Welcome!
The library is a vital part of our community. FOCCL's mission includes:
- Keeping our library building running.
- Maintaining a safe and accessible library.
- Ensuring vital services and programming.
- Keeping our library building running.
- Maintaining a safe and accessible library.
- Ensuring vital services and programming.
Friends of Coast Community Library (FOCCL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the coastal communities of southern Mendocino and northern Sonoma counties and enhances the well being of the people of our service area by ensuring they have access to the essential information and communication services that a modern library provides.
In addition to providing and maintaining the building that houses the library in downtown Point Arena, California, FOCCL volunteers offer valuable assistance to library staff.
In addition to providing and maintaining the building that houses the library in downtown Point Arena, California, FOCCL volunteers offer valuable assistance to library staff.
About FOCCL
Free internet access
Friends of the Coast Community Library (FOCCL) is a vital community-based and community-serving organization. Every stage in the library’s growth has been the result of the efforts of community volunteers and contributors.
In fact, FOCCL actually founded the library in Point Arena!
Humble beginnings — Coast Community Library (CCL) began in 1989 with donated books shelved in a back room at a local church. Almost immediately a small group of people established the Friends of Coast Community Library (FOCCL), a non-profit membership organization. Within a year the library outgrew its small space and moved into what is now the Redwood Credit Union in Point Arena.
Joining the county system — In 2001, the library joined the Mendocino County Library System and entered its collection into the catalog system, allowing borrowers access to the collections of public libraries in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake Counties.
A permanent home — After years of fundraising, the Friends purchased the former Gillmore’s General Mercantile Store at 225 Main Street, a significantly larger building. FOCCL remodeled the building for library use with much support and effort from the community who donated funds, labor and materials. In November 2004, Coast Community Library moved into the new space. After another fundraising effort, the library building received a major seismic retrofit in 2017.
FOCCL raises funds to fulfill its important mission through membership drives and an annual year-end fundraising appeal. We also conduct book sales, raising funds and helping community members build their own home libraries.
In fact, FOCCL actually founded the library in Point Arena!
Humble beginnings — Coast Community Library (CCL) began in 1989 with donated books shelved in a back room at a local church. Almost immediately a small group of people established the Friends of Coast Community Library (FOCCL), a non-profit membership organization. Within a year the library outgrew its small space and moved into what is now the Redwood Credit Union in Point Arena.
Joining the county system — In 2001, the library joined the Mendocino County Library System and entered its collection into the catalog system, allowing borrowers access to the collections of public libraries in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake Counties.
A permanent home — After years of fundraising, the Friends purchased the former Gillmore’s General Mercantile Store at 225 Main Street, a significantly larger building. FOCCL remodeled the building for library use with much support and effort from the community who donated funds, labor and materials. In November 2004, Coast Community Library moved into the new space. After another fundraising effort, the library building received a major seismic retrofit in 2017.
FOCCL raises funds to fulfill its important mission through membership drives and an annual year-end fundraising appeal. We also conduct book sales, raising funds and helping community members build their own home libraries.
The Library is a Vital Part of the Community
Community room
Today the Coast Community Library operates under a Memorandum of Understanding between Mendocino County and FOCCL.
Under the MOU, FOCCL is responsible for maintaining the library building while the County employs the professional staff, supplies books and media, and provides computers, software and network services to operate the library and provide internet access to the community.
The library is within walking distance of Point Arena’s schools and offers a safe place for children to study after school. Because broadband internet is costly and unavailable in many locations in our remote area, the library provides the only access to internet for many families.
The library’s community room is home to library programs for children and adults, including poetry readings and adult education classes. Community volunteers donate their time to assist staff in the everyday operations of the library and also organize readings and other programs for children and adults.
Under the MOU, FOCCL is responsible for maintaining the library building while the County employs the professional staff, supplies books and media, and provides computers, software and network services to operate the library and provide internet access to the community.
The library is within walking distance of Point Arena’s schools and offers a safe place for children to study after school. Because broadband internet is costly and unavailable in many locations in our remote area, the library provides the only access to internet for many families.
The library’s community room is home to library programs for children and adults, including poetry readings and adult education classes. Community volunteers donate their time to assist staff in the everyday operations of the library and also organize readings and other programs for children and adults.
Copyright 2025. Friends of Coast Community Library. Photos: Cindy Gonzalez, Chas Higgins, Paula Smith