Our local libraries
Everyone knows that libraries offer book clubs, a range of kids’ art and story activities, and of course, all the books one could ever read. But some may not know that they also offer plenty of creative and cultural activities, events and resources for adults and teens, too, allowing those who don’t yet have access to resources and support a way to make a creative beginning.
Begin with the latest exhibit on display now across all 10 libraries: “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story,” where many aspects of Marin County’s Black history are explored, including the legacy of Marin’s shipyard workers during World War II. Viewers can find a different aspect of this exhibit at each library.
Next, check out the new Alexander Street Performing Arts Video Collection. Library cardholders receive free access to a wide range of music, dance and theater performances, and instructional material from Alexander Street, funded by the California State Library, including performances by the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, among many more.
When it’s time to get hands-on, there are many options, including the Fabric and Makers Club at the Fairfax branch, where quilters, sewers, knitters and crocheters alike can work and socialize together. Or try collaging at the Stinson Beach Library, or even a special form of “Memento Mori” collage with East Bay artist and Hospice nurse Susan Oppie in Fairfax, where participants create a unique memorial piece for a loved one or pet.
Literary folks can join a community poetry group in Fairfax, where poets learn how to write poems or refine existing work, collaborating with other writers in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
But one of the county’s best creative resources is The Lab Makerspace + Studio at the Marin City Library branch. Anyone with a library card can use the facility, which includes 3D printers, a laser cutter, a podcast studio, video-production equipment, VHS-to-digital conversion equipment and more. Related is The Shop, located next to the South Novato Library, where the public can access a variety of tools, and learn woodworking and other crafts.
With the support of the Marin Libraries, one may not need a room of one’s own anymore.
