The last few decades have featured a slow, steady migration of personal and business communication online, a phenomenon that has left a lot of people wondering how to keep up.
While some have easy access to the internet, others have a hard time getting connected. Your libraries and librarians care deeply about providing services to everyone in the community and we are always trying to break down barriers to information.
One of the latest items we hope will help is called SonomaFi. This program provides free access to Wi-Fi hotspots which can be used to connect up to 15 devices simultaneously to the internet.
If you come in to the library to check out a hotspot, you can borrow it for two weeks, connecting your devices to it for free and secure internet access throughout the continental United States. For more information, please inquire at the library and we can give you a short demonstration.
As always, we have several events coming up that might interest you. On Saturday, April 20 at 4 p.m., the library hosts singer-songwriter Michelle Lambert. She started playing violin early in life, writing and singing her own songs.
After East Coast stints, Lambert returned to her home state of California and continues to tour the area accompanied by guitar. We are excited to welcome her to the library and our community here in Healdsburg.
At 6 p.m. on Monday, April 22 — Earth Day — we offer a recycling and composting workshop presented by Recology. If you are wondering how to sort waste and divert recyclables and compost away from the landfill, this workshop is for you.
Learn what Recology now accepts in both recycle and compost carts. If you have questions about recycling or composting, are looking for ideas of how to reuse materials more efficiently, or even just looking for an updated recycling guide, we hope to see you at this program. The event is free and open to all.
Many of you have been taking advantage of the 3-D printer now permanently housed at the Healdsburg library, taking home useful objects to assist in your daily life and work.
In addition to printing services, the library also provides occasional workshops where you can learn how to design your own objects to print. Do you have a simple tool that’s hard to find, or a simple household object that you need to replace? You can attend our free basic and intermediate sessions on 3-D printing Design with Lindsay Hunter and learn how to do it yourself.
The sessions, designed for adults and teens, are April 24 and May 1, both at 3:30 p.m. One can accomplish a remarkable amount with freely available design sites such as TinkerCAD; attendees will learn how to use this remarkable tool and prepare your design for printing at the library. Sign up online at sonomalibrary.org or give us a call at 707-433-3772 now to attend one or both sessions.
Finally, we are offering an Healdsburg Area Author Expo on Saturday, April 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. This program, free to attend, will offer the public an opportunity to interact with and obtain copies of literary works by local authors.
Up to 40 local authors will be on hand with their books to tell you about them and will make them available for sale. Many of the authors will also provide a short reading and/or book talk in our meeting room. Light refreshments will be provided.
If you are a north county author who would like to participate, please sign up on our online calendar, call at 433-3772 or come by and sign up in person at the library. We hope you will take advantage of this uncommon opportunity to learn about and speak with authors who live in your own neighborhood. We look forward to seeing you.
Jon Haupt is the branch manager of the Healdsburg Regional
