Tuesday, February 5^th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Come spend an evening with Jean Davison at Larkspur Library, anthropologist, author and speaker who has spent many years working in Africa and the Middle East. She worked in Syria and Jordan doing archival research for her most recent book, "Mother of Fire: an Iraqi Woman’s Journey from Mosul to Malawi," about which she will talk this evening. "Mother of Fire" is the true story of Amina Rassam, a rebellious, young Iraqi woman who leaves home at age 18 to pursue her dream of becoming a Daughter of Wisdom, Catholic nun, in France at the turn of the century. A wave of anti-Catholicism forces her to flee France for Africa, down the Zambezi River, landing inland at a mission in Malawi where she worked as a healer. Davison will share her research and exploration of the trail that this courageous Middle East woman took.

Wednesday, February 13^th, Larkspur Library will host the annual Valentine Poetry Reading, featuring Melanie Maier, Terry Phelan, Gabrielle Rilleau, and Margaret Stawowy. In honor of Larkspur Library's Centennial Anniversary, the poets will read love poems with a historical theme. Come hear the poets share their verse, and feel free to read a love poem of your own making, or your favorite from another bard.

Wednesday, February 27^th, at 7:00 PM, a poetry reading will be held at Larkspur Library to celebrate the book launch for three Marin poets, Joseph Zaccardi, Susan Terris and Rose Black. Joseph Zaccardi will be reading from The Nine Gradations of Light. Susan Terris from Ghost of Yesterday, and Rose Black from Green Field.

Thursday, February 28^th, 7:00 PM, Larkspur Library will host a docent lecture about the "Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis" exhibition on display at the de Young Museum in San Francisco until June 2nd, 2013. The de Young will be the first venue in the American tour of paintings from the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague. This museum houses one of the world's most prestigious collections of Dutch Golden Age paintings. The exhibition features 35 paintings representing the range of subject matter and technique characteristic of 17th-century painting in the Dutch Republic. Among the works traveling to the United States is the Mauritshius' celebrated masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and the enchanting The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius.