After being closed for more than an entire school year, Sonoma State Library will finally be open to students for the Fall 2021 semester. The library will be open from Mon. through Thurs. from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. from 7:30 a.m to 5 p.m., and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With this reopening, there are new protocols that were put in place to keep everyone on campus safe from COVID-19 and the Delta variant. The protocols include a ban on eating in public spaces, as well as having to wear a mask inside the school’s facilities. In order to better serve students, they are offering a “hybrid model” of services. 

Laura Krier, a systems and metadata librarian at Sonoma State, is working in the library to assist any students that need help “readjusting” to the library’s services. She talked about print reserves being available to any teachers that want to put any course materials on hold for students, and she encourages this because it helps students to save money. If you have put any personal items on reserve and want to continue having them held by the library, make sure to contact Jack Ritchie at [email protected] before Sept. 29. Krier also mentioned that emergency digitization services are also available to support the students that are enrolled in online classes; although, these types of services will be discontinued by the end of the fall semester. 

The library will be offering online and face-to-face online information and research literacy instruction. Krier emphasized that she “would love to help students achieve research and information literacy outcomes.” If there are any questions regarding incorporating research instructions and support in courses, students can email her at [email protected]. 

Public library spaces such as study rooms, media viewing rooms, and Makerspace will be open. However, while the art gallery remains closed, students can explore it digitally throughout the Fall semester on the SSU library website (https://library.sonoma.edu) under “Gallery Exhibits”. Students are also able to book private study rooms a week in advance up to two hours. In addition to that, students will be also allowed to borrow laptops and headphones for up to four hours for Zooming in the study rooms or at other campus locations. 

In an effort to expand their variety of BIPOC and LGBTQI+ readings, the library has acquired a few rare and special titles. Some of these titles include a signed copy of Langston Hughes’ The Ways of White Folks, Paula Christian’s Edge of Twilight, and Stacy Clubbs’ Trap of Lesbos. Arthur Hills, a retired musician, recently gifted a limited edition copy of composer Erik Satie’s 1914 Sports et Divertissement, with watercolors by Charles Martin. These are only a few examples, but there are more available for students to view per request and individual appointment at [email protected]. 

During renovation work in April, a time capsule was found in the Stevenson Courtyard, and it was filled to the brim with campus treasures from more than 80 years ago. These treasures are centered around BIPOC student groups and clubs from 1933-1934, such as, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A),  Alpha Kappa Alpha, Mu Omega, the Asian Pacific Islanders Organization (APIO), Pan African Resource Center,  and more. There are photos, brochures, letters, and diaries that logged student life during the 1990s, and the Special Collections staff are happy to share these findings with campus groups and alumni. 

Fall 2021 will be different from any of the other semesters we’ve had before, but the library staff are very excited to welcome students back and support them with any of their services. The library has implemented stricter policies such as wearing a mask on school grounds to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. Students will be given the option to choose either online or in-person services.