Sonoma County Library Commission
About the Library Commission
The Sonoma County Library is governed by an independent 11-member Library Commission. The city councils of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Sonoma, town council of Windsor, and the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors, each appoint a library commissioner. The City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors also jointly appoint one library commissioner.
The Commission has the following Bylaws.
Monthly meetings are open to the public, and can be accessed here.
The commission generally meets monthly, with additional special meetings as needed. Meetings are open to the public and the public is invited to attend.
Library Commissioners
(Terms expire the year indicated)
- City of Cloverdale - Brooke Greene Vice-chair of the Commission (2027)
- City of Cotati - Cyan McMillan (2024)
- City of Healdsburg - Andy Elkind (2026)
- City of Petaluma - Paul Heavenridge (2026)
- City of Rohnert Park - Barbara Mackenzie (2026)
- City of Santa Rosa - David Cahill (2026)
- Joint City of Santa Rosa/County of Sonoma - Sarah Laggos (2026)
- City of Sebastopol - Fred Engbarth (2026)
- City of Sonoma - Thomas Haeuser (2024)
- Town of Windsor - Deborah Doyle Chair of the Commission (2026)
- County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors - Eve Goldberg (2027)
To learn more about being a library commissioner, please review this job description.
To apply for a vacant seat on the commission, please contact the jurisdiction where the vacancy exists.
The commission also reviews and approves library budgets.
Commission Documents & Videos
Agendas, Minutes, Videos
- Archived Videos: (2012-present)
- Archived Agendas and Minutes: (2020-present)
- Archived Agendas and Minutes: (2013-2019)
Resolutions
Contact the Commission
By mail: 6135 State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Online: Library Commission
Library Commissioners
Deborah Doyle
Library Commissioner
Town of Windsor Appointee
Chair of the Commission
Term expires: 2026
Bio: Deborah Doyle is a writer, editor and fundraiser, who has been an active library advocate, as a professional and volunteer, at local, state and national levels. She has served as president of both California Public Library Advocates and the California Library Association. She worked in both staff and volunteer roles — including executive director and board chair — at Friends of the SF Public Library. She sits in ALA’s Committee on Legislation, has chaired ALA/United for Libraries' Advocacy Committee, and is currently United’s President-elect. Deborah has worked in marketing recruiting and research. She is a performer who currently plays Queen Elizabeth I at renaissance faires and events throughout Northern California. Deborah holds a BA from University of Virginia with high honors and an Executive MLIS from San Jose State University. She and her husband live in Windsor. She represents the town of Windsor on the Library Commission and serves as Chair.
Brooke Greene
Library Commissioner
City of Cloverdale Appointee
Vice-Chair of the Commission
Term expires: 2027
Bio: When Brooke Greene was looking for a small town in which to raise her family, her bottom-line criterion was that the town be large enough to have a library. In 1984, Brooke and her husband were lucky enough to find a home just a block from the Cloverdale branch, where they still live. Brooke is retired and was formerly employed by the Cloverdale Senior Multi-purpose Center, private businesses in Cloverdale, and Cloverdale Unified School District. She currently co-writes the “Cloverdale Comments” column in the Sonoma County Gazette and serves on Cloverdale Indivisible’s Steering Committee. As co-coordinator of the United Way’s Schools of Hope literacy program, she brought community volunteers and young emerging readers together in one-on-one tutoring sessions. She has served on the boards of CARE (Cloverdale’s educational foundation), Friends of the Cloverdale Library, and the Alexander Valley Healthcare Center.
Thomas Haeuser
Library Commissioner
City of Sonoma Appointee
Term expires: 2024
Bio: Thomas A. Haeuser, attorney, certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, has been practicing in the historic Poppe-Parmelee Building in Sonoma since 1974. The firm has provided legal service since 1893. His community activities include: director, president and treasurer of the Sonoma City Opera; director and vice-president of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce; director and president of the Sonoma Community Center; chair of the Sonoma Fourth of July Parade; director and treasurer of the Sonoma State Historic Park Association; chair of the St. Francis Solano School First Annual Building Fund; director of the Sonoma Valley Fund, Community Foundation Sonoma County; finance committee chair of Friends in Sonoma Helping; Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Board; City of Sonoma Parks and Recreation Commission; and City of Sonoma Traffic Safety Committee. His interests in libraries and reading are essential to his life. He represents the City of Sonoma on the Library Commission, and serves as Vice-chair to the commission.
Andy Elkind
Library Commissioner
City of Healdsburg Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: Andy Elkind believes that libraries play a key role in supporting early childhood education, adult literacy, job skills, lifelong learning, and economic development. His love of libraries began as a child when his mother took him on weekly trips to the bookmobile in his home town of Stamford, Connecticut. Andy’s professional career spans four decades and has focused on providing training, coaching, and consulting services to help individuals, teams, and organizations acquire the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to perform at their best. He has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology from Yale College, and a master’s degree in Organizational Management Development from Fielding Graduate University. Andy lives in Healdsburg with his wife (and business partner) Kerry Weiner. He represents the City of Healdsburg on the Library Commission.
Paul Heavenridge
Library Commissioner
City of Petaluma Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: Paul Heavenridge is the executive director of Literacyworks, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting educators and learners in the fields of adult and family literacy. Paul has a master’s degree in Counseling and Adult Education and an MFT. He has an extensive background in educational technology design and delivery, as well as web-based training development and curriculum design. As a library commissioner, he feels that that the library is the soul of the community and strongly supports the library’s adult literacy program expansion. He believes in lifelong learning as a path towards opportunity and fulfillment. Paul is a Roseland School District Community Advisory Board member, a Friend of the Petaluma River board member, and an advisory board member of the Space Station Museum in Novato. He directs the Literacyworks Lecture series in Sonoma County. He grew up on lakes and rivers in Michigan. He loves to scuba dive, kayak, raise bees, read, talk space stuff, and, to the dismay of many, pun. Paul represents the City of Petaluma on the Library Commission.
Barbara Mackenzie
Library Commissioner
City of Rohnert Park Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: Barbara Mackenzie is a native of Indiana, graduate of the University of California Irvine, and 40-year-plus resident of Rohnert Park. She enjoyed a three-decade career in medical management and administration, primarily at Santa Rosa OB/GYN Medical Group, and the Sonoma County Medical Association. A lifelong library lover, she served on the Board of Friends of the Rohnert Park/Cotati Library for nine years, and was appointed to the Rohnert Park Library Advisory Board in 2012. She has been involved in many special events and activities in support of the library through both these organizations. Barbara serves on the Green Music Center Advisory Board and Finance Committee, supports many of the fine programs at the GMC, and is working to strengthen the relationship between the GMC and the library. A community member on the St. Joseph Health System Hospices Advisory Board for almost 20 years, Barbara has also served on its Executive Committee and Long Range Planning Committees. Prior to her Library Commission appointment, Barbara was very active with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University, and served as Advisory Board Member, Ambassador, Science Club co-founder and student field trip organizer. Barbara is an amateur genealogist and photographer, and other favorite activities include exploring parks and cities, attending arts, music and community activities, and reading. She and her husband Jake have enjoyed the company of many cats and dogs over the years, and visit their human extended families in the US and UK as they find the time. Barbara has represented the City of Rohnert Park on the Library Commission since 2014.
David Cahill
Library Commissioner
City of Santa Rosa Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: David Cahill is a retired lawyer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. While there, he served on a library board similar to our Library Commission and helped design several library branches. He is particularly interested in seeing that Sonoma County's underserved communities are provided all of our library system’s offerings. He lives in the Santa Rosa Junior College Neighborhood with his wife, Sabra Briere, and three cats. He represents the City of Santa Rosa on the Library Commission.
Sarah Laggos
Library Commissioner
Joint City of Santa Rosa/Sonoma County Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: A Chicago native, Sarah Laggos has enjoyed living in Sonoma County for the last decade. Sarah has spent her twenty-plus year career working in higher education fundraising and passionately believes in supporting students to pursue their dreams. As the Director of Philanthropy at Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, she is honored to be the bridge between those that find themselves in need of help and those that can help. Sarah holds a Masters in Public Service Management and a Bachelors in Psychology from DePaul University. Sarah is the proud cheerleader, taxi driver, social calendar organizing mom to a high energy 7-year-old who loves soccer, baseball, gymnastics, and climbing trees. She's lucky to be supported by an amazing husband Rick, who gives her time to pursue her personal passions, like helping libraries.
Fred Engbarth
Library Commissioner
City of Sebastopol Appointee
Term expires: 2026
Bio: Fred Engbarth, a resident of Sonoma County since 1971, is the owner of an employment law and mediation practice which currently serves small-medium sized businesses and not for profit organizations located in Sonoma County. Fred has over 40 years of experience resolving workplace disputes in a range of subject areas and for clients in both the public and private sectors primarily through the use of negotiation and mediation. As an employment law attorney and consultant, the focus of his practice is the creation of healthy work environments and the prevention of employment disputes.
Eve Goldberg
Library Commissioner
County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors Appointee
Term expires: 2027
Bio: Eve Goldberg is a writer and filmmaker. She has produced, directed, and edited documentaries, television shows, and videos for corporate, non-profit, and community organizations. Eve has served on the Sonoma County Juvenile Justice Commission, and has worked with Daily Acts, the Ceres Community Project, and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Youth). She has also been an adult literacy tutor with the Sonoma County Library. She holds a BA in Film from San Francisco State University, and an MA in Counselling Psychology from Antioch University West. She and her partner, Linda, have lived in Santa Rosa since 2002. She represents the County of Sonoma on the Library Commission.
Photo to come
Cyan McMillan
Library Commissioner
City of Cotati Appointee
Term expires: 2024
Bio: Cyan is a lifelong resident of Cotati who has been a regular patron of libraries for as long as he could read. During college, he discovered that he wanted to pursue library science as a career, specifically archiving/rare books and manuscripts. He graduated from University of California, Davis with a BA in comparative literature and a minor on global studies in 2022 and plans on going to graduate school for a MLIS in rare books in the future. He decided to join the Library Commission when he stumbled upon an opening for the Cotati Library Commissioner in an email from Sonoma County Library and decided he wanted hands-on experience within libraries before pursuing a career as one. He currently works as a relief counselor at a series of crisis/transitional halfway houses under the same organization, an engaging job that brings something different every day. When he is not at a library, he can be found writing fiction (both poetry and prose), reading novels, baking gluten and sugar free treats, creating checklists to manage his busy schedule, and challenging his alarmingly high tolerance for sour flavors.
