Sonoma County Library Governance
Establishment as a Joint Powers Agency
The Sonoma County Library operates under a Joint Powers Agreement among the County of Sonoma, the incorporated cities of Sonoma County and the Sonoma County Library. Read the Joint Powers Agreement.
Sonoma County Library Commission
The Library is governed by a Library Commission appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and the cities of Santa Rosa and Petaluma. The current Commission members are:
- Margaret F. Lynch, Ph.D., Chair, Fifth District
- Melissa Kelley, Vice Chair, City of Santa Rosa
- Mary Evelyn Arnold, First District
- Robert Bennett, Fourth District
- John Dell'Osso, Second District
- Julia Freis, Third District
- Tim May, City of Petaluma
Agendas and Documents
for Commission meetings
The Commission generally meets monthly, with additional special meetings as needed.
Please see the agenda for the date and location of the upcoming meeting.
Minutes of Commission meetings
Schedule of Commission meetings
Library Director
The Library Director serves to direct the activities of the library under the Library Commission. Sandra M. Cooper is the Library Director. You may reach her or any of the Members of the Commission at the Administrative Offices for the library:
211 E St.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Telephone 707-545-0831, ext. 529
Fax 707-525-9563
Library Advisory Boards
Library Advisory Board meetings and rosters
Regional libraries have Library Advisory Boards which serve to advise the Library Commission on issues affecting each branch. The Santa Rosa Library Advisory Board serves all three Santa Rosa libraries: Central, Northwest, and Rincon Valley.
If you are interested in serving on your library's advisory board, please ask the branch manager for an application. Applicants are required to reside in the regional service area of the applied-for Library Advisory Board.
The Library Commissioner representing the region in which a Library Advisory Board vacancy exists nominates one person from the applicants for each available position. Appointments are made by the Library Commission.