, gives an illustrated talk on the history of the Nicasio Valley to celebrate the publication of his new book, written in conjunction with the Nicasio Historical Society. A book signing will follow the talk.


When: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Where: Board of Supervisors Planning Chambers
Room 330, Civic Center Administration Building

Join the Circle of Knowledge @ Your Library

This week marks the 50th anniversary of National Library Week! This year's theme is "Join the Circle of Knowledge @ Your Library." Come visit your local library to participate in a program, a storytime, or to find a good book or DVD. For a listing of what's happening in the Marin County Free Library System this month, take a look at our events calendar for April.

Here's just a sampling:

For children:

Wed. April 16, 7pm "Green Golly and her Golden Flute" at the Corte Madera Library

For adults:

Thur. April 17, 7 pm Ancestry.com training at the Civic Center Library, pre-registration required, please call the Reference Desk at 499-6058 to sign up

Thur. April 17, 7:30 pm "Marco Polo Tours the Asian Art Museum" at the Corte Madera Library

Opening The Writer’s Gate

Opening The Writer’s Gate is a workshop where you can learn how to free your imagination, explore a variety of creative exercises to develop your natural writing voice and work with other tools to overcome writer’s block. This free workshop will be taught by Susanne West, M.A., a Professor of Psychology at John F. Kennedy University, at the Fairfax Library on Tuesday, April 15^th from 6:15-8:45pm. No prior experience is necessary but space is limited and pre-registration required. To register for this workshop, please contact the Fairfax Reference Desk at 457-5629

One Book One Marin Events at Corte Madera

Come celebrate National Library Week at the Corte Madera Library! To accompany our One Book One Marin selection this year, Amy Tan's Saving Fish From Drowning, two events will be taking place at the library.

Burma Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

When: Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m.

Where: Corte Madera Library

707 Meadowsweet Drive, Corte Madera

What: A speaker from the Foundation for the People of Burma will discuss the history of Burma and current conditions.

Marco Polo Tours the Asian Art Museum

When: Thursday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Corte Madera Library

707 Meadowsweet Drive, Corte Madera

What: Using images from many artists and items from the Museum's collections, this talk will trace the mix of cultures along the Silk Road.

Both programs are free and open to the public.

All facilities are wheelchair accessible. To request sign interpretation or other accommodation, call 415/499-3220 (voice) or 711 (California Relay Service) three working days prior to the event.

Images of Burma: A Photo Journey

In 2006, local photographer Frank Gundry traveled through Burma for two months, exploring the monasteries and traditional Burmese culture. His photos offer an intimate view of the country and the people. Come along on his journey by attending the program "Images of Burma: A Photo Journey by Frank Gundry" at the Fairfax Library on Monday, April 14th at 7:30 pm. For more information on this free slideshow of Frank's amazing photographs, contact the Fairfax Library at 457-5629.

Dial-A-Story

Listen to a new story each week! For the month of April, Corte Madera Library staff will be reading a selection of their favorite children's stories.

April 2-8 Space Station Mars by Daniel Sans Souci
April 9-15 Shy Charles by Rosemary Wells
April 16-22 Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
April 23-29 The Empty Pot by Demi
April 30-May 6 The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash

Just dial 415.499.6051 to hear the stories!

Ancestry.com @ Civic Center Library

Civic Center Library will host an introductory, hands on training session of Ancestry.com. Ancestry gives users instant access to a wide range of resources for genealogical and historical research. With more than 5 billion names in over 3,400 databases Ancestry is one of the largest subscription databases for genealogical research.

When: April 17, 2008

Time: 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Where: Civic Center Library

This is a beginning Ancestry class, but not a beginning computer class. Students should be comfortable using a mouse and the internet.

Pre-registration is required. Please contact the Reference desk @ 499-6058 to sign up.

Saving Fish, Pagodas and Five Buddhas

As part of our One Book, One Marin series of events celebrating Amy Tan's "Saving Fish from Drowning", please join Dr. Donald Stadtner, former Art Professor at the University of Texas, Austin, for an illustrated talk on Burma based on multiple trips that he has taken to this fascinating country. This free program is called Sacred Sites: Saving Fish, Pagodas and Five Buddhas and begins at 7 pm. on Friday, April 11th at the Bolinas Community Center. For more information on this event, please contact the Bolinas Library at 868-1171 or the Point Reyes Library at 663-8375.

Music @ the Civic Center Library

Enjoy classic jazz tunes under the Civic Center dome. Miller Creek Middle School jazz band and jazz choir, under the direction of Mike Schulist and Rebecca Roudman, will perform instrumental and vocal favorites.

Free.

When: April 3, 2008
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Civic Center Library

Questions? Please contact the Reference desk @499-6058

Marin Master Gardeners - Tomatoes

Marin Master Gardener Jean Sugiyama will discuss the care and feeding of tomatoes and how to select the right variety for your Marin microclimate.

Date: April 2, 2008
Time: Noon to 1 pm
Where: Civic Center Library

FREE

Questions?
Please call the Reference Desk @ 499-6058