Friends of the Santa Barbara Library – Dedicated to the growth and development of the Santa Barbara Public Library

Help families teach their children essential pre-reading skills by reading books to their children.

Give children who participate in the Summer Reading program a book to keep.

Help support special programs at the library, like the annual Harry Potter's birthday party.

Help children gain confidence by reading aloud to a furry friend.

Help us provide "Book Club in a Bag" kits, used by library sponsored book clubs and community groups.

Support the library's programs for adults, like assistance with mobile devices and adult literacy programs.

Support the many free programs, such as "Noontime Concert with Opera Santa Barbara."

Who We Are

The Friends of the Library is the non-profit support group of the library dedicated to the growth and development of the Santa Barbara Public Library ensuring free access to information and resources to all members of the community. The Friends raise funds for materials, programs and services that would otherwise not be provided.

The Friends endeavor to preserve and strengthen the importance of our Library in this community as a vital, irreplaceable source of information, education and culture—thereby providing everyone with opportunities and resources for lifelong learning.

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Become a Friend

There has never been a more important time to become a Friend of the Santa Barbara Public Library. The demand for access to books and computers, educational opportunities for lifelong learning, public meeting rooms and galleries, is continuing to rise. From toddlers to teens, new immigrants to entrepreneurs, people are flocking to their libraries.

As a Friend, you’ll help provide additional funds for direct financial and program support. Membership begins at just $35, although we hope you will consider a larger contribution. There are also other ways to support the library, including one time and recurring donations, planned giving, and gifts to the endowment fund.

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Get Involved

Library funding rarely keeps pace with the changing information and resource needs of our community. Please let local officials know that the Public Library is one of the most important institutions in our area. Learn more about becoming an advocate for the library here, and find contact information for the Board of Supervisors and the Santa Barbara City Council. Let them know that you care about the Santa Barbara Public Library.

There are many other ways to support the library, including volunteer opportunities with the Friends of the Santa Barbara Public Library, such as helping with special events.

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Events and Opportunities

“An Afternoon of Mah Jongg” at the Faulkner Gallery on October 13th was a huge success. Participants enjoyed this non-competitive afternoon of Mah Jongg, including a beautiful reception with a selection of savory and sweet treats, wine, and other beverages. Thanks to all of you who participated. We had a great time.

Join us for a Gigantic Book Sale on November 3^rdat the Plaza Palooza at Noon. Visit us at the Michael Towbes’ Plaza grand opening to shop for gently used books. All sales will support the library.

Ongoing: Attend a Friends’ monthly board meeting to find out more about what we do. We meet at the Faulkner or the Eastside Library on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month. You can email us if you plan to attend.

November 5: Please vote! On June 11, 2024, the City of Santa Barbara Council voted unanimously to place the Santa Barbara Essential Local Services Measure on the November 5, 2024, ballot. If approved by Santa Barbara voters, the measure will generate an estimated $15.6 million annually to support the City’s General Fund, which pays for local services, including public safety, maintenance, libraries, affordable housing, and more.

Santa Barbara Public Library Building

Central Library Now Open 7 Days and 55 hours a Week

The Central Library has expanded its hours! The Central Library is open on Sundays and Mondays, and until 7 PM Monday through Thursday.

Central Library Hours:

Monday through Thursday: 10 AM – 7 PM
Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM

Eastside Library Hours

Monday through Thursday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM

Construction Update:

At the current time, the only entrance to the library is from the back. The entrance on Anapamu Street will remain closed until the construction is further along.

Santa Barbara Public Library kicked off a major construction project in July on three projects at Central Library: Library Plaza renovation, a new ADA-compliant elevator, and a lower level staff area renovation. These projects will expand programming space, ensure the Library is safe and accessible, and build a more efficient and modern staff work space.

During construction, in order to ensure the safety of staff and the public, there will be times when there is reduced access or no access to the Central Library. SBPL’s goal is to maximize access and services to the community during this time, while ensuring the safety of Library staff and members of the public during construction.

Libraries Are So Much More Than Books

Did you know that your Santa Barbara Public Library card provides free digital access for downloads and streaming services of ebooks, audio books,comics, music, movies, and television with Hoopla, Kanopy, and Libby/Overdrive? Learn more about downloads and streaming here.

That the library provides free educational resources, such as Mango Languages that offers online courses to learn dozens of languages, or Linkedin Learning, which includes training videos on hundreds of subjects?

That the digital daily New York Times is a free option?

Explore the world available through your card! It is there for you 24/7!

Library Book: Writers on Libraries

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Santa Barbara’s Central Library the Friends of the Library have published Library Book: Writers on Libraries, an anthology of prose and poetry about the glory of libraries. Over 80 writers are represented, including Ray Bradbury, Fannie Flagg, Sue Grafton, Pico Iyer, Leon Litwack, and all the living Santa Barbara poets laureate. Writers who were raised in Santa Barbara, such as Gretel Ehrlich, Hilary Dole Klein, and D. J. Palladino are included as well as former Santa Barbarans, such as John Daniel, Jeff Greenwald, and Gayle Lynds.

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2023 Year in Review at the Santa Barbara Public Library

It’s been a big year for SBPL. Here are some highlights as well as a sneak peek of some exciting plans for 2024!

> Read the full article here

Books are the Heart of What We Do

SBPL patrons borrowed almost a quarter of a million items this year, from books to hotspots to guitars to accessing information via digital platforms like Consumer Reports.
SBPL provides not only robust collections of physical books, but 9 locally-funded online resources.
SBPL’s collections grew by 17,746 print books in the last year!

SBPL Supports Kids, Teens, and Families

423 Early Literacy Classes Supported SBPL’s Youngest Learners
1500 readers participated in the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge, setting their own reading goal and joining in challenges.
Between 200 and 500 kids participated in SBPL’s maker challenge each month that introduce science, math, engineering, and arts concepts while inspiring creativity and learning in school-age children.
SBPL’s grant-funded teen intern program provides a first-paid job for many young adults, which includes on-the-job training, and a strengths-based curriculum to help them prepare for future career opportunities.

SBPL Hosted 461 Enriching and Educational Programs and Events for Adults

Santa Barbara Reads 2023 featured Isabel Allende’s A Long Petal of the Sea, and received rave reviews from the community for the 34 programs offered, which 460 people attended.
SBPL Works! staff help about 60 people each month search and apply for jobs, craft resumes and cover letters, and practice interview skills, as well as taking these sessions out to the Neighborhood Navigation Centers regularly. In just one year, SBPL assisted 441 people at the Neighborhood Navigation Centers.
SBPL trained 219 volunteer tutors to work in our Adult Literacy program.

Looking forward to 2024

Construction on the Michael Towbes Library Plaza, the new ADA elevator, and the lower level staff area continued this year and made significant progress. We look forward to the reopening of the Plaza for expanded library programming and community use in 2024!

Used Books Sale at Voice Gallery Supports the Library

Kerry Methner and Mark Whitehurst of Voice Magazine are graciously allowing the Friends of the Library to sell gently used books in front of the Voice Gallery in La Cumbre Plaza. The selection includes books for all ages. We even have a cute bunny displaying children’s books for sale!

All paperbacks are $1.00 and hardbacks are $2.00. All proceeds will be used to help fund library programs and to purchase new books. Stop by and be sure and check out the gorgeous art in their gallery.

The Library’s Programs Need Your Support!

In addition to books and technology, the library offers:

Career Online High School
Job Help
Vets Connect
Reading with Therapy Dogs
Teen Advisory Board
Orton-Gillingham Readers
Adult Literacy Tutoring
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one—but no one at all—can tell you what to read and when and how.
—Doris Lessing

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Thank You to Our
Most Recent Business Members

Thank you to the following businesses
for becoming a Publisher Friend of the Library.

And to our Business Members:

B2B Printers
Balanced Wealth Planning, Inc.
The Book Den
Maxwell Associates Enterprises
Andrew Rawls, The Crafter’s Library
TechEase
Voice Gallery

> Learn more about becoming a business member