About MCFL's Education Equity Initiatives
At Marin County Free Library, we want every child to reach their full potential. Yet, in Marin, thousands of children still face barriers to early childhood education, literacy development, and high school graduation on the basis of race and income. Building on children’s strength and resilience, the library’s Education Equity Initiatives aim to close these gaps and expand opportunities for low-income students and students of color.
Goals
The Library works closely with families, school districts and community partners to design inclusive, culturally responsive, multilingual programs to:
- Increase Kindergarten Readiness and Third Grade Literacy success through partnerships and interventions in targeted schools.
- Promote youth leadership and racial equity in youth services across the county.
- Create targeted education programs and partnerships to promote 21st century learning outcomes and STEAM education, including project-based learning and immersive learning environments.
- Engage students, parents, and caregivers in opportunities for self-development.
- Celebrate Cultural Identity and Heritage to enliven and amplify a sense of belonging.
Current Initiatives
The Library's current initiatives, focused in Marin City, Novato and West Marin, include:
- The Learning Bus mobile preschool and early childhood programs
- Embedded support for school libraries in the Sausalito-Marin City and Nicasio School Districts
- Makerspaces in Novato and Marin City
- Out-of-School Time literacy and education programs
- Summer learning intensives
- Webstars, S.T.E.A.M.-based youth leadership workforce development for teens
Partnerships
Lead Partners:
- First 5 Marin
- Marin Promise Partnership
- Nicasio School
- Novato Unified School District
- Sausalito-Marin City School District
- Shoreline Unified School District
Education Initiatives are supported by the Friends of Marin County Free Library, Marin County Library Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, First 5 Marin, Parent Services Project, the County of Marin, Friends of the Marin City Library, Mike Wood, Tomales Bay Library Association, Donner Family Fund, the Friends of Novato Libraries, our generous donors, and Marin County voters for supporting Measures A and B.
