“We live for books.”
- Umberto Eco
What we do
Friends of the San Rafael Public Library is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting the San Rafael Public Library (Downtown, Pickleweed and Northgate Mall branches). We’re a volunteer-lead organization raising money to support library programs (e.g. Summer Reading Program, Zentangle, art lectures, etc.) for kids, teens, and adults, as well as purchasing books and equipment benefiting library patrons.
Funds are raised via the sale of donated, gently used and new items in our retail store in downtown San Rafael, at special events like our annual Lawn Sale and Rare and Special Book Sale, as well as the sale of store gift certificates, direct donations from patrons, and the sale of Friends of the San Rafael Public Library annual memberships.
Tax ID# 68-0319825
The Friends of the San Rafael Library began in the mid 1980’s as donated books were sold, very informally, off of shelves in the downtown library lobby. As donations grew, a trailer, currently annexed to the main library, was purchased. Here books were sorted, researched and priced. As time passed it became evident that a retail space would best generate a consistent revenue stream and to fulfill the library’s fundamental mission of connecting people with books. A core group of volunteers worked to find the current location of Friends Books at 1016 C Street. This was an example of teamwork in the service of a shared goal. Fortunately, the landlord of the C St. property also loves books and over the years has strongly supported the Friend’s efforts.
Many San Rafael residents have come to view Friends Books as a valuable resource for what might be called “intellectual up-cycling” - the preserving and dissemination of ideas and information on paper.