Politics & Government

Reduced Hours, Renovation at Sonoma Valley Library

Temporary branch will open at First Congregational on Aug. 23; book drop open until Friday, July 29.

The shut its doors for the next few weeks, as staff transfer the library's collection in preparation for the Aug. 1 start of the library's renovations. But when the library reopens again, on Tuesday, August 23 in Burlingame Hall, of Sonoma, 252 West Spain St., the facility will face the same shrinking hours hitting libraries throughout the county.

Effective August 1, 2011, Sonoma County libraries will follow these hours:

Mondays:                                      closed

Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays:         open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesdays:                           open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Saturdays:                                    open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sundays:         Central Library ONLY open 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The due to a continuing decline in revenue, said Sonoma County Library Director Sandy Cooper.

"The Library Commission evaluated a variety of options to close the $1 million operating deficit for this year and considered hundreds of comments from Sonoma County residents," Cooper said in a statement released Monday.

"After considering options such as the Commission chose to curtail library hours," Cooper said.

But Commission Chair Melissa Kelley said that the group is serious about being a steward of the library’s services.

“We are lucky to have so many people who are passionate about their public library and want to see it remain open," Kelley said. "Cutting hours keeps the core services of the Library in place while maintaining a free public library available to residents of the county through its 13 library facilities.”

Cooper said there were plans to improve the funding situation in order to reinstate hours in future years.

"Because of the grim revenue outlook for the next few years, we plan to systematically measure the public’s priorities for library service and local residents’ interest in supporting new, ongoing revenue sources.” 

Debbie Hand, Central Santa Rosa Library Manager, said that the public can help the Library staff manage the change in hours by returning materials Tuesday through Saturday, when staff members are available to check items in.

The West Napa Street book return will be available until Friday, July 29, when an outdoor book return will be available at the Temporary Library location. The Sonoma County Library 2.6 million people countywide through ten regional libraries, two rural stations, bookmobile service, and online library services available 24/7 at www.sonomalibrary.org.


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