Sonoma County Library Governance

Establishment as a Joint Powers Agency

The Sonoma County Library is a Joint Powers Agency created in 1975 by the County of Sonoma and the incorporated cities of Sonoma County. Read the Joint Powers Agreement.

Sonoma County Library Commission

The Library is governed by an independent seven-member Library Commission. Each County Supervisor appoints one member to represent his or her supervisorial district, and the City Councils of Petaluma and Santa Rosa each appoint a representative.

The Commission generally meets monthly, with additional special meetings as needed. Please see the agenda for the date and location of the upcoming meeting.

• Members
  • Julia Freis - Chair, Third Supervisorial District
  • Tim May - Vice-Chair, City of Petaluma
  • Mary Evelyn Arnold - First Supervisorial District
  • John Dell'Osso - Second Supervisorial District
  • Tom Colbert - Fourth Supervisorial District
  • Helena Whistler - Fifth Supervisorial District
  • Susan Gustavson - City of Santa Rosa
  
  
• Contact Information
  Contact:

  Library Commission
  Mailing address:

  211 E St.
  Santa Rosa, CA 95404
  Phone:

  707-545-0831, ext. 553
  Fax 707-525-9563

  
  
• Agendas and Documents
• Minutes
• Meeting schedule
• Bylaws

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 Library Commission at the administrative offices for the Library:

211 E St.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone 707-545-0831, ext. 553
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.