Pop-up library at Northgate Mall in San Rafael during the holidays
Books will replace sneakers and sandals at a pop-up library that's taken over a former shoe store at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. Dec. 8, 2018.
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (BCN) - Books will replace sneakers and sandals at a pop-up library that's taken over a former shoe store at Northgate Mall in San Rafael.
During December, library patrons can check out books and other
media, use the 3D printer and other services.
"We're providing our services where people already are: shopping, eating and enjoying entertainment at Northgate," said Sara Jones, Marin County Free Library Director Sara Jones.
Merlone Geier Partners, the new mall owners, provided the space at no cost for the month of December, and the county library MCFL brought library materials from its distribution center and provided staffing, Jones said.
Local library officials want to promote libraries during the busy holiday season, said Henry Bankhead, interim director of the San Rafael Library.
"This is a great way to use existing resources to test out how a mall-library partnership will work in North San Rafael by building on the existing relationship between the Marin County Free Library and the San Rafael Public Library," Bankhead said.
Hours for the pop-up library, which opened Friday, will be Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
The final day is planned for Dec. 31, but organizers said they would pursue a longer stay if the experiment is deemed a success.