“Happy Summer!” to the Healdsburg community from the Healdsburg Library. We hope everyone is keeping up with their reading, and to make it easy this summer we are offering a special Summer Reading program for adults, separately from the family-oriented option. One can sign up on the Beanstack app, come in for a paper reading log or find out more on our website at sonomalibrary.org.
I regularly receive questions about the difference between the Library and the Friends of the Library. It’s understandable, given the ways we work together. The Sonoma County Library is an organization formed by a Joint Powers Agreement between the cities (including Healdsburg) and the County of Sonoma; the cities generally own and provide access to the buildings, whereas the Library provides furnishings, staffing and collections to operate the library.
Meanwhile, the Friends of the Healdsburg Library is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the library here in Healdsburg. It exists as a community support organization, fundraising and providing donations to further the library’s goals and involvement throughout the community.
In addition to dedicated book sales a few times per year, the Friends of the Healdsburg Library also offers curated books, puzzles and magazines for sale year-round on shelves in the library’s lobby. These items are available for browsing whenever the library is open, and a cash box is available to take cash payments.
In order to stock these shelves as well as the book sale, the Friends take in book and media donations on Fridays from 11:30am to 2pm. Those interested in donating are asked to review the guidelines provided by the Friends on the library website at sonomalibrary.org/visit/locations/healdsburg/friends.
In addition to encouraging folks to read more this summer, we also have our typical round of excellent programming available for all ages. On Thursday mornings at 11am we have a series of larger-scale events with exciting professional performers on tap. Coming up in July we have a “Silly Circus & Magic Show” on July 2, a performance of Puppylocks and the Three Bears on July 9, “Didgeridoo Down Under” on July 16 and “Uncle Jer’s Traveling Bee Show” on July 23.
We are back at it providing Lunch at the Library every weekday this summer, through Aug. 7 starting at noon each day. This popular program allows anyone under 18 years old to enjoy free lunch during summer break from school.
We are happy to announce two additional Storytimes in the Park this July with guest children’s librarian Adriel. These storytimes will be held at Giorgi Park at 10:30am on Fridays July 14 and 28. Miss Charity and the BiblioBike will be back in August for two additional storytimes to look forward to. These have been very popular programs since we started them in 2021, and we are grateful to the City of Healdsburg for helping us to continue providing this service to our community.
We hope everyone has a wonderful summer full of good reads and adventures. Come by the library seven days a week for a suggestion or to meet up with neighbors and learn about what is going on.
Jon Haupt is manager of the Healdsburg Regional Library, open daily at 119 Piper St.
