May was chosen as the designated heritage month to commemorate the first arrival of Japanese immigrants to the US on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad — whose tracks were laid almost entirely by Chinese and Chinese American laborers — on May 10, 1869. Check out the official site for historical archives, online activities, and more!
May is also Arab American Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month. Here are some book lists to keep you reading throughout May and the rest of the year!
The theme for National Library Week 2022 is “Connect with Your Library”! Find out some of the ways the San Rafael Public Library is a hub for connecting you to technology.
Virtual Reality @ Northgate Virtual Reality is back at Northgate on Saturdays from 12-5 on a drop-in, first come first serve basis! Thank you to our partners at XRLibraries for providing us with new Oculus Quest 2 headsets, available in English and Spanish. Try a variety of XR (extended reality) experiences. These VR headsets simulate being physically present in the virtual environment—it’s a very cool experience!
Chromebooks for Check-Out In addition to our desktop public computers, Chromebooks are now available for check-out at all 3 San Rafael Public Library locations: Downtown, Northgate and Pickleweed! To check out a Chromebook, ask a staff member at the service desk. Library card and photo identification required; patrons must be 13+ to check-out a Chromebook.
Chromebooks are available for in-library use only and must be returned before the end of the day. Printing is not available.
Video Games @ Northgate Northgate’s video game collection is now available for checkout! We have games available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 & PS5. Games check out for 3 weeks at a time with no renewals. As a part of Northgate’s collection, they are not holdable. Come visit us Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11-5 to pick up a game and have some fun!
Wifi
All our library locations offer free gigabit wifi–no password required. San Rafael Public Libraries are on the Cenic high-bandwidth fiber optic network. Bring your own devices, or check-out one of our Chromebooks!
Virtual Reality is back at Northgate on Saturdays from 12-5pm! Space is limited and sign-ups are first come, first serve.
Thank you to our partners at XRLibraries for providing us with new Oculus Quest 2 headsets, available in English and Spanish. Try a variety of XR (extended reality) experiences. These VR headsets simulate being physically present in the virtual environment—it’s a very cool experience!
FAQs
Is there a minimum age requirement to use the VR headsets? Yes. We require patrons to be at least 13 years old to use the VR headsets, based on product safety guidance.
Can I make an appointment ahead of time? No. We are offering VR on a first come, first serve basis. Pop into the Northgate branch on Saturdays between 12-5 to see if you can grab a slot. There are lots of cool books, DVDs, and even video games to browse while you wait your turn!
Are the headsets sanitized between use? Yes. We sanitize the headsets after each use using UV technology.
Is there someone available to teach me how to operate the headsets? Yes! We welcome first-time users. Our awesome Webstars are available to get you set-up and comfortable using the equipment.
What can I do when using a headset?
Walk through a simulation of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, play a rhythm-based game, tour a National Park — stop by the Northgate branch to see a full list!
Chromebooks are now available for check-out at all 3 San Rafael Public Library locations: Downtown, Northgate and Pickleweed! To check out a Chromebook, ask a staff member at the service desk. Library card and photo identification required; patrons must be 13+ to check-out a Chromebook.
Chromebooks are available for in-library use only and must be returned before the end of the day. Printing is not available.
FAQs
Do I need a Google account to use a Chromebook? A Google account is not required to browse the internet; simply browse as a guest. However, you must have a Google account to use Microsoft compatible applications such as Google Docs for word processing, or Google Slides for presentations. Our desktop public computers are equipped with the Microsoft suite of products.
Will the Chromebook save my account information? Not if you browse as a guest! Choose “Browse as guest” at the start-up screen even if you have a Google account (you can then log-in to your Google account through the browser). When you end your session, your browsing data will be wiped. If you do choose to log-in using your personal account, practice good digital hygiene by selecting “remove account” from the device after you log-out.
Can it read a flash drive? Yes! Each Chromebook has one USB port that can be used to read a flash drive.
Does it have a headphone jack? Yes! You can plug in any standard headphones. Please be considerate to other patrons when listening to audio.
Does it have a CD/DVD drive? No, our Chromebooks do not have the ability to play back CDs or DVDs.
Northgate’s video game collection is now available for checkout!
We have games available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 & PS5. Games check out for 3 weeks at a time with no renewals. As a part of Northgate’s collection, they are not holdable. Come visit us Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11-5 to pick up a game and have some fun!
Each February, Black History Month reminds us to honor and share not only the past, but to continue building a future for Black communities – not just in February, but year-round. Take some time this month to read books by Black authors, and try out a new genre or two!
Celebrate February with a fun craft and our Secret Valentine books!
Pick up a craft-a-card kit at any of our branches starting on February 1 in the children’s room at the Downtown branch, or at the service desks at Pickleweed and Northgate. Each kit will contain supplies for making two cards – have fun crafting, and then share with your loved ones! Supplies are limited and kits may not be available at all branches.
We will have books available for children, teens, and adults at all of our branches. Read the Valentine on the front for a sneak peek and then take home your Secret Valentine pick (or picks!), unwrap, and fall in love! Please reuse or recycle the wrapping paper. 💚♻
Happy New Year! As we welcome in 2022, we’re taking a moment to look back on our library in 2021. Please join us in reviewing the books and media we all enjoyed, and more! Place a hold on anything you missed, and get a jump on your resolution of using your public library more. Thanks for being the best part of our year!
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