Teenspace
October’s Virtual Pride Book Club: Queer YA Horror and Supernatural Books!
Posted on August 29, 2020
Our Virtual Pride Book Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Queer YA Horror and Supernatural Books! The books for this month don’t have to be scary; anything that fits in with the theme of supernatural books will be just fine. Think books with witches, monsters, paranormal happenings, and creepy magical books. You can select a book that fits the theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own! We will be meeting online at 3:30pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Alex (she/her) recommends
The Lost Coast, by Amy Rose Capetta (all pronouns)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
You can also order a Book on CD for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Javier (he/him) recommends
Prelude for Lost Souls, by Helene Dunbar (she/her)
You can read this book as an e-book on Hoopla.
Melissa (she/her) recommends
Blood Countess, by Lana Popovic (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Hoopla.
Stuart (he/him) recommends
Deathless Divide, by Lana Popovic (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
And as an e-book and an e-audiobook on Hoopla.
Terra (she/her) recommends
When We Were Magic, by Sarah Gailey (they/them)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
More Queer YA Horror and Supernatural books:
Vampires Never Get Old
by Hal Schrieve (xie/hir)
Coming soon
Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas (they/them)
Coming soon
Try an online tutor today!
Going the Extra Mile...
Posted on August 22, 2020
Feeling Frustrated with Finals Approaching?
Did you know that the Sonoma County Library offers free access to 3,600+ professional online tutors?
These tutors are experts in their fields (40 subject areas) and are ready to help with any problem that might be challenging you at the moment. The #SonomaCountyLibrary now offers free access to this service via Tutor.com. Live one-to-one help is available between the hours of 1:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
You can also check out the Essay & Resume Dropoff... it will blow your mind!
NEED A LITTLE SUPPORT WITH MATH, ENGLISH, SCIENCE... (?) WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK. Try it tonight!
Ok, so now you're sold and simply wondering how to access?! (All you need is your Library Card and Pin)
Go to: www.sonomalibrary.org --> Research --> Databases --> Tutor.com
Or follow this link:https://sonomalibrary.org/resources/premium/a-z Scroll down to find Tutor.com and get to work!
So, go ahead, go the extra mile and learn something new. We're here to help you get there...
Got Questions?
Ask your friendly Young Adult Librarian at your local branch of the Sonoma County Library!
We are here for you.
Post by Rosalie C. Abbott / Sebastopol Regional Library
September’s Virtual Pride Book Club: Queer books by Black authors!
Posted on August 19, 2020
We are excited to announce our brand new Virtual Pride Book Club for Teens! Several of our branches held in-person Pride Book Clubs in the before times, and now we are taking it virtual! This means that teens from all over Sonoma County, between the ages of 13-18 can join. We will be meeting at 3:30pm on the first Tuesday of every month. Instead of having everyone read the same book, there will be a theme each month. The theme for September 2020 is queer YA by Black authors. You can select a book that fits the theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own! For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
Here are some of our recommendations:
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (he/him)
Recommended by Melissa (she/her).
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Watch Melissa’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus (she/her)
Recommended by Stuart (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Watch Stuart’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (she/her)
Recommended by Terra (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive. And as an e-audiobook on Hoopla!
Watch Terra’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters (he/him)
Recommended by Alex (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book via Hoopla.
Watch Alex’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow (she/her)
Recommended by Javier (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive. And as an e-audiobook on Hoopla!
Watch Javier’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
More Queer YA books by Black authors:
Virtual Teen Book Club
Posted on August 18, 2020
We miss interacting with our teens and want to invite you all to join the Virtual Teen Book Club! Unlike other book clubs, which force everyone to read the same book, we know you want more autonomy than that. Each month we will pick a theme around which to focus your reading. Our first meeting is SEPTEMBER 8th at 3:30PM via Zoom and our theme is social justice/Black Lives Matter. This book club is open to all Sonoma County residents between the ages of 13 and 18 who would like to join.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Our teen librarians involved in the book club will be reading alongside you and book talking our choices for the month on our Youtube channel. You can select one of our recommendations or any other book you want which fits the theme. For more information, email teenbooks@sonomalibrary.org
Librarian Picks
The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
Picked by Stuart at Guerneville
“After escaping a detention center at the U.S. border, seventeen-year-old Marisol agrees to participate in a medical experiment hoping to keep her and her younger sister, Gabi, from being deported to El Salvador.”
A Song Below Water by Bethany Morrow
Picked by Alex at Windsor
“In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school's junior year…”
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
Picked by Karen at Petaluma
When a police encounter goes terribly wrong it leaves an African-American teenager, Rashad, in a hospital room recovering from his injuries. One of his white classmates, Quinn witnessed the incident from across the street and is forced to deal with the complicated reality of racism and police brutality in our country.
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal
Picked by Sabine at Sonoma Valley
“Over the course of one night, two girls with two very different backgrounds must rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has enveloped their city…”
More Excellent Reads on Social Justice
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
“When sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson is shot to death, his community is thrown into an uproar because Tariq was black and the shooter, Jack Franklin, is white, and in the aftermath everyone has something to say, but no two accounts of the events agree.”
Light It Up by Kekla Magoon
“Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength--as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down. Told from multiple viewpoints, this novel recounts the story of Shae Tatum. Shae, an unarmed thirteen-year-old black girl, is shot by a white police officer, throwing the community into upheaval - and making it a target for demonstrators.”
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
“Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed...”
March, Book One (and Book Two and Book Three by John Lewis
“March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.”
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
“When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid. The next day Tyler is missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels, mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.”
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
"A history of racist and antiracist ideas in America, from their roots in Europe until today, adapted from the National Book Award winner Stamped from the Beginning"
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America by Various Authors
"“A collection of short stories explore what it is like to be young and black, centering on the experiences of black teenagers and emphasizing that one person's experiences, reality, and personal identity are different than someone else.”
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina
“The ghost of fifteen-year-old Alfonso Jones travels in a New York subway car full of the living and the dead, watching his family and friends fight for justice after he is killed by an off-duty police officer while buying a suit in a Midtown department store.”
Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
“In 1959 Virginia, Sarah, a black student who is one of the first to attend a newly integrated school, forces Linda, a white integration opponent's daughter, to confront harsh truths when they work together on a school project.”
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
“Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.”
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
“Tired of being singled out at her mostly-white private school as someone who needs support, high school junior Jade would rather participate in the school's amazing Study Abroad program than join Women to Women, a mentorship program for at-risk girls.”
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
“Marva was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election? Duke is so done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can’t vote. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted...”
This Is My America by Kim Johnson
“Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time--her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy's older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a "thug" on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town's racist history that still haunt the present?”
Libraries in the Age of COVID-19
Posted on July 27, 2020
It’s been a crazy couple of months in the world and we’ve missed our teens dearly. While sheltering at home, we were trying to figure out what the new normal for libraries would look like. How could we connect with our teenagers and provide them with valuable resources and support during this tumultuous time? We researched different digital platforms, read a ton of new YA novels, and investigated programs we could do remotely.
Programming?
We are not yet able to get together in person, but that isn’t going to stop us. Now that our branches are open for curbside pick-up, the Sonoma County Library Young Adult Services Librarians are hard at work coming up with ways to have virtual programs and volunteering as well. Things will look different of course, but we are trying hard to ensure some of your favorite programs are still available. Anime Club, Book Clubs, and Teen Crafts are all in the works. Be on the lookout for sign-ups to do an online teen volunteer orientation to get in your service hours and gain important job skills. Do you have a suggestion on a program we should work on? Submit your suggestion to us and we’ll try to make it happen.
Book Suggestions?
Do not forget that curbside is for everyone! Either call your local library branch or request materials through the library catalog. Between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm Monday through Saturday our library staff is available to answer any and all your reference questions, recommend books, or check out your materials. Librarians are also working hard at getting together book talks to help you choose your next great read. In addition to our book talks, you can always ask us to put together personal reading recommendations for you through the What Should I Read Next? section of the website. Give us details about your favorite reads and interests and we will give you a list of 2 to 3 options you might enjoy with reasons as to why we picked them.
Free SAT Intensive Prep Classes at Four Locations
Posted on July 31, 2019
Sonoma County Library will offer free 5-hour SAT Intensive prep classes during September and October 2019 for high school juniors who will be taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). These classes are part of Sonoma County Library’s Path to College series that supports college-bound high school students and their families. With these classes, the Library seeks to meet the needs of students through all stages of the college preparation and application process.
Registration for SAT Intensive prep classes is required and begins on Saturday, August 10, 2019. Students or parents can pick up registration forms at the four libraries where the class will be offered: Roseland Community Library, Sebastopol Library, Sonoma Valley Library, and Petaluma Library. Registration is limited to high school juniors.
The SAT Intensive prep class includes study and review of problematic areas of all sections of the SAT including the essay. Students are provided with an individual copy of The Official SAT Prep Guide for use in the class and extended study at home. The class comprises two parts of 2½ hours each; students must attend both parts.
The course is offered at each of the following locations, dates & times:
- Roseland Library: Wed. September 4 (part 1) & Wed. September 18 (part 2), 6:00pm-8:30pm
- Sonoma Valley Library: Mon. September 16 (part 1) & Sat. September 21 (part 2), 10:30am-1:00pm
- Sebastopol Library: Mon. September 23 (part 1) & Mon. September 30 (part 2), 3:30pm-6:00pm
- Petaluma Library: Sat. October 5 (part 1) & Mon. October 21 (part 2), 6:00 pm-8:30pm
All workshops are led by qualified local experts and are free and open to high school students. Attendance is limited to 25 high school juniors at each location.
A majority of past SAT Intensive participants have strongly agreed that they feel better prepared for the SAT test format, directions, and scoring, and would recommend the class to a friend. One parent says, “These college talks and preparation classes are invaluable to both parents and students. I would really appreciate if the library to provide more of these services since there is such a great need for this information.”
These classes are part of the Library's Path to College series. For more information, contact Youth Services Administrator Kathy DeWeese at 545-0831 x1513 or kdeweese@sonomalibrary.org.
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What Should I Read Next?
Posted on July 23, 2019
Teens: Pondering what to read next?
Check out this 'what to read next' flow chart created by Young Adult Librarian extraordinaire, Melissa Carroll, at our Northwest Santa Rosa branch of the Sonoma County Library!
It's Showtime All Summer Long at Your Library
Posted on May 25, 2019
Between free lunch, fun programs, reading challenges, and raffle prizes… there’s no room for summer boredom.
Free Lunch at the Library (for ages 18 and under)
No registrations, no worries - just show up (and maybe bring a friend!)
Central Santa Rosa: Jun 3 - Aug 9, Mon - Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Cloverdale: Jun 10 - Aug 2, Mon - Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Healdsburg: Jun 10 - Aug 2, Mon - Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Northwest: Jun 3 - Aug 9, Mon - Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Petaluma: Jun 3 - Aug 2, Mon-Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Rohnert Park: Jun 10 - Aug 2, Mon - Fri between 12:15 - 12:45pm
Sebastopol: Jun 10 - Aug 2, Mon - Fri between 12:15 - 1:00pm
Sonoma Valley: Jun 10 - Aug 9, Mon - Fri between 12:00 - 12:30pm
Programs, Events, and Classes - OH MY!
In the spirit of this year’s theme - It’s Showtime! - our summer programs for teens are all about fun and flash. Here is just a sample of what’s coming up.
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Intro to Screenwriting is taught by bestselling author J.W. Rinzler and takes you on a tour of the screenplay writing process.
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Dungeon Master 101 teaches you the skills you need to lead a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
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Teen Paint Party. We provide the supplies then we’ll teach you some easy painting techniques. Take home a beautiful painting and skills to last a lifetime.
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Make a Meme lets your sense of humor shine. You’ll learn about shooting original photos and using graphics software.
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Learn How to Draw Comic Books with Brian Kolm. Get started drawing your own comic books, including designing characters and showing action and emotion.
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Escape at the Library. You and your friends will work together to solve puzzles, open locks, and find hidden messages in an exciting Escape Room experience.
To find out what events are coming to your library, you can pick up a Summer Reading booklet at your branch or check out our calendar online. From sonomalibrary.org, select “Events” and then “Calendar of Events.”
Summer Reading Challenge for Teens
Register online at sonomalibrary.beanstack.org, or pick up a Summer Reading paper log at your local library. Get started by reading books and completing library activities to earn points: 100 points for each book, 25 points for each activity. Books can be enjoyed in any format, whether it’s a physical book, a graphic novel, an eBook, an audiobook, or an eAudiobook.
Track your reading activity in the paper log, or online at sonomalibrary.beanstack.org, or on the Beanstack app. Earn 500 points to get a free book and a raffle ticket for a grand prize. You can even keep reading to earn more points! Up to five free books may be earned over the summer.
But What About the Grand Prize?
Every 500 points earned gets you one raffle ticket. At the end of the summer, every library will draw a name and that teen will win a grand prize - a Chromebook!
Any Questions?
Don’t be afraid to reach out if you have more questions about Summer Reading. Click here to contact us. We’re here to help!
Introducing... PRIDE Book Club for Teens!
Posted on January 17, 2019
The Rohnert Park-Cotati library is excited to launch our brand new PRIDE Book Club for Teens! In this monthly book club, we will read and discuss recent YA books featuring queer characters as they navigate relationships with their families, friends, cultures, and love interests as well as their relationships to their own gender and sexuality. Some of these books focus on being queer and touch on themes of coming out, conflict with family, struggling with cultural expectations, finding love, and discovering self-love. Others feature characters who are queer but the books themselves are more focused on their lives and adventures than the fact of their queerness. In our book club meetings we will snack, talk about the book we read and the issues it brings up, watch videos of the author speaking, and just hang out.
Why is this book club focused on reading LGBTQIA+ books?
Reading books with queer characters can help queer teens feel connected to a larger community, which can help them feel less alone. It is important for teens to be able to read books that reflect the realities of their own lives and that tell stories about people they can actually relate to. Of course, not all queer experiences are the same, so in this book club we will read books featuring characters who identify all along the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and who come from different cultural and economic backgrounds, abilities, and experiences.
Reading LGBTQIA+ books is not only important for queer teens, it can help those who are not a part of the queer community understand what their peers might be going through and how they can be better allies.
Also, queer YA books are just the best(!) so we are excited to read and talk about them!
The book club will meet at 4pm on the first Friday of every month at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Library. You can pick up a copy of the book at the adult reference desk. This book club is for teens in grades 9-12. Snacks will be provided! Allies welcome!
Link to Calendar Event & Link to Facebook Event!
Upcoming Book Club Picks:
Friday, February 1
Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
Suzette returns home to Los Angeles from boarding school and grapples with her bisexual identity when she and her brother Lionel fall in love with the same girl, pushing Lionel's bipolar disorder to spin out of control and forcing Suzette to confront her own demons.
Friday, March 1
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out -- without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met.
Friday, April 5
If I was your Girl by Meredith Russo
Amanda Hardy only wants to fit in at her new school, but she is keeping a big secret, so when she falls for Grant, guarded Amanda finds herself yearning to share with him everything about herself, including her previous life as Andrew.
Friday, May 3
We are Okay by Nina LaCour
Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.
Friday, June 7
Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
Queer author and activist Sarah Prager delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. From high-profile figures like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt to the trailblazing gender-ambiguous Queen of Sweden and a bisexual blues singer who didn’t make it into your history books, these astonishing true stories uncover a rich queer heritage that encompasses every culture, in every era.
Friday, July 5
It's Not Like it's a Secret by Misa Sugiura
When her family moves to California, 16 year old Sana Kiyohara falls for the beautiful and smart Jamie Ramirez but struggles with differences between their diverse friend groups, a boy's sweet but unrequited affection, and her father's increasingly obvious affair.
Other Recent & Upcoming LGBTQIA+ Books to Check Out:
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Darius has never really fit in at home, and he’s sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn’t exactly help matters, and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door, and everything changes.
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan (release date 1/29/19)
Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali has always been fascinated by the universe around her and the laws of physics that keep everything in order. But her life at home isn't so absolute. Unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents, she keeps that part of her identity hidden. And that means keeping her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret from them too. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life at home and a fresh start at Caltech in the fall. But when Rukhsana's mom catches her and Ariana together, her future begins to collapse around her.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth
When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl. But that relief doesn’t last, and Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different.
None of the Above by I. W. Gregorio
A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she's intersex . . . and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.
The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding
Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people's lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby's been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, she's thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure--to live a lifetime in a single day.
If you have questions about the Pride Book Club for Teens, please call the Rohnert Park-Cotati Library at (707) 584-9121.
Post written by Terra Emerson, Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library
