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.
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.
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.
Michael Towbes Plaza
Santa Barbara Central Library
Sunday, December 8th
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Santa Barbara Public Library Local Author Book Festival
Santa Barbara Public Library will be hosting local authors, particularly independent authors, to participate in this year’s Local Author Book Festival, taking place on the Michael Towbes Plaza at the Santa Barbara Central Library on Sunday December 8th from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. The public is cordially invited to come, meet the authors, browse a selection of original works by local writers, and celebrate Santa Barbara’s diverse and thriving literary landscape. There will be a complimentary book wrapping table hosted by the Friends of the Library for any books that are purchased at the event.
This event series began in 2016 when Indie Author Day was first celebrated in Santa Barbara and across the country. A team of SBPL’s Librarians organized a day for writers that included a panel discussion about paths to independent publishing, featuring two authors, a librarian, a bookseller, and two publishing professionals. After the discussion, the community participated in a speed-dating style networking opportunity to meet others working on independent publishing projects.
The following year Indie Author Day 2017 featured a discussion with a local independent author, morning breakout sessions on writing for various audiences and genres, group sessions on how to get your independently published book into bookstores and libraries, as well as marketing and design tips from book cover to page layout.
After a brief hiatus, this event returned in January of 2020 with a new name, SBPL Local Author Day, which included a panel discussion titled, “Art & Craft of Writing” as well as “Nuts & Bolts: Get Your Book into the Hands of Readers.” Participants at all three of these in-person author events particularly enjoyed the ability to network with each other and participate in a book sale at the end of the day, where they were invited to sell their work to the public.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Local Author Day went online in 2021 with a fully digital event that spanned two weekends planned by two SBPL Librarians. For those looking to hone their writing skills, a presenter led “Writing the Compelling Opening,” where participants engaged in developing and critiquing the opening sentences and paragraphs of narrative pieces they were working on. Authors who wanted support on the publishing side of things joined two local authors for a workshop that covered the process of approaching literary agents, from developing a savvy pitch, to crafting a compelling and professional query letter. Participants received immediate feedback on their drafts of a query letter to refine their pitch.
This year, SBPL is hosting local authors again to participate in a Local Author Book Festival, offering these authors the chance to network, meet a community of readers and writers, talk about their work, and offer it for sale. In the past, authors have really enjoyed this particular element of the Indie Author Day and Local Author Day events, giving writers a platform to share their books with the community.
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!
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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