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.
On April 30, we celebrated Día del Niño (Children’s Day) and Book Day with games, books, activities, a fun magic show, and Zumba for the little ones. Families enjoyed an afternoon full of joy, learning, and community connection, fostering reading and imagination among our children.
This event was organized by the San Rafael Public Library and was made possible thanks to the collaboration of several agencies and organizations, such as Book Exchange of Marin, the Learning Bus, Marin County Free Library, Parent Services Project, One Tam and Bay Area Discovery Museum.
We deeply thank all the volunteers, participants, and partners who made this wonderful community event possible.
Gracias a todos los que participaron en nuestros primeros Concursos de Diseño para la Lectura del Verano. Todas las piezas participantes se expondrán en la Biblioteca Central durante el mes de mayo. ¡Ven a verlas!
Felicitaciones a los ganadores en ningun orden en particular:
Thanks to everyone who participated in out first Summer Reading Design Contests. All contest art submissions will be on display at the Downtown Library through May, come check them out!
Congratulations to the winners in no particular order:
San Rafael residents – What brings you joy? Whether it’s cozying up with a new story, learning a new skill, gathering with community or something else, you can find your joy at the San Rafael Libraries.
National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.
At the San Rafael Public Library, we invite everyone to join the celebration! Whether you’re a longtime patron, a new neighbor, or haven’t visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer. Whatever brings you joy, the library has something for everyone. Whether you’re preparing for a career change, launching a business, raising a family, or embracing retirement, San Rafael Public Library is here to support your journey. Libraries serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and connection, helping people of all ages explore new ideas and opportunities.
First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.
Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. Following the film, we’re honored to welcome director/writers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor for a Q&A discussion.
Monday, April 20:Right to Read Day
A day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. Share your love of the library with our Love the Library tree!
Be sure to use the hashtag #LoveYourLibrarySRPL
Tuesday, April 21: National Library Workers Day
A day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
Wednesday, April 22: National Library Outreach Day
A day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Be on the look-out for our book-bike!
A day to rally advocates to support libraries. Come meet the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library and learn how you can get involved with library advocacy.
Please join us for Librabry Day with the Giants, a special day celebrating the Bay Area’s award-winning public libraries. $5 of every ticketpurchased benefits your local library and learning programs for children, teens, and adults. When purchasing your tickets, be sure to select San Rafael Public Library from the dropdown menu so your purchase directly supports SRPL!
Before the game, visit China Basin Park, across from McCovey Cove, to find books, kids activities, library card signups, and more from library systems around the Bay Area.
For more information about National Library Week events at San Rafael Public Library, visit srpubliclibrary.org and follow us on Instagram @sanrafaellibraryrec.
