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San Rafael librarians expand bilingual story times, crafts and school outreach
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Summary
At the April 14 Board of Library Trustees meeting, staff presented an expanded children’s services program including bilingual story times, a passive craft program, a read-to-dog pilot and school partnerships aimed at increasing downtown branch attendance.
Two library staff members outlined a package of new and expanding children’s programs designed to bring families back to the downtown San Rafael branch.
"We do story times for the younger — birth to 3 or 4 years of age — and we've been getting large groups, as many as 60," said Margaret Stawawi, a children’s librarian, during a presentation to trustees on April 14. She said the branch now alternates bilingual story time on Fridays and holds other sessions at the Northgate branch on Wednesdays.
The presentation, led by Margaret Stawawi and a newly hired children’s librarian, Maria, described a range of initiatives: monthly passive crafts for drop-in visitors, a messy "Crafternoon" pilot with printmaking and puppetry, a read-to-a-dog program that began in February, and a grant-funded Pokemon club that staff say draws about 10–11 consistent participants. Staff emphasized bilingual access, saying Maria is a Spanish speaker and that sessions are being offered in both Spanish and English.
Why it matters: Trustees and staff said the combination of school outreach, intentional marketing and in-branch programming is intended to rebuild a regular family audience after service changes and a temporary move from the 4th Street location. Stawawi noted partnerships with schools and community groups, including a student mural inspired by Faith Ringgold and collaboration on bilingual STEM kits.
Staff also described facility and experiential upgrades: plans to reclaim a small patio adjacent to the children’s room for supervised outdoor play and gardening workshops (seed funding from a Carnegie Foundation grant was reported), and a separately funded light table for the picture-book area to support color and sensory play.
On age and safety: staff clarified the children's-room policy that children 8 and older may be unaccompanied; younger children must be supervised by a caregiver 15 or older. "We serve kids up to age 13," Stawawi said, adding that the teen area is located upstairs.
Trustees responded with operational suggestions — from bench-building projects to outreach to scouts — and offered to connect staff with community volunteers. The presentation closed with staff offering tours and continued coordination with the city on potential patio improvements.
Next steps: trustees asked staff to share schedules and remain engaged with the stakeholder process for the upcoming library design work. Staff said they will continue piloting programs and refining outreach, including school visits and coordinated marketing.
