The seasons are turning, kids are back in school, and that means a new program in Children’s Services at the Library: Mess Around and Find Out Science.
Kids are natural scientists, full of curiosity and a sense of adventure. In this three-session series running on the first Wednesdays September through November, we want to engage children’s need to learn hands-on. To this end, we provided materials and a basic outline of what to do. Then the children engage and the fun begins.
Slime-making was our first offering, and it didn’t disappoint. Everybody loves that tactile experience of slime, and when it’s a bright color, so much the better. We learned about how Elmer’s PVA (polyvinyl acetate) school glue and borax-based contact lens solution along with baking soda yields a wonderfully viscous gel-like substance this is more like a solid when pressure is applied, and more like a liquid without pressure, due to the cross-linking of borax with PVA molecules. The result is known as a non-Newtownian fluid with properties of both solid and liquid depending on the force exerted against it.
Upon witnessing this fascinating chemical transformation, one youngster queried in awe, “Am I doing science?”
This is exactly the response we were hoping for. There will be more science fun in the months ahead to inspire youngsters to mess around and find out!
Mess Around and Find Out is a new program aimed towards introducing S.T.E.M. to youth through engaging and hands-on activities. Join in on the fun every first Wednesday of the month at the San Rafael Downtown library.
¡Mantente conectado con la biblioteca directamente desde tu celular!
Aun puedes recibir alertas por mensajes de texto a través de Shoutbomb, un servicio gratuito de mensajes de texto que te avisa cuando tus materiales reservados están listos para recoger o cuando se acerca la fecha de devolución. Es rápido, fácil y funciona con cualquier teléfono que pueda enviar y recibir mensajes de texto. Al registrarte para recibir mensajes de texto, seguirás recibiendo tus avisos por correo electrónico. ¡Puedes recibir ambos!
Para activarlo, solo envía SIGNUP al (844) 551-4900 y sigue las instrucciones para vincular tu tarjeta de la biblioteca.
Una vez registrado, tendrás el control total desde tu teléfono: podrás cancelar reservas, ver tus préstamos actuales, revisar si tienes multas pendientes y mucho más, todo con un simple mensaje de texto. El servicio está disponible en inglés y español, y aplican las tarifas normales de mensajería de tu compañía telefónica. Para dejar de recibir mensajes de Shoutbomb, envía un mensaje de texto con la palabra “QUIT” al (844) 551-4900.
Descubre todos los comandos disponibles y aprende a sacarle el máximo provecho a Shoutbomb aquí.
Stay connected to the library right from your phone!
You can now receive text alerts through Shoutbomb, a free text-message service that lets you know when your holds are ready for pickup or when your due dates are coming up. It’s quick, easy, and works with any phone that can send and receive text messages. Signing up for text messages does not impact your email notices, you can receive both!
To get started, just text SIGNUP to (844) 551-4900 and follow the prompts to link your library card.
Once you’re registered, you’ll have full control right from your phone: cancel holds, check your current checkouts, see if you have any fines, and more, all with a simple text message. The service is available in English and Spanish, and standard text-message rates from your carrier apply. To stop receiving text messages from Shoutbomb, text the keyword “QUIT” to (844) 551-4900.
Discover all the available commands and learn how to get the most out of Shoutbomb here.
Play Summer Reading Bingo! There is more to do than just reading at the library! This summer get your bingo card and complete five activities in a row to win a prize! Each row completed earns you one prize and one raffle ticket for another chance to win. There are up to five chances to win a prize!
You can win! This summer, you can win library merchandise featuring artwork created by community members through our Library Design Contest held earlier this year. Prizes include stickers featuring winning designs, plus raffle entries for a chance to win a limited edition summer tote bag showcasing artwork by a community member.
Get your Summer Reading Bingo Card by visiting any San Rafael Library location or through our printable download link below. Last day to participate in the Summer Reading program is Saturday, August 8th.
Make sure to check the Library Events Calendar for more information on cool programs like the circus, a magician, a teen Netflix tie-in book club, adult watercolor painting and much more!
Come check out the Downtown Library’s new interactive Light Lab in the Children’s Room!
Light tables for kids have become more and more popular over the past decade. Not only is a light table a cool toy, but it also aids children in their development of fine motor skills, social skills, creative thinking, and problem-solving. Obtained via an Empowering Access Grant funded through the California State Library, the table features built-in light mixing to learn about the science of color, as well as accessory toys to help children learn concepts of pattern and design. We expect that this new offering is going to prove extremely popular, and just in time to kick off an exciting summer at the Library!
¡Acompáñanos el domingo 14 de junio de 10am a 1pm en el Mercado de Agricultores del Marin County Civic Center para un día lleno de diversión para toda la familia! La Biblioteca Pública de San Rafael y la Biblioteca Gratuita del Condado de Marin se unen para celebrar con alegría en comunidad.
Esto es lo que te espera: pintacaras, hora de cuentos familiar, Zumba, artes y manualidades, una búsqueda del tesoro por todo el mercado, música a cargo del DJ Destro, recursos de organizaciones comunitarias, y el Autobús de Aprendizaje y el Bibliobús de la MCFL.
¡Apunta la fecha en tu calendario y ven a celebrar, conectar y pasarla increíble!
Mercado de Agricultores del Marin County Civic Center
Join us on Sunday, June 14, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Marin County Civic Center Farmers Market for this year’s Read With Pride Festival. The San Rafael Public Library and Marin County Free Library are teaming up to bring the community together for a day of stories, activities, entertainment, and fun for all ages.
Here’s what you can look forward to: face painting, family storytime, Zumba, arts & crafts, a scavenger hunt throughout the market, music provided by DJ Destro, resources from community partners, and the MCFL Learning Bus and Bookmobile.
Mark your calendar to come celebrate, connect, and have fun!
In celebration of One Book, One Coast and honoring Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage month, the library provided a guided hike to Angel Island. The Library’s community initiative began a with a 20-minute ferry ride to Angel Island, in which many participants were fortunate enough to see a small whale breach and seals play on the docks. Hikers were then introduced to their amazing state park tour guide, Alex, followed by a 35-minute hike (including 143 trail stairs!) to the immigration site.
The small but mighty group of 16 community members and two library staff members enjoyed an in-depth 1-hour tour of the immigration history at the Detention Barracks Museum. The guide Alex was kind enough to include excerpts from the book club book They Called Us Enemy by Geroge Takei and relevant images and poetry from the Angel Island station. After some delicious snacks provided by the library, the group dispersed to further tour the island or head back to the ferry on the very beautiful Saturday afternoon.
The San Rafael Public Library was excited to participate in the first ever, One Book, One Coast and to engage our community in many different activities sparked by this initiative! Thank you to all who participated!
San Rafael is planning a new Library & Community Center at Albert Park — and we want to hear from you!
Approved by voters in 2024, this exciting project will create a welcoming space for learning, recreation, creativity, and community connection for generations to come.
As planning gets underway, we’re asking community members to help shape the future of the facility. What programs, spaces, and features are most important to you? What would make this a place you and your family would love to visit?
We’ve created a short 5–7-minute survey to gather your ideas and priorities. Whether you live, work, learn, or spend time in San Rafael, your feedback matters.
Together, we can create a community space that reflects the needs, values, and vision of San Rafael today and into the future.
El pasado 30 de abril celebramos el Día de los Niños y el Día del Libro con juegos, libros, actividades, un divertido show de magia y Zumba para los chiquitines. Las familias disfrutaron de una tarde llena de diversión, aprendizaje y el vínculo con la comunidad fomentando la lectura y la imaginación entre nuestros niños.
El evento fue organizado por la Biblioteca Pública de San Rafael y fue posible gracias a la colaboración de varias agencias y organizaciones, tales como Book Exchange of Marin, the Learning Bus, Marin County Free Library, Parent Services Project, One Tam and Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Estamos muy agradecidos con todos los voluntarios, participantes y colaboradores quienes hicieron posible este maravilloso evento comunitario.
