Tag archives: Santa Barbara Public Library

A Community Center Once Again
By Kim Crail   |   July 8, 2021

Our library continues to thrive these days as we move from the intensity of the pandemic and open further. While the Montecito Library has been offering curbside pickup since last July and indoor visits since December, June 15 has ushered in a true feeling of normalcy. While we continue to wear masks indoors, library staff […]

Library Plaza to Honor Michael Towbes
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 29, 2021

At a hearing last week, the Santa Barbara City Council approved a proposal to name the soon-to-be revitalized library plaza at the Santa Barbara Public Library in honor of the late philanthropist, Michael Towbes.  The project to remodel the plaza, which is located between the library and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, has been […]

Book to Action
By Kim Crail   |   April 8, 2021

Santa Barbara Public Library is partnering with local organizations and leaders as part of the library’s Book to Action programming, designed to inspire the community to read and discuss a book around important themes, then take action to address community issues. This year’s featured title is The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom.   Winner […]

And… We’re Back!
By Kim Crail   |   April 8, 2021

As of March 24, Montecito Library has returned to its pre-pandemic staffing and we are overjoyed to be together again! It has been an entire year since the stay-at-home order resulted in the closure of Montecito’s charming and beloved library building. Like most, we had no idea that absolutely everything would change so drastically. Our […]

Grab-n-Go Services Announced
By Kim Crail   |   December 10, 2020

Winter is coming! Santa Barbara Public Library is transitioning our sidewalk service indoors. Montecito Library will be allowing one household at a time to browse a curated selection of materials inside for 15 minutes.  Grab-n-Go in Montecito will be on Tuesdays from 2 pm to 5 pm, and Thursdays 10 am to 1 pm, starting […]

SB Reads: Create!
By Kim Crail   |   November 5, 2020

The Santa Barbara Public Library is excited to announce this fall’s Santa Barbara Reads program, SB Reads: Create! featuring Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Free copies of Big Magic, in English and Spanish, will be available to pick up at Central Library’s Book […]

Pandemic Precipitates New Podcast
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 23, 2020

Speaking of stories, the Santa Barbara Public Library is launching its own virtual archive of aural adventures via a new podcast called Cover to Cover. Hosted by Norma Cervantes and Jace Turner – a library administrator and its Community Relations Librarian, respectively – the podcast is set to explore the spirit of Santa Barbara through […]

At Your (Sidewalk) Service
By Kim Crail   |   July 16, 2020

We are thrilled to announce that Sidewalk Service is in full effect at Montecito Library. You can request items using our online catalog (SBPLibrary.org/catalog) or please give us a call to request items with the help of staff (805-969-5063). Once your items are ready, you will be notified via email or phone. You are able […]

On the Same Page
By Kim Crail   |   June 25, 2020

This summer, our amazing Youth Services team working out of Central created a new Summer Reading Program (SRP), making the most of reading at home and still providing lots of incentives and virtual programs for kids. Now you can get a library card for yourself and your family to use digital resources this summer while […]

Baby Steps
By Kim Crail   |   June 25, 2020

The burning question on everyone’s mind is, “When is the library going to open?” Currently, our book drops are open to accept returns on Mondays from 2:30-5:30 pm. We will be rolling out Sidewalk Service to check out holds at this location in early July. This service is currently available at the Central Library for […]

The Books Miss You!
By Kim Crail   |   April 16, 2020

In the absence of open hours and programs, our branch activity has come to a standstill. The Montecito Library has been closed to the public since March 13. That said, you can still access important library services including help with job search, applying for unemployment, answers to your reference questions, book delivery, digital services, and […]

Charting a World Without Borders with Pico Iyer
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 28, 2019

On March 15, one of our town’s world celebrated authors, Pico Iyer, had an open discussion about travel, literature, and what brings people of different cultures together. Roman Baratiak from UCSB Arts & Lectures led the discussion. The free event was at the SB Public Library downtown. Pico is usually quoted for saying, “We travel, […]

Women Who Defied the Odds
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 14, 2019

The Santa Barbara Public Library is celebrating and recognizing Women in History Month, March 2019. Heading off the program is their March 8 (Carpinteria branch) and March 10 (downtown Santa Barbara branch) free event titled, Women Who Defied The Odds,featuring the stories of six women in U.S. history portrayed by actors from Santa Barbara’s Drama […]

Oh, Hi: Halifax Returns with Words
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 18, 2018

Joan Halifax is the rare Zen Buddhist visionary whose background and education traverses Western and Eastern practices and study, and it’s an astonishing background that has brought her to where she is today. Among the many early accomplishments of the activist, author, caregiver, teacher, and Zen Buddhist priest, who will be the subject of the […]