We know that many or all of you have been eagerly awaiting news of our library. When will our library return? When will we who volunteer be able to resume our work? How can we help now?

Library leadership has developed a phased plan for opening the branches in four stages. Our Library Commissioner has warned that the return to full services will be a long process and the ways our libraries serve the community will probably change as well.

The Friends cannot begin to receive donated books or plan on book sales until it is safe to do so. When that will be is still unknown.

However, volunteers, including Friends, will be able to return to their library duties in Stage 3 of the process. And, after the deep sanitizing of the branches, curbside service will be available to patrons. There are plans that this service will begin in late May or June. The Sonoma Valley Branch is scheduled to be one of the first 5 to be able to begin this service.

It’s frustrating not to be giving the help we used to give to our beloved library. But there are many other organizations in the Valley who are able to receive help and do need financial support right now. They are providing food, financial assistance, and other support to those in our community who have been hit hardest by the coronavirus and the efforts to mediate its impact.

Among those organizations are:

FISH

La Luz

Redwood Empire Food Bank

Sonoma Family Meal

Sonoma Overnight Support

Vintage House

Some need volunteer help, all need financial help.

Go to sonomacity.org/food-security and sonomavalleyvolunteers.org for more information and links.