San Rafael Downtown Library is proud to announce the grand opening of our new community Seed Library on National Seed Swap Day, January 31st between 10am and noon. Marin Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions and illustrate methods of seed starting and planting. You will be able to choose seed packets and learn about edible and pollinator planting. They will also provide a seed strip workshop for all ages to be able to take home and plant in your own garden. Attendees are invited to bring and exchange seeds, but donations are not required to attend. Learn more about this event here.
What is a Seed Library?
A seed library collects and stores seeds that allows gardeners to “borrow” donated seeds for free. Choose from a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flower seeds, as well as native plant seeds. Plant them in your garden and at the end of your growing season you can save seeds from the plants you grew and return those seeds to the library. Once donated, seeds are labeled and packaged so they can be “checked out” for the next growing season.
Thanks to the UC Marin Master Gardeners, especially Marie Steckmest and her team, for helping to launch our program. Marie has helped start seed libraries across Marin County since 2023. For Marie, getting seed libraries up and running is about “being able to help people learn about gardening, get native seeds and other varieties that they normally wouldn’t have access to.” Check our Seed Library webpage for resources provided by UC Marin Master Gardeners.
Want to get more involved?
Join us each 2nd Wednesday of the month at 2 PM at the Downtown Library when we have a Marin Master Gardener talk on various gardening topics. Learn more here.
Join San Rafael Public Library Teen Services and the California Film Institute for a screening of Lake Merritt Monster. The screening will take place on Monday, February 2 at 5:30 pm in the downtown library’s Carnegie Room and will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Benjamin Mulholland, facilitated by Diana Sánchez Maciel from CAFilm.
We are so excited to host local Bay Area filmmaker Benjamin Mulholland along with the California Film Institute. This is a wonderful opportunity for tweens and teens who are interested in filmmaking and storytelling to have the opportunity to explore their interests in the context of community and collaboration.
Film Information:
The Lake Merritt Monster Benjamin Mulholland | US 2022 | 16 min When Ollie’s mother is attacked by a monster hiding in the depths of Lake Merritt, he sets out on a mission to find her—discovering instead a hidden network of monster hunters tasked with protecting Oakland from its own dark underbelly.
Impact: Who are the monster hunters of the City of Oakland? Mulholland’s film The Lake Merritt Monster challenges its character Ollie to ponder what it means to believe in otherworldly forces entering reality, and how to work collaboratively to combat them. This fictional adventure offers a fun opportunity for students to imagine their own superpowers and explore how they might help protect the beauty of their city.
Presented by CAFILM Education as part of the Filmmakers Go To School Program (Stories by the Bay).
Did you know that January is International Creativity Month? What better time than the beginning of the year to become a visionary?
To help inspire kids to see themselves as creative problem-solvers, the Library provides Mystery Maker Bags that children can take home. The challenge is to create something using every item provided in the bag. The fun is seeing all the variations of thought and design that go into these creations. Children never cease to amaze with their fresh vision and enthusiasm!
Stop by the Downtown or Northgate Libraries to grab your mystery maker bag and get creating!
Share your creation: library@cityofsanrafael.org
Or tag us on Instagram with the hastag: #mysterymakerchallenge
¿Sabías que enero es el Mes Internacional de la Creatividad? ¿Qué mejor momento que el comienzo del año para convertirse en un visionario?
Para ayudar a inspirar a los niños a verse a sí mismos como personas creativas capaces de resolver problemas, la biblioteca ofrece Bolsas Misteriosas que los niños pueden llevarse a casa. El reto consiste en crear algo utilizando todos los elementos que se incluyen en la bolsa. Lo divertido es ver todas las variaciones de pensamiento y diseño que se plasman en estas creaciones. ¡Los niños nunca dejan de sorprender con su visión novedosa y su entusiasmo!
¡Ven a la Biblioteca Central o la de Northgate para recoger tu bolsa misteriosa y ponte a crear!
Comparte tu creación: library@cityofsanrafael.org
Etiquétanos en Instagram con el hashtag: #mysterymakerchallenge
The City is currently conducting a survey with a randomly selected group of community members. Participation is voluntary, and individual responses will remain confidential. Not all residents will be contacted, as the survey uses a random sampling approach. The survey will remain open for a limited period while data collection is underway.
La cuidad de San Rafael está llevando a cabo una encuesta con un grupo de miembros de la comunidad seleccionados al azar. La participación es voluntaria y las respuestas individuales serán confidenciales. No se contactará a todos los residentes, ya que la encuesta utiliza un método de encuesta aleatoria. La encuesta permanecerá abierta por un período limitado mientras se recopilan los datos.
¡Nos complace anunciar que ahora puede solicitar títulos digitales a través de nuestro servicio Zip Books! Además de libros físicos, puede solicitar libros electrónicos y audiolibros que actualmente no se encuentran en nuestra colección.
¿Cómo funciona?
¡Es muy sencillo! Solo tienes que llenar un breve formulario en línea para solicitar el título que desees. El personal de Califa revisa las solicitudes cada semana y compra los títulos que cumplen con los requisitos. Cuando el libro que has solicitado esté listo, recibirás una notificación por correo electrónico y tendrás acceso a él inmediatamente a través de la aplicación de Palace Project.
¿Listo para hacer su solicitud? Envíe su solicitud aquí:
Solo podemos comprar títulos que aún no tengamos y que no estén disponibles en la colección Palace de California.
El libro debe estar ya publicado (lo sentimos, ¡no se admiten pedidos por adelantado!).
Una vez que reciba la notificación por correo electrónico, asegúrese de canjear su título lo antes posible, ya que no se mantendrá reservado específicamente para usted.
SRPL invites you to write a letter to your future self! In 2025, we mailed out all the letters you had written to yourself in 2024.
Join us for this program once again!
Pick up a set of stationery at the Downtown Library or Northgate branch; we’ve got different sets for all ages, from little ones to adults. You can write about whatever you wish: your hopes and dreams for the coming year, plans you’re looking forward to, a list of things you love – anything goes! You are also more than welcome to draw or paint your letter instead, write a poem, or just express yourself in any way.
Once your letter is ready, return it to us with your address written on the provided envelope, and we’ll do the rest! Your letter will arrive in one year.
¡La Biblioteca Pública de San Rafael te invita a escribir una carta a tu yo futuro! En 2025, enviamos por correo todas las cartas que habías escrito a ti mismo en 2024.
¡Participa una vez más en este programa!
Recoge un set de papelería en la Biblioteca Central o en la sucursal de Northgate; tenemos diferentes sets para todas las edades, desde los más pequeños hasta los adultos. Puedes escribir sobre lo que quieras: tus esperanzas y sueños para el año que viene, los planes que te ilusionan, una lista de las cosas que te gustan… ¡cualquier cosa! También puedes dibujar o pintar tu carta, escribir un poema o simplemente expresarte de la forma que prefieras.
Una vez que tu carta esté lista, traela de vuelta con tu dirección escrita en el sobre que te proporcionamos y nosotros nos encargaremos del resto. Tu carta llegará en un año.
We’re excited to announce that you can now request digital titles through our Zip Books service! In addition to physical books, you can ask for eBooks and eAudiobooks that aren’t currently in our collection.
How Does It Work?
It’s simple! Just fill out a quick online form to request the title you want. The team at Califa reviews requests each week and purchases eligible items. When your requested book is ready, you’ll get an email notification and can access it right away through the Palace Project app.
This fall, the San Rafael Public Library (SRPL) was proud to be represented at the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL), the world’s largest Spanish-language book fair, by our Supervising Librarian, Shani Boyd. We were honored that Shani was selected to receive the American Library Association Free Pass, which covered registration and hotel accommodations. This marked the first time SRPL staff have attended FIL since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning to this international gathering of authors, publishers, and librarians allowed us to reengage directly with the global Spanish-language publishing community and reaffirm our commitment to serving San Rafael’s diverse residents.
Attending FIL gives our Library a unique opportunity to purchase Spanish-language materials that are often unavailable through U.S. vendors. By selecting titles in person, our staff can intentionally choose books that reflect the interests, voices, and experiences of our local Spanish-speaking communities. This approach adds depth and purpose to our collections, helping ensure that our shelves inspire reading, foster a connection to literature, and reflect the cultures and stories of the people we serve.
Beyond collection development, FIL provides invaluable opportunities to network with librarians, publishers, and cultural professionals from around the world. These connections strengthen our professional knowledge and reinforce the role of the library as a cultural bridge. Ultimately, participation in FIL supports stronger community connections, ensuring that San Rafael Public Library continues to be a welcoming, relevant, and inspiring place for all.
To learn more about the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL), visit www.fil.com.mx
Beyond books on the shelves, the San Rafael Public Library provides access to a growing collection of digital services that can be used from home or on the go. The Library team at the Downtown Library has put together Unlock Your Digital Library, a hands-on workshop series to highlight and build awareness of the San Rafael Public Library’s digital resources, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming media, online learning tools, and digital newspapers.
Each session focuses on a different group of services, with library staff offering guided demonstrations and time for questions. Topics range from digital reading and viewing platforms to cultural and educational resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own smartphones or tablets, though a limited number of Chromebooks will be available for use during the program.
“Many people are surprised when they learn just how much is available to them through the library beyond physical books,” said a Downtown Library librarian. “This series is an opportunity to highlight resources that residents already have access to at no cost, simply by having a library card. From digital newspapers and streaming films to language learning and cultural passes, these tools are meant to be used, and we want community members to feel comfortable exploring them.”
The bi-monthly series starts January 2026 and will take place Saturdays within the Program Room at the San Rafael Downtown Library from 1:30 pm–2:30 pm on the following dates:
Winter is a magical time, and the Children’s Room is celebrating the season with hands on creativity and cozy reading fun. This month at the Downtown library, the Children’s Room is giving youngsters the opportunity to craft their very own winter fairy from tissue paper, fluff, string, stars, and a bit of imagination. Whether the fairy be shy, mischievous, or playful, we welcome youngsters to drop in and craft a bit of magic to take home during the enchanting weeks of December.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our Winter Reading Display, featuring snowy stories, warmhearted reads, and books perfect for curling up on chilly days. Grab a book, make a fairy, and bring a bit of winter enchantment home this December.
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