A library is more than books and shelves. It’s a place where neighbors meet, children discover new worlds, and people of all ages find opportunities to learn and connect. Keeping a library thriving, however, takes more than librarians and a good collection. It takes a community that believes in what a library can be. For more […]

Santa Barbara Public Library’s Summer Reading Program for all ages is well underway. Young readers equipped with their Reading Adventure Logs have been visiting us at Montecito Library to talk about the books they’re reading. Shiny beads are given for each book they talk about with staff, and some of our readers have amassed quite […]

After 10 years at the helm, Pat Saley reflects on the community effort behind one of Montecito’s most beloved spaces For more than 60 years, the Friends of the Montecito Library (FOML) have been quietly – and sometimes not so quietly – shaping the library at the heart of the community. First mentioned in local […]

After a hiatus of a few years, the Montecito Poetry Club returned to the Montecito Library last month. Kicking off in 2014, and led by poetry lover and devoted library volunteer, Carole Baral, the Montecito Poetry Club was a beloved program that met each month in the Montecito Community Hall. The concept was simple. Each […]

In January 2025, Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) launched a pilot crafting series for adults titled, Hot Off the Press (HOTP). The purpose of the program was to offer library-goers trendy, elevated crafting workshops that would give adults the supplies and cutting-edge machines from the Library’s Maker Space to let their creativity flourish. Past workshops […]