The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in Rohnert Park, California, Tuesday announced a donation of $3.5 million to the Sonoma County Public Library Foundation. The donation will fund construction of a new library in Roseland in Southwest Santa Rosa, about eight miles to the north of Rohnert Park where the Tribe operates the Graton Resort & Casino.
“We are so proud and happy to be able to support a full-service library in Roseland where so many of us grew up,” said Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris in a statement. “Roseland is a community we love and support.”
The donation from Graton Rancheria, along with $16 million from the City of Santa Rosa and the State of California, plus $5 million from other sources, will help close a construction gap of an estimated $24.5 million for the new library.
When completed, Roseland Regional Library will be part of the Hearn Avenue Community Hub being built on a 6.5-acre site at the intersection of Hearn and Dutton Avenues. The 20,000 square foot library will be part of a campus that will include a community center, an aquatic center, and a new fire station.
“The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria’s leadership role in this capital campaign is a perfect fit with city, state and library funds that have already been committed to a new library in the Roseland/Southwest area of Santa Rosa,” said Sonoma County Library Commission Chair Deborah Doyle. “With those commitments and this generous gift, our construction goal is within reach, now we can focus on the $3 million left to raise to furnish and equip the 21st Century library that this community wants, needs and deserves.”
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