Solano County Library
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[edit] Introduction
The Solano County Library is the public library system for the county of Solano. The library system consists of 7 public libraries and the Solano County Law Library. The cities of Benicia and Dixon have public libraries that are not a part of the Solano County Library system but are partners of the SNAP Consortium.
[edit] SNAP Consortium
The Solano County Library is a member of the SNAP (Solano, Napa, and Partners) Consortium, which serves the residents of Napa and Solano counties by providing library patrons with access to information and publications through its fourteen libraries. The SNAP libraries include the Benicia Public Library, Dixon Public Library, Napa City-County Library, Napa Valley College Library, Solano Community College Library, Solano County Library, and St. Helena Public Library. Libraries in the consortium act as if they were the same library, meaning patrons may check out items at any partner library and may also return those items to any partner library.
[edit] Mission Statement
The Solano County Library offers professional, innovative, cost-effective service by providing library materials, resources, information, entertainment, and life-long learning opportunities to enrich the lives of the people of Solano County.
[edit] Library Services
Services include free use of books, magazines, newspapers, videocassettes, DVDs, audiocassettes, compact discs, ebooks, government documents and online databases.
Staff assist library customers in:
- Locating information to answer their questions
- Providing programs that introduce children to reading and literature
- Conducting class visits and tours which show people how to use the library
- Offering special and informational programs for all age groups
Customers can renew books and other materials by telephone or online through the catalog of the Solano, Napa & Partners(SNAP).
Literacy tutoring is offered for adults with limited reading skills. (1-800-450-7885)
Through an automated system which includes an online catalog the Library provides access to its own collection, as well as the collections of the Benicia Public Library, Napa City–County Library, Napa Valley College Library, St. Helena Public Library, and Solano Community College Library. Using computer terminals in any member library or by accessing the SNAP web page from home or office, library customers can use the following services:
- Locate books and materials
- Place a hold on an item that is checked out and have it sent to their home library via a daily delivery system
- Look up magazine articles in several magazine databases, print the full text of most articles, and access an encyclopedia and several other online databases
- Look at their own records to see what they have checked out, on reserve or any fines or fees
- Access the Internet from computers in any of the 6 library branches
[edit] Measure B
Unfortunately, the economic downturn in the early 1990’s and the state take-aways of local revenues beginning in 1992 curtailed the Library’s budget substancally. Consequently, the Library shifted its focus to immediate operational issues and was forced to cut operating hours and services:
- Operating hours were reduced by 27%.
- The budget for improving the collection was cut by 58%.
- Children’s reading programs and other valuable library services were scaled back.
[edit] Measure B Allowed the Library to Restore Hours and Services
Thanks to the 1998 passage of Measure B (1/8-cent sales tax increase dedicated to library services in all of Solano County) with overwhelming support of Solano County residents and the general upturn in the economy, the Library has been able to expand hours, improve collections, and restore many other services countywide.
In just the two years following passage of Measure B:
- Operating hours have been increased by 40%.
- Library collections have been revitalized with up to $1,000,000 in annual expenditures.
- Most library services and programs have been restored to their prerecession levels.
Library customers have welcomed the expanded operating hours and the reinstatement of many services and programs: two years later library visits are up 22% countywide since the passage of Measure B. By any standard, it is clear that the promises made during the campaign for Measure B have been kept.
[edit] Solano County Library Branches
- Fairfield Civic Center Library
- 1150 Kentucky Street
- Fairfield, CA 94533
- Map
- John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo
- 505 Santa Clara Street
- Vallejo, CA 94590
- Map
- Rio Vista Library
- 44 South Second Street
- Rio Vista, CA 94571
- Map
- Solano County Law Library
- Hall of Justice
- 600 Union Avenue
- Fairfield, CA 94533
- Map
- Springstowne Library, Vallejo
- 1003 Oakwood Avenue
- Vallejo, CA 94591
- Map
- Suisun City Library
- 333 Sunset, Suite 280
- Suisun City, CA 94585
- Map
- Vacaville Public Library - Cultural Center
- 1020 Ulatis Drive
- Vacaville, CA 95687
- Map
- Vacaville Public Library - Town Square
- 1 Town Square Place
- Vacaville, CA 95688
- Map
