The Roseland Library's New Home, by Dora Magaña-Noverola and Pat Kuda
Our speakers for August 27, 2026 were Pat Kuda and Dora Magaña-Noverola. Pat is a former Project Manager with the Sonoma County Department of Health and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Library Foundation. Dora is the current Branch Manager at the Roseland library branch. Dora received her Master of Arts degree from the School of Information Resources and Library Science at the University of Arizona. Dora has worked for two decades in libraries in a variety of capacities. Pat and Dora discussed the importance of the new Roseland Library in Santa Rosa.
Pat gave a brief history of the creation and evolution of the Roseland library branch, which began as a dream 30 years ago, when a bond measure to fund the library was attempted. The bond did not pass but funds were saved for future use, leading to a temporary library on a vacant site in 2014. In 2017 the City annexed Roseland, which helped establish the library at its current location on Sebastopol Avenue. In 2022, the City purchased a site called the Hearn Hub, which included a new fire station and a new library. The new library will span 12,475 sq. ft. with 3,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space. Funding sources for the new library complex include $10 million from the City, $4 million from the Library Commission, and a $3.5 million gift from the Federated Tribe of the Graton Rancheria. A public art project using mosaics is also in the works, with community engagement planned for September. Groundbreaking on the library occurred in November 2022. The library will offer free access to the latest technologies, including portable hotspots and Chromebooks with internet access.
Pat and Dora emphasized the importance of the library to the Roseland community, which suffers from low education attainment and life expectancy. The community, which is majority Latino, is also on edge due the current Administration’s efforts to deport non-citizens. The library is partnering with multiple organizations, including Catholic Charities, to offer citizenship classes and legal consultations. The new library will feature a family space, a dedicated teen space, a maker space, and a community gathering area. The outdoor space will include a garden, which will be used for master gardening classes and events like concerts by the Santa Rosa Symphony.
Thank you Pat and Dora for the presentation and for all of your community work in Roseland. You are doing a great job!
