Marin Libraries Unveil New Interactive Online Catalog

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Library fans have full and free access to a new online catalog designed to build a bridge between library branches and the digital world. The Marin County Free Library has announced that MARINet, a consortium of public and academic libraries in Marin, has partnered with library leader BiblioCommons to provide a new online catalog that is highly interactive and easy to use.

MARINet worked with BiblioCommons to craft an interface that encourages community engagement around the millions of books, movies, CDs and kits on offer from local libraries. The catalog launched Wednesday at Marinet.bibliocommons.com.

San Rafael Public Library Director Sarah Houghton said the BiblioCommons site is a new way for Marin residents to engage with each other about what they read, watch and hear.

“Imagine if Goodreads and Amazon had a baby. That’s BiblioCommons,” she said.

MARINet Systems Librarian Jessica Trenary said the new catalog provides an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with the library community in Marin and beyond.

“You can rate and review items, share your reading lists, or get recommendations on topics that interest you,” Trenary said.

The new catalog will also feature staff pick lists, the option to save a preferred library for pick-up, and a tagging system that will help patrons find books by mood or setting. Most notably, books and movies are easier to find with the aid of a smart search function.

Linda Kenton, San Anselmo Town Librarian, said the catalog is an intuitive environment where placing holds on materials, checking when items are due for return and talking about great literature or film comes together in one easy place.

“It's like being connected to a super book group,” she said.

In adopting BiblioCommons, MARINet connects users from Marin with patrons from public libraries in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and more than 120 other urban and suburban library systems.

MARINet member libraries are Belvedere Tiburon Library, College of Marin, Dominican University of California’s Archbishop Alemany Library, Larkspur Public Library, Marin County Free Library, Mill Valley Public Library, San Anselmo Public Library, San Rafael Public Library and Sausalito Public Library. Together they serve more than 265,000 patrons throughout the county.

— County of Marin news release