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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Library Emerges More Welcoming than Ever

Thanks to the support of the Santa Barbara Library Foundation, the City Council, the library staff, and city administrators, the library now has an open plaza perfect for performances, events and rentals, a new glass elevator, an improved staff workspace, and a renovated Faulkner Gallery. Now that the new elevator is completed and the construction area removed, the children’s area is more spacious.

The historic tympanum doors designed by Carleton Winslow in 1924 are now clearly visible since the trees obscuring their view were removed and the “Egyptian Sunburst Poppies,” designed by John Gamble right over the gallery’s entrance couldn’t be more beautiful.
It’s no easy task completing a complicated construction project such as this one when the building is 100 years old. There were delays receiving materials due to supply chain issues caused by Covid, and asbestos was discovered, which had to be carefully removed. Drainage issues arose and had to be resolved. The library staff demonstrated amazing flexibility when they were displaced time and again.

The completed library renovations and the construction of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza show the power of pubic and private sectors coming together, which hopefully will serve as a model for future projects.

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

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.

2024 Year in Review for the Santa Barbara Public Library

2024 has been a year of growth and transformation for the Santa Barbara Public Library!

During construction, the dedicated teams at all three branches and Library on the Go remained committed to serving our community by providing access to quality collections, innovative programming, enriching classes, and meaningful partnerships. The successful completion of these renovations — especially the Michael Towbes Library Plaza — marked a significant milestone for our community. The new ADA elevator and updated staff workspace at Central Library have restored the building to pre-pandemic service levels while the Montecito and Eastside Branch Libraries continue to thrive as key community hubs.

Our programming staff delivered 1,102 events across various categories, reaching people of all ages and backgrounds. Our Spanish outreach team provided 491 hours of service to the Spanish-speaking community, while Library on the Go made 426 stops, bringing library services directly to our patrons. Major initiatives like SB Reads, Summer Reading, and Raíces y Sueños engaged over 7,400 people through special events, book discussions, programs, and art exhibits. We have also added 16,615 new items to our collection and issued 8,532 new library cards systemwide, as of mid-December.

Central Library’s children’s area has undergone exciting improvements this year, including moveable Hublet stations, craft carts, and new toys that allow patrons to use the space in ways that fit their needs. From stomping around at Dino Day to digging in the Community Garden, SBPL’s Youth Services division goes above and beyond every day, offering creative, fun educational opportunities to children.

SBPL expanded its outreach efforts and areas of focus this year creating more opportunities for community connection and communication. Events like Speed Friending, Library on the Go at Local Senior Centers, Bilingual storytimes at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, MakeSB: a punk show at Central Library, Local History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Trail Talks, and Love Cafe for Seniors attracted numerous attendees. These initiatives and more, will continue to grow as we strive to spread library magic from the building to the street.

Read the full article here.

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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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!

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