New Library Hours Begin Next Week

and other Sonoma County libraries will reduce service hours effective Monday, Aug. 1.

Here are the new hours:

Mondays:                                      closed

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

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

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

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

For details about hours for Forestville, Occidental, and the Local History & Genealogy Library, visit the library website at sonomalibrary.org.

"The because of a continuing decline in revenue," said Sonoma County Library Director Sandy Cooper in a news release Monday. "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.

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

 Commission Chair Melissa Kelley reports that the Commission is serious about its role as steward of the Library’s services and funds.

“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.

  “The Library is exploring raising revenues, maintaining priority services, and reinstating hours in future years," Cooper said. "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 Sonoma County Library serves residents countywide through a Central Library in Santa Rosa, 10 regional libraries, two rural stations, bookmobile service, and online library services available 24/7 at www.sonomalibrary.org. 

Last year ,some 2.6 million people visited their local libraries and checked out more than 3 million books, DVDs, audiobooks and other items.