Back in San Rafael at the original library near civic center and Falkirk. Spacious and fun to visit…read morein Marin Co.

Needless to say I will NOT bring my 8 year old daughter back to this branch. We were trying to read…read morein the children's section and it was just way too loud for her to concentrate. Ok I get it children's section. I took her upstairs to the adult section and honestly quite a few of the seats, tables were taken by the homeless. I saw one changing socks, picking sores on her feet. I was able to find a table on the other side of that mayhem and the pic posted should be enough to convince anyone how unsanitary this place is. San Rafael deals with enough homeless issues I'm not going to subject myself to more than I already am. I'll go to another library in a different town/city because San Rafael is too woke to care about those of us that apparently have little rights when it comes to dealing with this.

Loved visiting this library as part of my Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) tour of the Marin County Civic…read moreCenter. It is in one of the stunning domes of the large building. There's an area for FLW books and info, but the rest of the library is like any other public library and offers lots of services and products. I really enjoyed the back room which had a small exhibit about the history of Chilean people in the area. The librarians were all so welcoming and helpful! As I walked around, many greeted me warmly and also were masked -- both gestures were much appreciated!

If you are a Veteran or a loved one, there is a Veteran volunteer, every second Wednesday…read moreafternoon, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at the Civic Center Library to answer all your questions or help you or your loved ones with any issues. I am the spouse of a Veteran. https://marinlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6584d0f367e8ac3700b7d1b2 Veteran, Mark, helped me for over an hour today. I can't thank him enough.

Lovely little library off of the Pickleweed Community Center! It's small, but that have fun cute…read moreevents at the library. When I came, they had a multilingual (English & Spanish) children's book reading! Staff was kind & helpful, and they have a few desks and computers you can work at.

Pickleweed Library is in the Canal neighborhood located inside the Albert J. Boro Community Center…read more Even though it is a tiny branch of the San Rafael Public Library, they offer many resources to the community. There are books, dvds, a computer lab, a 3D machine, and a nice space for kids to read and learn. I frequent this library often since it's convenient for me. Whenever I reserve a book online, I always choose to pick it up at Pickleweed. The staff are friendly. There is ample parking. They are open every day except for Sunday's and Monday's.

The Mill Valley Public Library feels less like a traditional public building and more like a cozy…read moremid-century mountain lodge. Easily one of the most stunning libraries in all of California. Here is what makes it so special: Atmosphere & Architecture: Tucked right into a redwood grove next to Old Mill Park, the mid-century design features huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, warm exposed beams, and stone elements. Sitting in a comfortable armchair looking straight out into a forest of giant trees while you read is pure magic. The Outdoor Deck: The back deck overlooks the creek and redwoods. It's hands-down the best spot to work, study, or read outside on a clear day. Cozy Amenities: They have a real wood-burning fireplace in the main reading area, hand-crafted walnut furniture, and fine art pieces that make the entire space feel insanely serene and welcoming. Resources & Staff: The book and media collection is great, and because it's part of the MARINet system, hold pickups are super easy. The staff is always exceptionally friendly, helpful, and attentive. Whether you're looking for a peaceful workspace, bringing kids to the children's section, or just looking for a quiet afternoon escape from the city, this place is an absolute gem.

This library is absolutely enchanting. Set amongst redwoods and within walking distance to Hallmark…read moremovie-esque downtown Mill Valley, this library is a must visit and must frequent. The layout is very well organized, and there's plenty of natural light from the tall windows (highlighting the setting of surrounding redwoods). The lovely & historical art displayed on the walls downstairs is very interesting to peruse and look at. I use my library membership here to access a few online apps to borrow books (Libby & Hoopla), and I always find what I'm looking for as the access is not just MV library, but includes all Marin County libraries. Also, icing on the vegan cake is that on the side of the building is a small but very well stocked used bookstore -the Friends of the Library Bookstore- with a diverse selection of secondhand books at incredibly low prices.

I mainly pick up books that I have placed on hold, so I forget how much space there is inside…read more There is a community room with plenty of seating to study, a teen area, free events, guest speakers, computers & printers, and helpful staff to answer questions. I will definitely consider spending time there the next time I feel stir crazy working on a project at home.

Corte Madera Library is the perfect escape to allow for productive work…read more The Corte Madera Library is one of the smaller libraries in the Marin area. However, it has a quaint charm that really draws me back. Although a bit of a drive from where I live, I like to on occasion drop by the Corte Madera Library especially when I have a meeting free day at work. It is somewhat hidden covered with plenty of greenery in the surrounding area. I appreciate that there are plenty of spacious work spaces that not only allows for natural light, but also an excuse to stare outside. No need to worry about outlets because there are plenty of those too. For those who need a computer, there are stations available. In need of a caffeine boost, there is a Peet's conveniently located across the street! Or if you are more of a Starbucks or Philz Coffee person, those are just a few blocks away. If you are interested in checking out books, DVDs, or CDs, they do have a decent selection but a little limited because of its smaller size. However, if you are willing to wait, the librarians can help get books from another branch delivered if avaialble. Another downside with the smaller size is the smaller parking lot, but there is definitely ways to find a reasonable parking spot walking distance from the library. Overall, Corte Madera Library is a great place to get work done especially if you are in the Corte Madera area.

We took our fussy 2 year old to this colorful library on Saturday and she had an absolute blast! We…read moreread books, played with puppets, blocks and lots of toys! I'd highly recommend checking it out next time you're in the city of Novato! I know we'd return! SYOY! :-)

This place is so amazing, I almost want to keep it a secret. But libraries are one of our most…read moreimportant institutions, so it wouldn't be right not to shout out about the South Novato Library from the rooftops. The book space itself is just average for Marin (I miss my fancy big public libraries in small town Connecticut!), but there is something really special here: The Shop. The Shop is an all-ages Maker Space with almost everything you can imagine to create: a row of sewing machines, knitting and crocheting materials, paint supplies, all sorts of arts and crafts materials, and a full wood shop! I have a sewing machine, but can't work it and hate sewing. It's much easier for me to bring any kind of mending project (I irrationally volunteered to mend some classroom chairs) to the Shop on a Wednesday or Saturday, when a sewing librarian is there. My younger daughter has loved experimenting with sewing here. And my older daughter loves tinkering with the glue gun, foam, fabric, and other supplies. Kids 8 and over can actually stay at the shop during open hours without parental supervision. When we have gone, I've always seen industrious, creative, responsible kids and pre-teens there hard at work. What a great space for young people who often don't have a set place in public spaces, where most events/ places are focused on adults or toddlers/ preschoolers.

I meant to post this review a week ago…read more Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth and Bilal, who both were behind the front counter. Both employees were extremely friendly, courteous and informative. I had some questions regarding Libby and Ruth, (Clearly a Libby Veteran) informed me I should physically go to Oakland and San Francisco to obtain library cards and add them to the Libby app. She also recommended if I was in the Los Angeles area to obtain a library card there. She didn't have to tell me this but she went out of her way to help me out and that was appreciated. Yesterday I went to Oakland and got a library card and added that to my Libby app so that it would expand my library and it did. Library's are so important and I can appreciate Marin County keeping the Fairfax location open as well as all of the other locations. Thank you both, Ruth and Bilal.

Great little library in the charming hippie town of Fairfax. Good selection of books…read more I attended a mushroom lecture held in one of their meeting rooms, which was very educational. Parking lot has ample spaces. So many great libraries in Marin, and this one definitely holds its own.

Saturday storytime is our absolute favorite! We come every week to hear Jenny read to our kids…read more This community library is a gem and has the kindest, most informed librarians. The building itself is lovely, but the well organized books and kids coloring area is the stand out. What a wonderful home for reading. We love it here.

San Anselmo Library is inside a lovely old building and the building is very well maintained from…read moreall apearances on the outside. I wonder if the building is strong enough to survive an unexpected earthquake like we had when the Bay Bridge came down.

Love the new location and space of the Larkspur Library! It's beautiful and a good location…read more Reminds me a little of the very nice Tiburon library. Lots of outdoor space and seating. Good space inside as well. My only complaint is the dead end in the small parking lot is a bad design. Puts everyone's vehicles at risk to people who cannot maneuver out. They need more parking.

The new building interior falls short. Materials used will take a long time to out gas. They could…read morehave installed natural wood flooring or even laminate flooring instead of the carpet which was the least expensive way to go. The book shelves and tables all need out gassing and are a lesser quality adding to the toxic smell inside. The focus was on the exterior for which they spared no expensive and which acts as a shrine to the Architect. But libraries are used INSIDE. Bad decision on the part of City Council. Even the Librarians are made ill by the chemicals. The best part is them. We won't return due to the toxicity and a disappointing floor plan and interior.

Beautiful library in a gorgeous location! Good selection of…read morebooks in the main library. Great little room where they hold various events and speakers for small-ish but mighty crowds. I attended a Ca State Park Ranger talk about finding wellness in nature at Mt Tam, which was very helpful! Also, there is a fantastic used bookstore where you can score some great second hand books for very low prices. I think I got about 4 or 5 books for under $10 total. Definitely come to this wonderful library!

My local Corte Madera branch is being remodeled. Although I like the Mill Valley branch which is…read moreclose by, parking is challenging around there, so I decided to request a book through Link Plus for pick up at the Belvedere Tiburon library since it has a large parking lot. It was my first time at this branch and I was immediately impressed by the modern appearance, bright natural light with the many large windows, high ceilings, and overall vast size of the library. The staff who helped me with my Link Plus request was courteous and efficient. I enjoyed a walk by the water after visiting the library. I look forward to this being my local branch for the summer!