National Library Week is a national, annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries play in strengthening communities, and this year, it falls on April 19 through April 25. This year's National Library Week theme is “Find Your Joy”. Read on to discover some suggestions on ways you can find your joy at any of our library branches, with our partners, or online.
Do you have a library story to share for National Library Week?
A library is a collection of stories, both of the people we serve and the materials we loan. We’d like to collect yours!
If you have a special memory from one of your interactions with the library this year, about how our community libraries have affected your life, we’d love for you to share your story. Visit one of our branches during National Library Week or share your story online.
Joy at the Library
Marin County Free Library offers a variety of branches and spaces designed to help you connect with and feel part of your community. When you enter your local county library, you’ll have the chance to sign up for a library card, speak to library staff, borrow items that include, books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, audiobook players and CDs, laptops, internet hotspots, and so much more!
You can even come to the library to just hang out or to attend a library program such as storytimes for children, gaming clubs for kids and teens, or book clubs for adults.
Try chatting with your library staff about finding the resources you need. Items can be placed on hold for you, ordered to your local library from another library in Marin County, or shipped from another library within the state of California through the Link+ program.
Please note that some of our branches are temporarily closed for refresh. Check open hours before planning your visit. You can also read more about the Refresh Project and specific improvements coming to your local branch.
Joy with your Library Card
Visiting your library now offers you more than books! Visit your library to access our computers & equipment, and get free mobile printing with your library card. Visit The Lab: Makerspace + Studio in Marin City or The Shop: Community Creative Space in South Novato to get creative! Or visit the Anne T. Kent California Room to dive deep into the county’s local history (online anytime, or in person from June 10).
You’ll also find new programs that you can access by either visiting the library or outside the library with your library card. For example, at the library, you can now borrow physical objects to help you find joy, discovery and excitement including, Art, Games & Hobbies, Gardening, Technology, and more through our Library of Things.
Our Library Beyond Walls service offers free delivery of library materials by mail, for Marin County residents who are unable to visit the library due to temporary or long-term illness, limited mobility, or other qualifying circumstances.
With your library card, you can also access popular magazines online available from OverDrive and Flipster. Or get free access to digital newspapers, including New York Times, Marin IJ and more. If movies and TV are more your thing, consider streaming movies and TV series for free, available from Kanopy, Hoopla and Estante Infinito.
Joy through Reading
Personalized Picks for Adults
Are you looking for you next read? Tell us a bit about what you enjoy reading or watching and we'll email you a list of suggestions, hand-picked just for you. You'll receive a list of 4-6 recommended titles within 5 days. If you’re looking for physical books, and not an e-resource, we can also request the titles on your behalf so all you need to do is pick them up at your library when they've arrived! You'll receive an email when they're ready for pickup! Learn more about Personalized Picks.
Book Bundles for Kids
Book Bundles are another way to get some ‘surprise’ books, based on your child’s interests. Our Book Bundles focus on Early Learning and Literacy. Each bundle includes 10 books and you can choose the reading level that is right for your child. Get up to 3 bundles per family! Learn more about Book Bundles.
New Titles
If you’re someone who likes to read bestsellers and keeps up with the newest releases, visit our New Titles page to browse new arrivals and titles on order. Or you can check out this list of new books published this year. You’ll see titles that include Strangers by Belle Burden, the DVD Hamnet, Judge Stone by Viola Davis, Young Man in A Hurry by Gavin Newsom, and Whistler by Ann Patchett.
eBooks and Audiobooks
We have so many wonderful ways to help you access eBooks and audiobooks at MCFL, including Libby, Hoopla, and The Palace Project. Libby is an app from Overdrive that allows you to have 15 items out at a time, place up to 15 items on hold, and check out titles for up to 21 days. Through Hoopla you can check out up to 8 items a month, most for up to 21 days. The Palace Project eReader app lets you access the statewide collection of eBooks, including titles from the Digital Public Library America.
LOTE4Kids offers over 3000+ digital picture books with audio and text in over 65+ languages that allows kids to enjoy the magic of digital books in LOTE (Languages Other Than English) from the comfort of their own home. Kids can also watch each LOTE title translated and narrated in English to continue their reading and literacy development.
We hope that you celebrate National Library Week in a way that brings you joy!
Contributed by Daniela Leyva
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