By Jon Haupt
We are all hoping that you’ve had a chance to check out our Mini Library at the Healdsburg Community Center at 1557 Healdsburg Ave., which has been open since Sept. 3. The Mini Library sits in the library room of the former Foss Creek Elementary School, which is convenient as the room includes built-in shelves and other helpful features.
I get questions about our construction project every day: Presently we are aiming to return to the newly refreshed library building at 139 Piper St. in mid-May 2025. The general contractor, E.F. Brett, has begun work on the site and we look forward to the construction happening in the library space.
At the Mini Library, you will find approximately 4,000 titles, including all of our new books; computers and a copier/printer; a few tables to sit at and read or study for a little while; all of our current newspapers and magazines; and a charming children’s area with a soft bench, windows and our popular activity table.
Library Events Return
We took a little break from programming in September to accommodate moving and getting settled in. Now that we’re into October, we are planning more events here at the Community Center.
We’re offering Spanish Music & Movement on the first Tuesday of each month at 11am; our new Take Time To Read events, detailed below, on the first Saturday of the month from 11am to 1pm; Bilingual Baby & Toddler Storytime on Fridays at 10:30am, Oct. 11 and 25; and our Better Beginnings Baby Café on Mondays at 10:30am.
We have special events for all ages coming up as well, with Sugar Skulls for kids on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11am to 12:30pm; Seeds & Reads for school-age children K-6 on Monday, Oct. 14, from 4–5pm; Universal Yums for Tweens on Monday, Oct. 28, from 4-5pm; and a Master Gardeners event on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10:30am to noon.
In addition, we are starting our popular Homework Help program again. Walk-in Homework Help for K–12 is available on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30–5:30pm when school is in session. Don’t be fooled by the name; although we help people with their actual homework, the program is great for math skills, learning to read or other help with being a student. This program is helpful for taking the pressure off the parent and helping students feel supported and successful in their work. We look forward to seeing you there.
Take Time to Read
One of our most rewarding initiatives this year is Take Time To Read, an exciting new literacy initiative for families. Once a month on a Saturday, from 11am to 1pm, we offer an event co-sponsored with a different prominent local organization—the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, Corazón Healdsburg, the Healdsburg Museum or the school district—to promote reading for fun for the whole family.
With book giveaways, Storytime, Read to a Dog and other activities, we hope there is a reading opportunity for everyone. In addition, we have arranged for a catered lunch at each event with a variety of local restaurants so that families in our community can read and share a meal together.
The next Take Time To Read event takes place on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11am at the Healdsburg Elementary School Learning Commons, 400 First St. No registration is required; for more information, come by our Mini Library or give us a call at (707) 433-3772.
The Take Time To Read initiative also features our Book Buddies program in collaboration with Healdsburg Elementary School. Teen volunteers are working with our library staff at the school library twice per week in an after-school program with younger students who are learning to read.
We have been overseeing this program since the beginning of September and it has been an adorable experience. The elementary school students are very excited to have the chance to read a book together with older teens.
As a thank you for participating and helping spread the joy of reading across our community, the teen volunteers will receive a scholarship through the generosity of the Friends of the Healdsburg Library.
Jon Haupt is the manager of the Healdsburg Regional Library, which is open daily at its temporary location, 1557 Healdsburg Ave.
