San Rafael, CA – Military veterans in Marin County have a new one-stop shop to help them find information about the myriad services and resources available to them, courtesy of the Marin County Free Library (MCFL) and state funding.
South Novato Library now has books, DVDs and pamphlets for military veterans.
The
recently renovated South Novato Library has opened a
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) with books, DVDs and pamphlets on topics of specific interest to veterans and their families such as state and federal benefits for veterans, housing, health care, education and employment. The VRC will have a dedicated computer station, printer and phone available for free use by veterans. Normally, the library maintains a two-hour limit for computer uses and charges nominal fees for printing.
The branch, located in the Hamilton neighborhood of Novato, will have a volunteer to assist with walk-in appointments from 2-5 p.m. January 20 and 27. The address is 931 C Street, just off Main Gate Road.
The center will be of particular aid to veterans who have challenges accessing basic technology to navigate through the benefits veterans are entitled. “Not all of our local vets have computers, yet more and more information about veterans services is online,” said Damon Hill, MCFL’s Library Services Manager. “The library is a natural and comfortable place for them to conduct some research and receive some help.”
The Marin County Free Library is now one of 37 county library systems that offer a VRC through the California State Library and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. California public libraries are working to connect veterans and their families to benefits and serves for which they are eligible.
Sean Stephens, a four-tour Afghanistan combat veteran, now serves as the Marin County Veterans Service Officer and is based in San Rafael. In addition to the new VSC in Hamilton, Stephens’ office at 10 N. San Pedro Road is another excellent source of information for local veterans. Marin has many community service groups that are eager to support veterans, starting with the Marin County United Veterans Council and its member organizations.
“Together with all these resources, and with spirit to help those in need, we can positively impact the quality of life for veterans,” Stephens said.
Sara Jones, Director of the Marin County Free Library, said the South Novato Library was selected because it is in an area of the county that offers limited free access to computers and other resources.
The College of Marin and Dominican University of California in San Rafael have plans to open similar veterans centers for their students, but the South Novato VSC is the only one open to all veterans of all eras of service.