We're Here to Help

Librarians love to help people, so we're always happy to get a question from the public. Aside from coming and visiting us, there are several other ways to get your questions answered.

Call Us

Our reference staff take questions over the phone during open hours at each of our branches. Calling us is a great way to get a quick question answered without having to come into the library.

Find an Open Branch

Reference Questions by Email

Our librarians regularly answer simple, non-urgent, reference questions by email. If you are looking for an answer to a question, and can wait a day or two, fill out our reference by email form, and we'll do our best to help you find an answer.

Email Us a Question

Chat with a Librarian

The Marin County Free Library participates in a service called Ask Now, which provides patrons with a chance to chat with a librarian 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because this service is staffed through a cooperative partnership of many libraries, the librarian you chat with will most likely not be a Marin County Free Library employee. This service works best for quick reference questions that do not require knowlege specific to our libraries.

Use Ask Now

Request a Local Newspaper Article or Obituary

We own microfilm of the Marin Independent Journal, dating back to March 1861, and of the Novato Advance, dating back to July 1922, as well as print editions of several local newspapers. For a small fee we provide searches of this collection.

Please see our printable request form [PDF] for more information.

Leave Us a Comment

If you want to tell us something, such as reporting a problem or raving about our latest program, use our comment form. Comments get forwarded to Library Administration, so this is the place to go if you need to be heard.

Use the Comment Form

Patron Privacy

Regardless of how you get help, rest assured that we care passionately about your privacy. If you would like to know more, please read our Privacy Policy. Users of the Ask Now chat service should refer to the Ask Now Privacy Policy.