Judge a book by its cover: this library has a new one

One of the new general use spaces in the library (Christopher Haraszti / The Puma Prensa)

By Christopher Haraszti, Staff Writer

After being closed for the majority of the summer for renovations, as previously discussed here, the Sonoma County Library’s Rincon Valley Branch reopened its doors in mid-August. The branch had originally opened in 1994, and according to multiple staff members, the renovation was long overdue. 

The renovation included the addition of modern automated materials handling equipment, allowing returned books to be processed immediately, along with a complete refresh of furniture and finishes. 

Furthermore, more space was dedicated to teens, with multiple new amenities for students ranging from dedicated study rooms to a maker space. There are two new study pods, which can provide isolation from the normal bustle of the library to create a space for studying or group work. The maker space has options for 3D printing, art supplies, a sound studio, and camera lockers. The library serves over 4,000 middle and high school students, so more seating and tables have been added to help with capacity. Despite this, some needs have still not fully been met: “We are really hoping to get some more tables in here, so that some of the [teens] have more space to sit and do their homework,” notes Amanda Bottorff, the children’s librarian at the branch.

Bottorff also explains the significant changes to the children’s section: “My whole section, it used to be very tight … so for me a big thing is all that space has opened up, there's seating all along the window, and way more space for the children to play.” 

The final major change was the consolidation of all the service desks into a single, centralized one. Multiple staff members commented on the new arrangement, stating that it is a good change, but will take some time to adjust to. Bottoff adds, “I like it, I think it helps us learn what everyone else is doing…I really, really enjoy that.”

On the topic of the renovation as a whole, Bottoff concludes, “I think, overall, it's welcoming, and I think it shows the community that we’re using their tax dollars for something positive. That helps us make a case for the library and why it's so wonderful and fantastic.”