1. What is LANTERN’s purpose or mission?
LANTERN’s mission is to build support and funds to develop a new regional library in Sebastopol that would replace the current, outmoded building. The new library would serve West County and offer a modern, technologically current, spacious meeting place for all ages
2. How and when was LANTERN created?
LANTERN was officially created in October of 2013 when its Articles of Incorporation were accepted by the State of California. However, a committee of the Library Advisory Board of Sebastopol began working on the idea of a new library long time before then. That committee evolved into a separate group, now called LANTERN.
3. Why do we need a new library?
The Sebastopol Library is heavily used, over-crowded, and could offer more services to our community with a better designed building. Sebastopol needs a library with increased square footage, more parking, better arrangement of library collections, more services and staff workspaces, and increased flexibility of use. The newly designed space could include a larger meeting room, study rooms, a dedicated children’s area, improved computer use space, more room for books, and comfortable space for quiet reading.
4. How do you know the community supports building a new library?
LANTERN definitely wants to know what the community thinks about the necessity of building a new library. We intend to poll community members, hold community forums, and otherwise work to gather community support and ideas. You can email feedback to info@lanternlibrary.org and/or attend a community meeting (dates will be posted to the website). All input will be collected with best practices, research, and the project budget, and given to the City of Sebastopol, the Sonoma County Library, and the designers of the new library.
LANTERN’s mission is to build support and funds to develop a new regional library in Sebastopol that would replace the current, outmoded building. The new library would serve West County and offer a modern, technologically current, spacious meeting place for all ages
2. How and when was LANTERN created?
LANTERN was officially created in October of 2013 when its Articles of Incorporation were accepted by the State of California. However, a committee of the Library Advisory Board of Sebastopol began working on the idea of a new library long time before then. That committee evolved into a separate group, now called LANTERN.
3. Why do we need a new library?
The Sebastopol Library is heavily used, over-crowded, and could offer more services to our community with a better designed building. Sebastopol needs a library with increased square footage, more parking, better arrangement of library collections, more services and staff workspaces, and increased flexibility of use. The newly designed space could include a larger meeting room, study rooms, a dedicated children’s area, improved computer use space, more room for books, and comfortable space for quiet reading.
4. How do you know the community supports building a new library?
LANTERN definitely wants to know what the community thinks about the necessity of building a new library. We intend to poll community members, hold community forums, and otherwise work to gather community support and ideas. You can email feedback to info@lanternlibrary.org and/or attend a community meeting (dates will be posted to the website). All input will be collected with best practices, research, and the project budget, and given to the City of Sebastopol, the Sonoma County Library, and the designers of the new library.
5. Where would a new library be located?
Currently we are in the early stages of this long-term process and we don’t know where the new library will ultimately be built. We prefer to keep the Library in the core of Sebastopol.
6. When do you foresee it would be built?
The timeframe for a new library depends largely on the rate of fundraising. This is a long-term project. It won’t be completed in a year or even a few. We are working very hard to raise the funds necessary to build the library Sebastopol needs as soon as possible. A reasonable goal is to see the new library built within the next ten years.
7. What role does the City of Sebastopol play in this effort?
The City will own and maintain the library building and Sonoma County Library will operate library services, just as now.
Currently we are in the early stages of this long-term process and we don’t know where the new library will ultimately be built. We prefer to keep the Library in the core of Sebastopol.
6. When do you foresee it would be built?
The timeframe for a new library depends largely on the rate of fundraising. This is a long-term project. It won’t be completed in a year or even a few. We are working very hard to raise the funds necessary to build the library Sebastopol needs as soon as possible. A reasonable goal is to see the new library built within the next ten years.
7. What role does the City of Sebastopol play in this effort?
The City will own and maintain the library building and Sonoma County Library will operate library services, just as now.
8. Are donations tax-deductible?
LANTERN has received tax-exempt status from the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. All donations to LANTERN are now tax-deductible.
9. What can people do who would like to help?
We are ramping up our efforts to publicize our cause and our vision. One of the most helpful things you can do is to help us publicize LANTERN by discussing it with your friends and neighbors so that more and more people hear about us. Once we start to organize fundraising events, we will need lots of help and are hoping many will volunteer. And, of course, you can donate to the cause.
10. Where are you going to get enough money to build a big new library?
We formed to relieve the burdens of government, that is, fundraise to fix a problem that otherwise couldn’t be fixed through the city budget alone. We rely on donations from community members, have sought and will continue to seek grants, host fundraising events, and think of creative ways to ensure Sebastopol has the library it so desperately needs.
11. If you make a bigger library, where will you get the money to staff it?
Staffing is allocated through a variety of factors, one of which is square footage. If the library increases in size, staffing may be affected. This is a point that the Sonoma County Library, which operates our library, would need to consider. The Sonoma County Library will be part of the planning for the new library and is committed to maintaining at least the same level of excellent customer service we enjoy now. Part of the need for a new library includes a better design of staff workflow and materials handling, which would mean less work for our library staff.
LANTERN has received tax-exempt status from the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. All donations to LANTERN are now tax-deductible.
9. What can people do who would like to help?
We are ramping up our efforts to publicize our cause and our vision. One of the most helpful things you can do is to help us publicize LANTERN by discussing it with your friends and neighbors so that more and more people hear about us. Once we start to organize fundraising events, we will need lots of help and are hoping many will volunteer. And, of course, you can donate to the cause.
10. Where are you going to get enough money to build a big new library?
We formed to relieve the burdens of government, that is, fundraise to fix a problem that otherwise couldn’t be fixed through the city budget alone. We rely on donations from community members, have sought and will continue to seek grants, host fundraising events, and think of creative ways to ensure Sebastopol has the library it so desperately needs.
11. If you make a bigger library, where will you get the money to staff it?
Staffing is allocated through a variety of factors, one of which is square footage. If the library increases in size, staffing may be affected. This is a point that the Sonoma County Library, which operates our library, would need to consider. The Sonoma County Library will be part of the planning for the new library and is committed to maintaining at least the same level of excellent customer service we enjoy now. Part of the need for a new library includes a better design of staff workflow and materials handling, which would mean less work for our library staff.
