National Library Week 2025

Many of us grew up taking free public libraries for granted and assume they will always be there, whether we want to take a curious child to story time, send a teen to an enriching after-school program, or stop in to attend an event, pick up tax forms or retrieve a book we placed on hold.

It’s true, local libraries are healthy, busy and successful. In fact, the Sonoma County Library loaned more books in 2024 than ever before in our history. County residents borrowed 4.4 million titles last year, which includes physical books, audiobooks and electronic books, plus CDs, DVDs and other circulating materials.

All of this, at no charge to the community, thanks to a small share of local property tax and an even smaller share of local sales tax.

Every April, libraries across the nation celebrate National Library Week. The theme this year is “Drawn to the Library,” which celebrates creativity and storytelling in all forms, an appropriate topic in creative and resourceful Sonoma County.

At Sonoma County Library, our mission calls upon us to create community through discovery, culture, and connection. We welcome all to grow and thrive in a community where equal access to knowledge creates understanding and limitless potential: with innovative library programming, robust collections and responsive services; through equitable access to information, technology and connectivity; and opportunities to contribute, interact and participate.

Your countywide library system offers limitless opportunities to connect with others, develop new skills, and pursue your passions. We provide free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming, ensuring that all people—regardless of background—have the support they need to learn, connect and thrive.

We also celebrate our library family during National Library Week, April 6-12. On April 8, National Library Workers Day, we’re proud and grateful to acknowledge that library workers play a crucial and unique role in the communities that they serve by providing an inclusive environment where all are treated with respect and dignity.

Sonoma County Library promotes a sense of local connection, advancing understanding, civic engagement and shared community goals. We play a key role in economic development, empowering job seekers, entrepreneurs and lifelong learners through access to resources, training and opportunities.

Do you value your community’s history and legacy? Your library preserves our collective heritage and knowledge, safeguarding both physical and digital resources for present and future generations.

Yet, it’s not all good news for libraries. We are deeply concerned about an executive order targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a non-partisan federal agency whose mission is to: “advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.”

In Sonoma County, the majority of our funding is local, and the loss of about $20,000 in grant funds as a result of the executive order can be absorbed in the next fiscal year.

Although these funding cuts impact Sonoma County nominally, they will affect libraries and museums nationwide in ways we cannot imagine. Once programming funding is cut, it is extremely difficult to restore that funding. The library world is reeling—statewide and nationally—from this news. We urge you to write Congress right away to offer support for IMLS.

To end on a positive note, we invite you to stop by the library during National Library Week—and all year—to help us celebrate the audacious idea that knowledge should be free and accessible to all.

Erika Thibault is the Sonoma County Library Director