To: Sebastopol City Councilmembers
From Mary Lou Schmidt, RN., MSN.
Gravenstein Health Action Coalition
Re: City of Sebastopol’s Ad Hoc New Library Committee
As a member of the Gravenstein Health Action Coalition (GHAC) I have been participating in the Library Ad Hoc Committee for two years. The start of this committee developed from the recognized need for a larger library. During the time committee has met, information and research regarding the role of a community library has been gathered and considered. This research has helped expand the definition of the roles that a community library already fulfills and how it has the potential for becoming a community space that can provide, not only informational resources in areas such as education, arts, health and safety but also a welcoming community space for civic engagement.
Our organization has a mission of mobilizing and collaborating with community partners and resources to improve equity, health, safety and well-being for all of West County. We support working toward the development of an innovative solution for using the Sebastopol Regional Library as an anchor or foundation toward a community “hub”, or Commons, that is available to the public, to nonprofit organizations and to local business. Therefore, GHAC would like to support the formation of the committee proposed by the Library Ad Hoc Committee. This would include; expanding membership, developing a project plan and developing a funding plan, Funding to include public funding, grants and private funding. Working together with stakeholders and community can help provide innovative solutions for a public space that can lead toward social, environmental and economic benefit.