In the minds of many people, libraries have become outdated or even expendable. However, this could not be further from reality. Despite the growing developments of technology and the belief that libraries are becoming obsolete, public libraries are still one of the most fundamental aspects that make up a community.
The third week of October celebrates National Friends of Libraries Week, and for Sonoma County, this is a perfect time to honor and celebrate library branches across Sonoma County. The Rohnert Park-Cotati Friends of the Library group supports a number of resources and services at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library that many people are not familiar with.
“No matter who you are in the community, the library has something for you,” said Sonoma County Library Public Information Officer and Communications Manager, Ray Holley. Holley has been working with the Sonoma County Library for nearly three years now, and is a firm believer that libraries add substantial value to communities.
Holley recalls a time before the internet, when people always went to the library to learn about new things. He states that even though today’s technology makes it so visiting a library is not the number one option when seeking information, libraries are still essential to communities.
Holley emphasized that libraries are open and free to all people. Despite a person’s race, ethnicity, religion or gender identity, the library welcomes all community members. In fact, Holley expressed that libraries are also open to unsheltered people. By supplying resources and services free of charge, libraries play a major role in providing resources to underrepresented communities that do not have readily available access to the resources libraries offer.
When people think of libraries, they automatically associate them with books. Although libraries hold hundreds and hundreds of books, they also offer a number of other resources. These resources include paper and 3D printing, both educational and non-educational movies, as well as help with job interviews or tool boxes available for check out as part of the library’s Energy and Sustainability Division (ESD) Tool Lending Library (TLL) program. Holley believes it is because of people’s lack of knowledge about these extra resources that many people may think that libraries are not as valuable as they have been in earlier times.
The role of Friends of Libraries includes providing support through advocacy, volunteerism, contributions and book sales. They also work to raise awareness about the importance of libraries and help introduce people to resources they may not be aware of. According to Holley, about 47% of Sonoma County residents have library cards, and in order to continue raising awareness about services, the Sonoma County Library runs advertisements in English and Spanish on both radio and newspapers. Before COVID-19, Holley describes how library staff members would often attend community events where they would set up informational tables to speak with community members and help them become aware of the services libraries offer.
When asked about the future of libraries in five to ten years, Holley was enthusiastic about what the Sonoma County libraries may look like in the coming years. Holley believes libraries will incorporate more technology into their services and also begin new programs such as book clubs and virtual reality. Regardless of what the future holds, Holley is confident that libraries will continue to play a crucial role in the community.
Libraries are a true representation of a supportive community. They are welcoming and open-minded, and offer resources to people that do not have easy access to them. National Friends of Libraries Week helps highlight the ongoing basis that Sonoma County libraries serve as community hubs that provide opportunities for all members. Despite what the future holds for libraries across the nation, it is clear that in today’s day and age, libraries continue to provide beneficial resources to underrepresented groups and play a foundational role in communities everywhere, especially here in Sonoma County.
