Contact | Subscribe to Newsletter

What’s Happening

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

25 Mar

Posted at 17:54h in What's Happening

National Library Week (April 24 - 28, 2023) is a time to celebrate our Santa Barbara Public Library, library workers' contributions and promote library use and support. The theme for National Library Week 2023 is "There's More to the Story," illustrating the fact that in addition to the books in library collections, available in a variety of formats, libraries offer so much more. Our Santa Barbara Public Library lends items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. And library

10 Mar

Posted at 22:05h in What's Happening

"I LOVE the Library. I always have. When I was a kid, the Carnegie Library in my small Minnesota town was a treasure box of books that opened the whole wide world to me. I know that lots of us are nostalgic about libraries. We may see them through the lens of childhood storybooks or school age study halls or young adulthood refuges. But my experience in Santa Barbara has launched me out of nostalgia. When I retired in 2015, I knew that I wanted to do something in the Library, like shelve children’s books. I entered my retirement hoping

24 May

Posted at 23:18h in What's Happening

On Tuesday April 12, the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors held a Budget Workshop to discuss the preliminary budget for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year. The meeting heard from the Community Services Director George Chapjian regarding where funding for the Santa Barbara Public Library stands in the preliminary budgets. Chapjian reported that the Board of Supervisors funds almost $4.6 million annually into every library in the county and has also approved a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to its per capita funding, meaning the FY 22-23 per capita will increase 3.8 percent. The Board of Supervisors and the Community Services Director clarified

09 Apr

Posted at 02:03h in What's Happening

The Santa Barbara Public Library is so much more than just an open space filled with books, it is now a hub for social services available to all ages in the community. The Adult Literacy Program, run by Devin Cahill the adult education librarian, is made up of volunteer tutors that help people in the community who are working as native speakers of English and are struggling with their literacy. Inspired by the San Francisco Public Library’s “Fog Readers Program,” the SBPL models this program using the Orton Gillingham curriculum which is designed for people with dyslexia and trains

09 Apr

Posted at 01:53h in What's Happening

This week the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation is celebrating National Library Week with the Library and hosting a Library on the Go Happy Hour. This year's National Library Week theme is “Connect With Your Library” with themed events every day such as The State of America's Libraries Report: Special Edition, National Library Workers Day, National Library Outreach Day, and Take Action for Libraries Day from April 4-9, 2022. The Foundation is highlighting the work of the Library and the Library on the Go Van with an announcement for a $60,000 fund to help sustain the van's operations and outreach! Celebrate

04 Apr

Posted at 21:04h in What's Happening

On March 29, 2022, the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation celebrated its efforts to renovate the Santa Barbara Public Library Downtown Library Plaza. A project that has been years in the making, the Santa Barbara City Council approved the contract to begin construction of the downtown Library Plaza, the new ADA Elevator project, and the Lower Level staff area update. This joyous occasion gained notable news coverage by publications such as the Santa Barbara News Press, Noozhawk, and The Santa Barbara Independent. The Santa Barbara Central Library Renovation Project will cover a 10,000-square-foot plaza with space for festivals, events, and more.

11 Nov

Posted at 22:53h in What's Happening

La Arcada is hosting its annual holiday event. In the past, kids line up to see Santa, people stroll around the area and meet up with friends. Festive mood. Restaurants and stores add to the festivities by being open that evening and offering treats (popcorn, balloons, cookies), carolers, etc. Join the Library on the future Library Plaza for an evening of fun! Library on the Go Van will be present and active!

09 Jun

Posted at 02:54h in What's Happening

Our Public Library empowers people by providing them with access to information and helping them to fulfill needs related to health, government services, and community engagement. The Library Plaza will provide an urban green space that will sustainably grow with our community as they come together at the Public Library.

07 May

Posted at 18:48h in What's Happening

SBPL Delivers | COVID-19 Response Days into the State mandated shelter in place the Santa Barbara Public Library transformed its service model to provide the Santa Barbara community with critical resources. As a part of this shift, the Library launched SBPL Delivers a book mailing program that brings books to your doorstep. The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation has stepped up to provide the funding needed to cover supplies and postage for the program. SBPL Delivers has received thousands of requests and distributed thousands of more books. Community members have shared, “This service has been a lifesaver! My son loves the books you