Books and buses: a local library renovation in Rincon

A photo of the Rincon Valley Regional Library under construction, with the Bibliobus (left) visible (Ryan Win-Ruan / the Puma Prensa)

By: Ryan Win-Ruan, News Editor

As many frequent visitors may have noticed, Santa Rosa’s Rincon Valley Public Library has recently been closed for renovations.

The 32 year old library was built as a continuation of Santa Rosa’s 1962 general plan, opening for the first time in 1994. It was meant to serve as a local library for the city’s northeastern communities, and has faithfully served its residents since.

However, starting March 16, the library is temporarily closed in order to install several new features, including upgraded childrens’ and teens’ areas, new furniture, and an updated layout. It’s the most recent form of a $2.2 million renovation program for the branch, and is intended to be a part of a larger, district-wide modernization program.

Most of the money for said renovation comes from the voter-approved Measure Y, which created a one-eighth cent sales tax in order to gain funding for the public library renovations.

The library is set to reopen in late June 2026, but for now, visitors are encouraged to keep reading, and to visit other Sonoma County Libraries as an alternative. Additionally, the Sonoma County mobile library, also known as the BiblioBus, will remain open as a second option for those seeking to borrow books.

For more information surrounding the closure and our local library system, visit the Sonoma Library Website.