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Librarian Mathew Rose is back

Sebastopol's Branch Library Manager returned on Monday

Dale Dougherty

May 23, 2023

Mathew Rose was back at work at the Sebastopol Library on Monday. If you read last Friday’s story, you’ll know why this matters to the community of staff, volunteers and patrons of the town library.

Petition: We want our Librarian back

Dale Dougherty

May 19

On April 7th, Sebastopol’s Branch Library Director Mathew Rose learned from the HR Director of the Sonoma County Public Library system that he had been put on administrative leave. He was not told why. Rose, who has been the head of the Sebastopol Library since November 2012, is well respected among the staff he works with and the community he serves. N…

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I asked Mathew via email how it felt to be back and he replied:

The day felt really busy, with lots of people stopping in and expressing congratulations on my return. Many kind words about the services and culture of the library and caring about the staff. Absolutely loved jumping in and helping install an art show, and working with staff to take stock of our summer programs. Four cakes, two boxes of pastries, a pie, and many bouquets of flowers.

A delicious looking cake given to Mathew Rose on Monday

The petition efforts last week for Mathew’s return certainly had impact, whether directly or not contributing to the ending of his administrative leave. All those involved demonstrated how much people in Sebastopol care for their library and appreciate the staff who work there.