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What’s Happening

24 Jul

Posted at 22:18h in What's Happening

We are thrilled to share an exciting update with you regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance the Santa Barbara Public Library Plaza. The Lower Plaza named the Marjorie Reeds McNeely Courtyard, is nearing completion and will be the first space to be accessed by the public until the entire project is complete. The Marjorie Reeds McNeely Courtyard will accommodate a wide range of activities, from educational workshops and book readings to cultural events and outdoor performances. The first program to kick-off use this summer is Lunch at the Library - feeding children and young adults every Monday - Friday, 12pm-1pm until

25 Jan

Posted at 22:40h in What's Happening

Did you know that the Santa Barbara Public Library is one of fifteen California local library systems (1,127 total public libraries in California) selected to receive first-ever funding from the State Library to support projects focused on sustainability, climate resilience, and community engagement for the 2023-2024 year? This State Library grant will fund a series of programs and classes, and in collaboration with local businesses, non-profits, and City departments. SBPL will engage the public in bilingual hands-on gardening programs, mending workshops, expand our Library of Things collection to include tools, household goods, host educational lectures on sustainable living topics, and more! Library

15 Nov

Posted at 22:35h in What's Happening

The Eastside Library has been a hub for sharing resources and community building for half a century. To commemorate this milestone, the Santa Barbara Public Library hosted a special 50th birthday celebration in September, featuring activities like Lotería, mariachi performances, crafts, and food, allowing patrons to savor both the rich history and the bright future being created today. The event also paid tribute to Elvira Gomez de Tafoya, a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the Eastside Library who left a lasting legacy before her passing in late 2022. The Eastside Library has a history of serving as a community center for the

15 Nov

Posted at 22:24h in What's Happening

The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation has a temporary home at CoLab, a coworking space designed for nonprofits. The new office is in the La Cumbre Plaza in the space formerly occupied by Tiffany & Co. CoLab is launching with four nonprofit tenants in place—the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, the Common Table Foundation, the Children’s Creative Project and the Arts Fund. CoLab is currently seeking two to three more nonprofits to share the space for the next year. CoLab is managed by CLAY, a nonprofit consultancy founded by Santa Barbara resident Jamie Dufek. Dufek also is the Chair of the board

15 Nov

Posted at 22:14h in What's Happening

Rita Boss, MLIS is a graduate of UCSB and worked with the Santa Barbara Public Library system while completing her Master's in Library and Information Science through SJSU. She also brings experience in non-profit fundraising, including management of the membership program at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and building donor relations at CommUnify. Rita says she is “endlessly inspired and impressed” by our Library professionals and looks forward to expanding support for their critical service to the community.

15 Nov

Posted at 21:54h in What's Happening

The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation is proud to support the SB Reads program every year with your donations. This year, the Library Foundation helped fund programs and 700 copies of Isabell Allende's, A Long Petal of the Sea in English and Spanish. The program willl run from September- November and launched with a story telling program at Wylde Works. An SB Reads 2023 kick-off attendee shared, "I really enjoyed the evening at Wylde Works organized as part of the SB Reads Program through our local SB Public Library! Great location, delicious food (unexpected!) and drink, and such interesting stories were

22 Sep

Posted at 20:14h in What's Happening

Modern libraries are books at their core but are also responsive to community needs, working with community groups to mobilize services and resources. What does that mean? Rock shows in the Santa Barbara Public Library! We aren’t making this up and the Library hasn’t changed their mission. This summer the Santa Barbara Public Library’s MakeSB mini-grant program, meant to inspire and support making and creating in many forms, embraced what it means for a Library to be more than books. The event featured three local bands: Sissyfit, Stood Up, and The Daphnees. The hardcore, thrash, and garage bands performed to an

31 Aug

Posted at 03:14h in What's Happening

Every year, the Santa Barbara Public Library brings our community together through the power of reading. We are thrilled that the Library has announced the captivating novel, A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende, as the featured title for Santa Barbara Reads 2023. This initiative encourages Santa Barbara residents to become part of a shared experience as we read the same book, engage in meaningful discussions, broaden our perspectives, and explore the world through literature. A Long Petal of the Sea takes readers on a sweeping journey, following the lives of two refugees from the Spanish Civil War as

26 Aug

Posted at 18:31h in What's Happening

SB Library Foundation Welcomes New Board Member! The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation is excited to announce our newest board member for 2023-2024: Belma Micheal Johnson. The 2023-2024 officers include Jim Jackson, Board President, Anna Alldredge, Vice President, Jim Sterne Secretary, and Roy Martinez, Treasurer. Belma Michael Johnson has crafted a varied and prolific career as a creative executive and creative talent in numerous fields within the entertainment industry. By working in positions in front of the camera and behind, in music marketing and talent development, as a music-magazine writer and editor, as a television host and producer, as a show

28 Jun

Posted at 22:09h in What's Happening

The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation launched the inaugural Jessica Cadiente Library Champion Award at a National Library Week kickoff event on Monday, April 24, 2023. This award was created to honor Library Director Jessica Cadiente’s visionary leadership and will be given each year to someone who goes above and beyond for our Santa Barbara Public Library. Ms. Cadiente has worked in almost every role within a public library throughout her career and as Library Director she has set the gold standard for Santa Barbara’s libraries. She believes in the power of the Public Library to adapt to the ever-changing needs