photo credit: Aleta Dimas

The Windsor Regional Library is currently closed for a few days for a remodeling job.

It's one of three current remodeling projects for Sonoma County libraries, including Petaluma and Healdsburg.

"This started when the Town of Windsor, which owns the building, let us know that they wanted to replace the carpet,” said Ray Holley, communications manager for Sonoma County Library “And we thought, 'Gee, while the carpet's out, what else would we like to do?'"

Windsor has one of the smallest public libraries in the county, and this project will not expand the size, but it will make the space more efficient and include seismic retrofitting for shelving.

The project also includes new furniture, paint, and carpeting.

Holley said the changes will make the space more welcoming.

"There's going to be quite a bit more seating in the library,” Holley said. “We're not taking out any books, we're just reconfiguring everything. So there'll be a separate seating area and activity area for the littles, another for the teens, and another for adults."

The majority of Windsor’s $430,000 remodeling project is being funded by the Sonoma County Library.

In November, county voters passed Measure W, extending a sales tax dedicated to library funding. Holley said it's a great testament to the value the community sees in Sonoma County's public libraries.

"$290,500 is coming from the library sales tax,” Holley said. “The Town of Windsor is putting a little over $60,000, and then the Friends of the Windsor Library, which is a nonprofit, is putting in a little over $90,000."

A full closure will last until January 8. Meanwhile, a BiblioBus will be onsite.

Holley said according to the plan, starting January 9, the Windsor Regional Library will operate a mini-library in its meeting room for the duration of the full remodel project, estimated to take 2 to 3 months.