“I think one of the most important things we can do as feminists is acknowledge that even though we have womanhood in common we have to start to think about the ways in which we’re different, how those differences affect us and what kinds of needs we have based on our differences.”
“There is no amount of goodness. There is no amount of blazing brilliance that will exempt you from racism, and therefore, it is not on you to act in a way that will try to exempt yourself from racism, because racism is not about Black people.”
“I don’t think a lot of our white queer siblings realize that they’re erasing so many of our unseen experiences and stories when they make general, broad, sweeping statements like, “There’s too much queer rom-com,” or “It’s time to move on from coming out stories.” They have been able to see themselves so much more than queer and trans people of color. It feels amazing to tell the story that I wish I could see myself in, and I hope there are many more stories like Felix Ever After to come.”
“The world is pretty unjust right now. Those of us that have grown up on the short end of the justice stick understand this innately and want acknowledgement of that reality, because so much of American society is dedicated to weaving the illusion that what you see is not actually what is happening. The endless excuse-making is part of our mythologizing these days. But fixing that is part of the job that science fiction and fantasy can do. That’s one of the things that I believe that this genre is ideal for accomplishing, if it chooses to.”
“When you tell a story you automatically talk about traditions, but they’re never separate from the people, the human implications. You’re talking about your connections as a human being.”
“But if I did not hope I would not be able to do what I do. But I don’t think it is an intelligent hope, I think it is a necessary hope. And maybe that’s what the people in our past did, my ancestors who were enslaved. It wasn’t an intelligent hope that they had for freedom or that their children might live different lives than they did, but I think they had to hope to keep going.”
“I grew up wanting to be the black Stephen King. I think the darkness of the world is terrifying. Some of my books try to find the humor or optimistic avenues we can take to deliver ourselves from the darkness.”
“People often call it ‘coming of age,’ which isn’t entirely inaccurate; I just tend to think of it as the story of ‘coming into self.’ My intention was to chart the journey to the point in my life at which I felt truly self-possessed.”
“For me, the key is survival. And I think about how people of color, primarily Black and brown folks came here. And we weren’t meant to survive. We were meant to work until we died. Produce other enslaved people who worked until they died. We weren’t meant to become teachers and lawyers and presidents and writers … all the ways that we exist in the world.”
¡Participa en un proyecto de arte y entra en una rifapara ganar un premio y para quetu obra de arte se muestre en línea y a lo largo del Sendero de la Bahia! Visita la biblioteca Pickleweed para obtener instrucciones y los materiales de arte gratuitos, o puedes imprimir instrucciones aquí.
Community Heroes
Canal Art Project
For youth in grades K-8
Participate in an art project to be entered in a raffle to win a prize, and to have your artwork displayed online and along the Bay Trail! Visit the Pickleweed Library to pick-up instructions and free art supplies, or you can print instructions here.
Enjoy our ever popular All Things Apple! classes with chic geek Beryn Hammil via Zoom.
If you have an Apple computer, iPad, or iPhone, and aren’t sure that you’re getting the most out of it or using it properly, join “chic geek” Beryn Hammil to help you figure it out.
Schedule of Classes
Beginners: Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Part 1 of a topic
Intermediate Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:00 – 5:00 pm Part 2 of the same topic
Wondering what goes on behind the scenes at our libraries? We created this video to show what goes into curbside library service at the Downtown library. This time-lapse represents just a portion of our busy days here. Yes, we are tired at the end of the day! But we are so happy to be back providing books, movies, and other library materials to our community.
Contact us to make an appointment for curbside service! You can place holds with your library card using our catalog. When you get an email that your holds are ready for pickup, give us a call at 415-485-3323 to make an appointment. You can also email us (library@cityofsanrafel.org) or send us a chat (upper left corner of this page.) Curbside service is also available at the Pickleweed Library, no appointment needed. See you curbside!
Have you wanted to try checking-out downloadable ebooks and audiobooks from the library but felt intimidated? It’s easy! Learn how with this helpful video tutorial.
Haz tenido el deseo de descargar libros electrónicos y poder leer desde tu teléfono o tableta pero te has sentido un poco intimidado? No es complicado! Aprende cómo hacerlo en este video de la bibliotecaria Alejandra te guiara paso a paso!
Got the quarantine blues? Us too. Read some blues poetry created by San Rafael youth in our Blues Poetry Class led by Librarian Lea Aschkenas and commiserate with us. Have your own blues poetry to share? Post it and tag us on Facebook and Instagram. #quarantineblues#blues#bluespoetry#walterdeanmyers
There is still time to register for our Yayoi Kusama Talk and Activity with local artist and educator Rachel Palacios! But if you can’t make it (or want to get an early start!) the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Japan has created this super fun worksheet to discover and experiment with Kusama’s unique and bold art practice: Yayoi Kusama Museum Exploration Worksheet. Print the worksheet from home or, if you don’t have access to a printer, have fun looking at her art and reading about her on the museum website.
You read that right–Yayoi Kusama is such an important artist, she has her own museum dedicated just to her work and curation of artists and works related to and influenced by her! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about one of the most important living contemporary artists in the world!
Librarian Margaret Stawowy is reading a beginningchapter book for children ages 4-7. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett was published by Random House in 1948. It is now in the public domain. It was both a Newberry Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book.
Instituted by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month was established “to remind the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters.”
Usually, National Poetry Month is a time for poetry readings and celebratory activities around poetry and poetry writing. As we shelter in place, we’re bringing the celebration to you! We will be collecting video clips of poets, mostly local, who will read a poem for your reflection and enjoyment. Here is the link to the Poetry YouTube Playlist. Get inspired! See if you feel moved to write a poem of your own. Now, more than ever, we need poetry!
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