Joanna Kolosov and Simone Kremkau assist a patron with the library’s new copier. The patron is Robert Foster, a real estate agent who came in to research the history of a house located in Santa Rosa’s St. Rose neighborhood. (Photo by Katherine Rinehart)
Improved space for history collections
The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library reopened Monday, Dec. 10 in downtown Santa Rosa, after a two-and-a-half month modernization of the facility.
Students, genealogists, historians, journalists and those researching a myriad of topics specific to Sonoma County and its environs will find a fresh and expanded experience at the library, located next door to the Santa Rosa Central Branch. The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library has new paint, updated heating and air conditioning, modern lighting and more space for reference and research.
The recent work was paid for by proceeds from Measure Y, a one-eighth of a cent sales tax approved by Sonoma County voters in 2016. The Sonoma County Library is in the early stages of a multi-year project to update and modernize all its branches and facilities. The History & Genealogy Library will be updated further in the future, as funds become available.
The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library was established in 1967 as the Sonoma County Room and was located on the second floor of the Central Library. As the collection grew, in 1998 it was transferred to 725 Third Street, commonly known as “The Annex.”
Until this year, it shared space with the Sonoma County Library’s Adult Literacy program. When library administration moved to another facility in February, Adult Literacy moved into the Central Library.
“The History & Genealogy Library will now occupy the entire Annex, giving us more room to grow and space to comfortably accommodate patrons,” said Katherine Rinehart, History & Genealogy Manager. “This also gives us more space to properly store and process a backlog of materials, which we are eager to share with the public.”
The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library is open the same hours as most Sonoma County Library branches. It opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, closes at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 6 p.m. all other days.
“Our staff is dedicated to collecting, preserving and making accessible local history, as well as genealogical materials of a national and international focus. We look forward to welcoming the community as we grow,” Rinehart said.
An open house and celebration is planned for January 9, 2019, from 4 to 8 p.m. More details will be available soon. For more information, contact Katherine Rinehart at krinehart@sonomalibrary.org.
The Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library is online at sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library and on Facebook at facebook.com/Sonoma-County-History-Genealogy-Library-420254201495985/
