April 22, 2022
Dear Santa Rosa City Council Members,
Thank you for your service to the people of Santa Rosa during these unusual and challenging times. I’m writing today to ask your support in building diversity on the Sonoma County Library Commission, because you play a key role in appointing Commissioners.
As you know, Sonoma County Library is a community hub where learning, the arts, technology, and people intersect and thrive. Our branch libraries are destinations, with friendly, knowledgeable staff and welcoming, comfortable spaces. We help people and organizations develop, learn, and connect. We work tirelessly to improve the overall quality of life for everyone in Sonoma County.
Throughout the pandemic, we provided educational and entertaining material to the residents of Sonoma County but we also used the opportunity to reexamine and reimagine our goals and our role within our diverse communities. We are actively recruiting staff and making changes that better reflect and serve our patrons and attract more users.
We are also looking at our Library Commission. One of our most important strategic goals is to actively champion diversity. However, the Commission does not currently reflect the diversity of Sonoma County.
We need your help with this crucial goal. If your incumbent Commissioner chooses not to apply for reappointment, we ask you to encourage candidates of all ethnicities, genders, ages, and abilities to apply. We commit to actively training Commissioners to be effective and comfortable in their roles. We look forward to a Commission that reflects and serves our community.
The Sonoma County Library is an independent public agency. As directed by its Joint Powers Agreement, the Commission acts as the governing body, which includes oversight of the Library Director, responsibility to approve and monitor a $40 million-plus annual budget, and approval of library policies. A Commissioner job description is attached.
Library Director Ann Hammond and I would be delighted to talk to you or staff about this.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Deborah Doyle
Chair, Sonoma County Library Commission
[email protected]
Mobile (707) 978-1707