Arts & Entertainment

Library Opens Temporary Branch Today

The facility, which closed June 16, opens at 10am today with a slimmed down collection

Almost two months after the closed its doors for renovation, bibliophiles can once again satisfy their reading needs locally when the library’s temporary branch opens today.

Housed in 'Burlingame Hall' at , the temporary branch will house about 10,000-titles of the library’s 55,000-volume general collection.

Curated by popularity, the slimmed down collection will mostly house new releases, media (DVDs and CDs) and children's books—from toddler to young adult—in addition to specific patron-requested holds imported from other branches in the Sonoma County Library System.

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The renovation, which is slated to last about nine months, though the library’s contract with Burlingame Hall extends up to twelve months, is proceeding briskly, according to library branch manager Stephan Buffy.

“The demolition is done, and they’re moving right along,” said Buffy.

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So were staff: After a quick move-in, cut short by Labor Day, workers were hustling Thursday to processing and label the thousands of ‘holds’ that have accumulated during the branch’s long closure.

If you’re looking for the latest Nora Roberts novel in Sonoma, you’ve got an advantage: because of the limited space, the facility’s general collection is blocked from inter-branch loans.

"All the 'new' materials stay here,” said Daphne Matthews a senior library technician. “So we have first pick at all the recent releases.”

Computer facilities for both adults and kids will be retained at the branch, as will a few of the library’s popular children’s programs.

"[Because] there’s no meeting facility, the only capability we have is the 'Read to a Dog' program, because it's traditionally done on the floor,” said Buffy.

Find the new branch at Burlingame Hall at the First Congregational Church, 252 West Spain Street.

The temporary branch will be open Tues.- Sat. . A book drop will be available at all hours on the North end of the building.

Contact information will remain the same, and is available on the county's website.


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