WhO WE ARE
History
The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation opens doors by offering critical support to the Santa Barbara Public Library.
Our Background
The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation (SBPLF) was founded in 2012 as an independent nonprofit funding organization to serve the Santa Barbara Public Library. The City of Santa Barbara is the main funding arm of the Santa Barbara Public Library and provides 78% of the operating budget, the County funds 14%, and the remaining 8% comes from donations and grants. The Santa Barbara Public Library depends on private donors and grants to sustain and grow its infrastructure and programming.
Our First Project
The Foundation raised over $4.6 million for its first project, to support the construction of the new Children’s Library at the Central Library and to create an accompanying endowment.
The Foundation’s success was made possible in part due to the efforts of a stellar Capital Campaign Committee comprised of co-chairs Janet Garufis, Jim Jackson, and Scott Brittingham, with committee members Christie Glanville and Elizabeth Slaught.
Our Libraries are Open 7 Days a Week!
In 2023, the Foundation successfully mobilized the community to advocate for $686,000 from the City’s reserves to restore operating hours for the next two years at our Central Library and Eastside Branch.