Healdsburg’s 36-year-old library to undergo $2.3 million remodel

The Healdsburg Regional Library, part of the Sonoma County Library system, will close on Sunday and remain closed until spring for a $2.3 million top-to-bottom remodel.

According to Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault, the library has not had any significant upgrades since it first opened its doors in 1988.

“The library is well-loved in our community, and it’s showing wear and tear,” Thibault said in a news release.

From carpet to ceiling, nearly every part of the library’s interior will be modernized. The project includes a rebuilt entryway, a new teen zone and a reimagined children’s area.

The children’s area will include “cute little reading nooks that children may climb into and read in a cozy spot,” Healdsburg branch manager Jon Haupt said.

The teen area will offer an area for hanging out or doing homework. Pinboards and slat walls will enable teenagers to let their creative sides shine, Haupt said.

The new library will include five gender-neutral restrooms, plus a family restroom with a changing station, as well as upgrades to the heating and cooling systems.

And for those concerned patrons wondering about the mosaic artwork on Piper Street, Haupt says the library will keep them “and hopefully display them with better lighting.”

Although the library will be closed, library services will continue. A “Healdsburg mini library” will begin serving patrons on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Healdsburg Community Center. It will be open daily and include a collection of books and other materials. Patrons will be able to pick up books on hold, access public computers and use printers.

Regular library programming will take place elsewhere in the community, including story time at Giorgi Park, with dates to be determined.

The library also will still kick off its new bilingual program, “Take Time to Read,” despite the building closure. The new program aims to “promote the joy of reading in our community,” Haupt said and will run from September through next May. The program includes giveaways of books and reading supplies plus read-ins and family-style meals at local restaurants.

The renovations are made possible by a pool of funds, including $2.1 million from the Sonoma County Library’s sales tax, $101,600 from the Friends of the Healdsburg Library and $140,000 from the City of Healdsburg, which owns the building.

“This investment reflects the strong partnership between the City of Healdsburg and the Sonoma County Library and our shared commitment to enriching the library experience for everyone in our community,” Healdsburg Mayor David Hagele said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming our neighbors to the ‘mini library’ a the community center during the renovation.”

Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.