Library News

  • Sonoma County Library launches virtual reality program

Sonoma County Library launches virtual reality program

Surf in Angola, hike in England, dive with sharks in Cuba, fly over Manhattan, or hike the canyons of Arizona, without ever leaving the library!

The Sonoma County Library is officially launching its Virtual Reality at the Library program, with an inaugural party for the public at Central Santa Rosa Library on Monday, October 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Attendees will be able to try virtual reality (VR) equipment and a variety of different programs at the party. VR equipment is also available at the Petaluma, Central Santa Rosa, Rincon Valley and Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library branches. “We’re delighted to provide access to virtual reality technology and educate patrons on the extensive uses and purposes of VR,” said Sonoma County Library Digital Literacy Specialist Bridget Hayes. “We invite community members to immerse themselves in the world of virtual reality at our upcoming launch party.”

Sonoma County Library recently added VR headsets Oculus GO, Oculus Quest and ClassVR to its ever-expanding VR lineup. The library has provided opportunities for the community to experience VR since 2017 and plans to utilize the updated VR program to focus on the benefits of immersive learning.

The October 14 launch party at Central Santa Rosa Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. is free and open to all.

Jay Cobb tests a virtual reality headset at a library outreach program with the Kiwanis Club of Oakmont on July 18, 2019. Photo by Bridget Hayes

The theme for the party is Travel for free! Immerse yourself in another world with Virtual Reality.

Age restrictions and permission forms apply to some devices. Learn more about Sonoma County Library’s VR services. Access to the library’s VR technology is free and open to Sonoma County Library cardholders.

Virtual Reality at the Library is made possible by the Measure Y sales tax, the community’s investment in free public libraries. Additional VR equipment was funded through a California State Library grant.

Jay Cobb tests a virtual reality headset at a library outreach program with the Kiwanis Club of Oakmont on July 18, 2019. Photo by Bridget Hayes.

  • Sonoma County Archives Crawl photo

Sonoma County Archives Crawl

Saturday, October 5th, 2019

October is National Archives Month, which is the inspiration for the first ever Sonoma County Archives Crawl - an event designed to celebrate archives and encourage visitors to explore and engage with institutions that collect archival material.

Groups will be hosting tables at the Central Santa Rosa Library Forum Room (211 E Street, Santa Rosa):

  • Sonoma Valley Historical Society
  • Sonoma County Genealogical Society
  • The Sitting Room Community Library
  • Sonoma County Historical Society
  • John C. Burton - Northwestern Bottle Collectors Assn.
  • Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County
  • Sonoma County LGBTQI Timeline
  • Historical Society of Santa Rosa
  • Sonoma County Historical Records Commission
  • Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters
  • Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery Preservation Committee
  • Sonoma County 2020 Women's Suffrage Project

Special presentations at the Central Santa Rosa Forum Room:

12:30 PM - Preserving History and Democracy. Deva Marie Proto, Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters

2: 30 PM - Saving, Sharing, and Celebrating Your Family's History & Heritage. Jack Schaeffer, Act3 Partners

On Saturday, October 5th, 2019, Sonoma County Library's three special collections, the History & Genealogy Library, the Wine Library, and the Petaluma History Room, along with partner organizations listed below, will be hosting open houses.


  1. California State Parks, Blue Wing Inn
    Address: 131 East Spain Street, Sonoma
    Contact Phone: (707) 938-9560
    Website: https://www.sonomaparks.org/pub/place/3
    Normal opening hours: none
    Hours open on October 5: 10 am to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: The museum curator and others will greet visitors and share material from their archives. The theme for the event is An Invitation to Pomp and Circumstance, highlighting past invitations to socialize and celebrate.

     

  2. The Sitting Room Community Library
    Address: 2025 Curtis Drive, Penngrove
    Contact Phone: (707) 795-9028
    Website: http://www.sittingroom.org/
    Normal opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday
    Hours open on October 5: 9 am to 6 pm
    Offering on October 5: Over 300 individual files on women writers will be available to browse, including the 13th Century on and spanning different regions, from Africa to Vietnam. Tea and scones will be served.

     

  3. West County Museum
    Address: 261 South Main Street, Sebastopol
    Contact Phone: (707) 829-6711
    Website: https://wschs.org/museum/
    Normal opening hours: Thursday through Sunday 1 to 4 PM
    Hours open on October 5: 1 to 4 PM
    Offering on October 5: The library geared toward western Sonoma County will be open for research along with collections of artifacts, photos/negatives and newspapers. The exhibit “Seats of History” will be on display.

     

  4. Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society
    Address: 221 Matheson Street, Healdsburg
    Contact Phone: (707) 431-3325
    Website: https://www.healdsburgmuseum.org/
    Normal opening hours: 11 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday
    Hours open on October 5: 11 am to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: Handwritten Healdsburg tax records, early Rancho Sotoyome maps and original WWII posters will be highlighted. "Wine Roots of Healdsburg" and "Mervyn Silberstein: A Photographic Legacy" exhibitions will be on display.

     

  5. Charles M. Schulz Museum
    Address: 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa
    Phone: (707) 579-4452
    Website: https://schulzmuseum.org/visit
    Normal opening hours: week days 11 am to 5 pm and weekends 10 am to 5 pm
    Hours open on October 5: 10 am to 5 pm (museum) and 10 am to 3 pm (archives)
    Offering on October 5: Original illustrated correspondence from Charles’ Schulz’s time in the Army during WWII, calendars used by Schulz and one of the earliest comic books in which Schulz was published will be displayed.

     

  6. Museum of Sonoma County
    Address: 425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa
    Phone: (707) 579-1500
    Website: https://museumsc.org/visit/
    Normal opening hours: 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday
    Hours open on October 5: 11 am to 5 pm (museum) and 11 am to 3 pm (archives)
    Offering on October 5: Highlights from the Song Wong Bourbeau Collection (Santa Rosa’s Chinatown), the Fountaingrove Collection and the Sonoma County Historical Society Collection will be on view in the archives. “Santa Rosa History” and “Día de los Muertos” exhibitions will be on display.

     

  7. Cotati Museum and Historical Society
    Address: 201 West Sierra Avenue, Cotati
    Phone: (707) 794-0305
    Website: http://cotatihistoricalsociety.org/
    Normal opening hours: Saturdays 1 to 4 pm, second Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 pm
    Hours open on October 5: noon to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: The exhibit “WA: Harmony, Peace and things Japanese, Japanese in Cotati” will be on display. Other highlights include the Jim Boggio archives and Cotati Accordion Festival Poster archives.

     

  8. Geyserville Museum at the Bosworth and Son Store
    Address: 21060 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville
    Phone: (707) 857-3463
    Website: https://bosworthandson.com
    Normal opening hours: 11 am to 7 pm Thursday through Sunday
    Hours open on October 5: 11 am to 7 pm
    Offering on October 5: Geyserville historical photographs and local artifacts including handwritten documents associated with pioneer Dr. Elisha Ely and notebooks will be on display. The store sells Western apparel and hats. Come have your favorite hats cleaned!

     

  9. Petaluma Historical Library and Museum
    Address: 20 Fourth Street, Petaluma
    Phone: (707) 778-4398
    Website: https://www.petalumamuseum.com
    Normal opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Sunday
    Hours open on October 5: 10 am to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: The Hoppy Hopkins Research Library will be open. The current exhibit features photos of glass negatives from local photographer Joe Wayne. Visitors are invited to a Historic Downtown Walking Tour at 10:30 a.m., led by costumed docents.

     

  10. Northwestern Pacific Railroad Historical Society (Hogarty Research Library and Archive)
    Address: 1364 North McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma
    Phone: (707) 838-8882
    Website: http://www.nwprrhs.org
    Normal opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm Thursdays
    Hours open on October 5: 11 am to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: This collections consist of 10,000+ maps, 12,000+ photos, employee records, corporate records, financial records and more for the San Francisco and North Pacific, North Pacific Coast, Petaluma and Santa Rosa, and Albion Railroads as well as the Northwestern Pacific Railroad.

     

  11. Northwestern Pacific Railroad Historical Society (Restoration Yard)
    Address: Corner of Copeland Street and East Washington Street, Petaluma
    Phone: (707) 838-8882
    Website: http://www.nwprrhs.org
    Normal opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm alternate Saturdays
    Hours open on October 5: 11 am to 4 pm
    Offering on October 5: Staff will explain the history of two fully restored cars of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad, one baggage car of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, and one passenger car of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad undergoing restoration.

     

  12. Windsor Historical Society & Hembree House Museum
    Address: 9225 Foxwood Drive, Windsor
    Phone: (707) 838-4563
    Website: http://WindsorHistory.org
    Normal opening hours: 9:30 - 4:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday and by appointment
    Hours open on October 5t: 9:30 to 4:30
    Offering on October 5: The 1938 Camp Windsor Migrant Labor Camp collection will be available and the Camp Windsor, German POW Camp collection; including photos, letters, recollections, etc.

     

  13. Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library and Archives
    Address: 725 Third Street, Santa Rosa
    Phone: (707) 308-3212
    Website: https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-...
    Normal opening hours: M & W 10 AM to 9 PM; T, Th, Fri, & Sat 10 AM to 6 PM
    Hours open on October 5: 11 AM to 4 PM
    Offering on October 5: There will be pop-up exhibits featuring recent donations, as well as a local history quiz and scavenger hunt. Staff will be on hand to discuss preservation issues, how to teach with primary resources and offer research tips and tricks.

     

  14. Sonoma County Wine Library – Healdsburg Regional Library
    Address: 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg
    Phone: (707) 433-3772 ext. 0416
    Website: https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-wine-library
    Normal opening hours: M & W 10 AM to 9 PM; T, Th, Fri, & Sat 10 AM to 6 PM
    Hours open on October 5: 11 AM to 4 PM
    Offering on October 5 : Displays of historic wine bottles, labels and corkscrews. Test your knowledge for a chance to win a prize and make sure to visit the Healdsburg Museum’s exhibit “Wine Roots of Healdsburg” which features items from the Wine Library collection.

     

  15. Petaluma History Room – Petaluma Regional Library
    Address: 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma
    Phone: (707) 763-9801
    Website: https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/petaluma-history-room
    Normal opening hours: M & W 10 AM to 9 PM; T, Th, Fri, & Sat 10 AM to 6 PM
    Hours open on October 5 : 11 AM to 4 PM
    Offering on October 5: Displays with fun facts about Petaluma streets as well as the 1912 trip of the Alco truck carrying the first paid delivery by truck in the nation. Then and now pictures of Petaluma. Use of typewriters to write a letter that staff will mail.

     

  • Telescope photo

    Participation in an art contest and attendance at library space events will earn children in grades K-9 raffle tickets to win an Orion SkyQuest XT6 Dobsonian Telescope. Photo Megan Backus.

Library hosting radio event to connect students with astronaut

Invitation to ARISS photo

On October 1, 12:15pm to 1:15pm, the Sonoma County Library will connect local students via amateur radio with astronaut, Nick Hague, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a unique and inspirational event following a month of educational space activities held at library branches throughout the county.

“The library encourages everyone to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to talk to an astronaut on the International Space Station and experience radio science technology,” said Sonoma County Library Events Specialist Megan Backus.

The ISS contact will occur on October 1, from 12:15pm to 1:15pm. The Central Library will host an event where 8th grade students from Santa Rosa Middle School will pose questions to astronaut Nick Hague through a Telebridge radio link.

The library collaborated with Sonoma County Radio Amateurs to pursue the ISS opportunity and is partnering with the Robert Ferguson Observatory to provide a variety of space-related educational STEAM programs at branches across the county in September through early October.

The library is also sponsoring a countywide Out Of This World Art Contest, asking youth in grades K-9 to submit original artwork depicting what they imagine they would see through the window of the ISS. The contest ends on September 21.

Participation in the art contest and attendance at any of the space events will earn children in grades K-9 raffle tickets to win an Orion SkyQuest XT6 Dobsonian Telescope, donated by the Robert Ferguson Observatory and Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa.

Visit sonomalibrary.org/space to learn more about the space events happening at various Sonoma County Library branches and the ISS contact.

The amateur radio contact is made possible by the ARISS project. Sonoma County Library was selected as one of 13 organizations across the country to host amateur radio contact with the ISS.

  • Photo caption: Library staff and other organizations participate in the WESTPAS Protecting Cultural Collections

    Library staff and other organizations participate in the WESTPAS Protecting Cultural Collections: Prevention, Preparedness, Response & Recovery Workshop at Central Santa Rosa Library on November 29, 2017. (Front: Sonoma County Library Head Cataloger Geoffrey Skinner and right, WESTPAS co-coordinator Julie Page.)

Sonoma County Library awarded grant to protect special collections

Sonoma County Library has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Preservation Assistance Grant. The award will aid in the continued care and protection of the library’s historical materials through the purchase of equipment and supplies that support proper environmental monitoring and storage as well as disaster prevention and recovery for its irreplaceably valuable collections. The staff of the History & Genealogy Library, located in downtown Santa Rosa, will lead the project with support from the library’s facilities team.

“This award will fund the purchase of environmental monitoring units, shelving for oversized archival materials and disaster recovery supplies that can easily be mobilized during an emergency,” said Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library Manager Katherine Rinehart. “As caretakers of Sonoma County’s history, we are pleased to be able to further ensure the care and protection of our unique special collections.”

The grant’s period is from September 2019 to February 2021 and is in the amount of $7,663.

The October 2017 fires directly threatened the library’s off-site storage of county government records. As part of a larger community effort to find a new home for the archive, library staff sought funding to improve collection management and enhance rapid response to threats to special collections held at the off-site archive, the Wine Library in Healdsburg, the Petaluma History Room and the History & Genealogy Library.

The library’s special collections and archives span from the early 19th century to the present and are particularly strong in the areas of local government, architecture and urban development, agriculture, Native history and culture, women’s history, transportation, arts, immigration and the history of settlement in Sonoma County.

The NEH grant proposal was designed to implement recommendations from a 2018 preservation needs assessment funded by the California State Library’s Preservation Program, as well as best practices outlined in a series of disaster preparedness and recovery workshops.

The grant compliments other efforts Sonoma County Library has made to expand documentation of the county’s history, including a web archiving project, North Bay Fires 2017, that is part of a national public library web archiving initiative led by Internet Archive.

History Event

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this news post do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

  • LINK+ borrow more items

    LINK+ borrow more materials from more libraries

Borrow More Materials from More Libraries with LINK+

Not finding what you are looking for at your local branch? You now have access to a single, online searchable catalog of over 70 California and Nevada libraries; all you need is your Sonoma County Library card. With this new free service, called LINK+, patrons can request books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs and more to be delivered to their local branch. LINK+ is known for its quick service, with most items arriving within a week.

“We’re so excited to leverage the massive collections of other libraries and make over nine million additional items available for checkout,” said Jaime Anderson, Sonoma County Library Collection Services Division Manager. “LINK+ expands on the spirit of libraries to freely share resources and will greatly benefit our patrons.”

When the Sonoma County Library catalog does not have the item that a cardholder would like to check out, they can search the LINK+ catalog. Most materials loan for 21 days, with one renewal (subject to approval of lending library). Patrons can place requests online and monitor the progress of requests any time through their LINK+ account.

Check out LINK+ at sonomalibrary.org/linkplus or navigate through the Books and More page of the website. LINK+ is free and open to all with a Sonoma County Library card.

  • Picture of Zayda and Cortunay at Chicago internship kick-off event

    Intern Cortunay Minor (middle, foreground) and Special Collections Librarian & Archivist Zayda Delgado (right, background) traveled to Chicago for the internship program’s summer kick-off event held June 13-15.

Sonoma County Library joins 50 nationwide libraries in hosting interns from diverse backgrounds

The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library in Santa Rosa is hosting a summer intern, Cortunay Minor, as part of the Public Library Association’s Inclusive Internship Initiative (III). Minor was one of 56 applicants to the program. She graduated in the top 10 percentile with Summa Cum Laude Honor Roll distinction from Santa Rosa High School.

“We anticipate learning as much from [Minor] as she will about the unique opportunities that come with working with special collections in a public library setting,” said Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library Manager Katherine Rinehart.

Minor has been in her role for a few weeks and is finding the experience to be enjoyable and rewarding. “My critical thinking has expanded, my local historical awareness is developing, my social identity vocabulary is maturing and the overall open-mindedness I try to maintain has stretched even wider,” Minor said. “Guided by the structure of the internship, I plan to keep working in this direction of reconsideration and redefinition, if only to help authentically document those who have been historically under-documented.”

Through the initiative, PLA is sponsoring paid, mentored public library internships for 50 high school juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds. With individual guidance from a mentor, each intern will engage with multiple facets of library life. Over the course of the summer, interns and mentors will develop and complete a connected-learning project. III will have an immediate benefit to the libraries and student participants. Library staff will better understand early career pathways to librarianship and gain appreciation for their role and impact in supporting diversity along those paths. Students will better understand how librarians positively serve their communities, and gain the tools to make decisions about the educational directions that will lead them into library service and leadership. Interns will have opportunities to connect with one another and mentors across the country to share what they are learning and doing.

Minor began her internship in June and has been working closely with her appointed mentors at the History & Genealogy Library; Special Collections Librarians and Archivists Zayda Delgado and Joanna Kolosov. The trio is working on a connected learning project that will conclude with a wrap-up presentation of Minor’s experiences in Washington, D.C. Delgado and Minor recently traveled to Chicago for III’s summer kick-off event from June 13-15.

This fall, Minor will head to Seattle to continue her academic and artistic studies at Cornish College of the Arts, where she is majoring in theater acting. She is particularly interested in promoting cultural tolerance and competency among local populations. She plans to target teens and young adults, but is hopeful that any long-term impact will reach beyond these groups.

III is funded by PLA with support from a pre-professional Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant (grant RE-00-17-0129-17) from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

  • Fine Free library image

    Fine Free library image

Library to eliminate fines for 80,000 patrons

On July 1, the Sonoma County Library went “fine-free” and eliminated overdue fines for items returned late, as well as forgiving past fines. In all, more than 80,000 people — 30 percent of all library borrowers — had their overdue fines waived.

“Research shows that charging fines doesn’t make a difference in whether people bring back books on time,” said Sarah Vantrease, Public Services Division Manager for the library. “Instead, we see that fines drive people away.”

While overdue fines are on their way out, some fees will remain. “We will no longer track and collect fines for overdue materials, but you still have to bring them back,” Vantrease said. Books, CDs, DVDs and other items that are kept more than 42 days after their due date will be considered “lost” and a replacement fee will be added to the borrower’s account. Returning the lost item in good condition will result in the fee being removed.

Library fines can be an extra burden for a family that may be struggling to manage the high cost of living in Sonoma County. “People want to be responsible and do the right thing, but sometimes have to make choices about which bills to pay,” said Sonoma County Library Director Ann Hammond. “Thirty percent of our patrons owe fines right now, and that’s not a good way to do business.”

“Eliminating fines and making it easier to use the library is the right thing to do,” Hammond said. “We are not in the business of collecting fines, we are in the business of sharing books and other materials to help the people of Sonoma County discover, learn and share ideas and information.”

Going fine-free is part of a plan to increase access to libraries. In addition to eliminating all past fines and not charging new fines, we are changing our library card policy. The library will still require photo identification to get a library card, but the requirement to provide proof-of-address will be eliminated, to better serve displaced, shelterless and seasonal residents.

To review our revised circulation policy, click here.

  • Archives Unbound

    Archives Unbound

Digital Resource on Local and National History Launches

We’re excited to announce that Sonoma County Library cardholders are now able to dig into virtually every nook and cranny of U.S. and California history, thanks to an extensive digital resource known as Archives Unbound.

With Archives Unbound, library patrons have free access to 296 collections of historical topics in categories including:

  • African American Studies
  • Business History
  • U.S. History
  • County and Regional History
  • Cultural Studies
  • Environmental Studies
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Native American Studies
  • Social History
  • Women’s Studies
  • And much more!

The content spans 12 million pages of primary source materials and is available online 24/7. Archives Unbound is geared towards scholars engaged in serious research and students at the college and university level, but is available to all.

Additionally, users can conduct general searches and view documents including newspapers, manuscripts and monographs. Users can also create an account to save documents of interest.

Check out the new resource here: Archives Unbound.

 

  • All Are Welcome

    All Are Welcome

Read with PRIDE during the Month of June

The month of June celebrates a rainbow of diversity and commemorates LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning and others) progress through LGBTQ+ Pride Month, GLBT Book Month and more. The Sonoma County Library honors and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community through collections, events, programs and hiring, and recently hosted a table at the Sonoma County Pride festival in Santa Rosa on June 1.

“Sonoma County Library is committed to social equity and free access to information,” said Sonoma County Library Director Ann Hammond. “We are here to serve everyone, inclusive of ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, country of origin, age, faith and socio-economic status.”

While at the Sonoma County Pride Festival on June 1, library staff shared information about the Summer Reading Program and supplied handouts on how to sign up for a library card. The library also offered LGBTQ+ book lists for all ages and gave visitors the chance to spin a prize wheel. Education Initiatives Librarian Rachel Icaza was one of the library employees at the table.

“It was perfect to have the library present at this wonderful family-friendly event,” Icaza said. “People were lining up to spin the prize wheel and to hear all about summer fun at the library. It was a great day!”

Sonoma County Library offers a monthly Pride Book Club for Teens, list of LGBTQ+ resources and LGBTQ+ materials available for check out. The library encourages every patron to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (and more) lives and experiences by attending a library event, picking up a book (or eBook), listening to an eAudiobook or watching a DVD.  Scroll down to learn more.

Pride Table  Table

Sonoma County Library at the Sonoma County Pride festival in Santa Rosa on June 1.  From left, Library staff members Kim Dargeou, Rachel Icaza and Terra Emerson.

Event:

PRIDE BOOK CLUB FOR TEENS:

Come discuss the latest queer YA books with other teens! This month we will be reading “Queer, There, and Everywhere” by Sarah Prager. Pick up a copy of the book at the Adult Reference Desk at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library. Note that this book club meets monthly.

LGBTQ+ DISPLAYS:

Each branch of the Sonoma County Library has a unique display to highlight and recognize the lives and literature that we are celebrating this June!

Resources:

  • LGBTQ+ Resource Guide - This limited resource list provides perspectives on LGBTQI rights, history, experiences, relationships, and culture.
  • LGBTQ+ Materials List - The materials on this list offer people of all ages opportunities to dig deeper into the topic of LGBTQI from LGBTQI history and rights to understanding the LGBTQI experience, relationships and culture.  
  • LGBTQ Connection - Napa & Sonoma: LGBTQ Connection, an initiative fueled by youth and other emerging leadership, fosters a healthier, more vibrantly diverse and inclusive community.
  • LGBTQ+ Youth & Young Adult Support Groups (Positive Images)
  • LGBTQ+ Adult Support Groups (Positive Images)
  • Hotlines (Positive Images)
  • The Trevor Project 24/7 Lifeline - (TEENS) The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ young people under 25, best practice suicide prevention educational trainings, resources for youth and adults, and advocacy initiatives.

Library Materials: Books for Children, Teens, Adults… and TV shows and Movies!

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

BOOKS FOR TEENS

BOOKS FOR ADULTS

MOVIES AND TV

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU’RE NOT SEEING ON THIS LIST?  

Ask one of our friendly librarians at your favorite branch of the Sonoma County Library.  We are here for you!

  • text: It's Showtime at your Library, 2019 Summer Reading Program, Early Learners, Kids K-6, Teens 7-12, Adults, June 1-August 10

Sonoma County Library Announces 2019 Summer Reading Program

Discover the glitz, glimmer, comedy and adventure of reading at the Sonoma County Library by joining in on the 2019 Summer Reading Program, launching June 1, 2019. Through August 10, the library will host a range of free activities for children, teens and adults to encourage a love of reading. This year’s program theme is It’s Showtime at Your Library and those who participate can earn free books and virtual raffle tickets for prizes.

New this year, participants can track their reading and participation in the program online at sonomalibrary.beanstack.org and through the Beanstack app. Paper logs will also be available at each branch.

“We’ve put together a robust and entertaining program of activities for every age to ensure that the Library is an exciting summer hub of discovery and learning,” said Kathy DeWeese, Youth Services Administrator at the Sonoma County Library. “Our programing supports this year’s Showtime theme by focusing on a range of performances; from story opera, to poetry readings, screenwriting, movies, magic shows and more.”

To combat the summer slide, the Summer Reading Program has a diverse lineup of educational children’s events, including visits from Eliot Fintushel’s Masks & Mime, Jungle James Animal Adventures, Shuffles Magic Show, Try It Truck and Musical Robot, as well as themed activities such as It’s CraftTime! And Getting Into Character.

Hands-on workshops for tweens include French Knitting and Maker Studio: Zoetrope, while teen activities include Dungeon Master 101, Learn How to Draw Comic Books, an Intro to Screenwriting with former Executive Editor at Lucasfilm and bestselling author J. W. Rinzler, an escape room experience, self-defense, DIY bath bombs and much more.

Studies show that reading over the summer strengthens reading and math skills, by preventing the summer slide:

  • Children who don’t read during the summer can lose up to two months of learning by the time they return to school.
  • Children who participate in Summer Reading Programs and read a minimum of six books over the summer score higher in reading and math when they return to school.
  • Summer learning loss during elementary school accounts for two-thirds of the achievement gap in reading between low-income children and their middle-income peers by ninth grade.
  • Children’s enjoyment of reading often increases after taking part in Summer Reading Programs.
  • Nine out of 10 teachers spend at least three weeks re-teaching lessons at the start of the school year.

The Library is also offering events for adults, providing something for the whole family.

To learn more about the Summer Reading Program, sign up at sonomalibrary.beanstack.org or visit your local library branch starting on June 1. All Summer Reading Program events are free and open to all. Some activities require pre-registration by visiting sonomalibrary.org/events or a local branch.

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