Tag archives: library
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 […]
More than 200 guests gathered at the Michael Towbes Library Plaza for the inaugural Library Night Live, a sold-out celebration that transformed the heart of the Santa Barbara Public Library into an immersive evening of storytelling, performance, and community. The event raised more than $160,000 to support literacy programs serving children, families, and adults throughout […]
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 […]
The I Love My Library campaign, initiated by Library Support Groups, invites the Santa Barbara and Montecito communities to visibly and collectively show support for its public libraries and library staff. From February 1-14, Valentine-themed collection boxes will be placed at participating local businesses and schools throughout Santa Barbara and Montecito. At each location, pre-printed […]
With the start of the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival less than two weeks away as this issue hits newsstands, you’d think the folks over at SBIFF might be a little bit too busy to be booking special screenings. Nope. On January 29, a mere six days from opening night, the Riviera Theatre […]
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 […]
We’re thrilled to say – we’re back! The Library Column is returning, and we couldn’t be more excited to reconnect with you through stories that showcase the heart of our community: your Montecito Public Library. Each month, we’ll bring you a collection of inspiring stories, upcoming programs, and tips to help you get the most […]
MF Chief David Neels has announced the Wildfire Preparedness Meeting with local public safety partners on Thursday, June 26, at 6 pm at Montecito Union School. The MFD with the Montecito Water District, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, neighboring fire agencies, and local community organizations will discuss how […]
Visit the Montecito Library (1469 E. Valley Rd. | 805-969-5063) for books, events, and more! All library branches will be closed on June 19, in honor of Juneteenth. Upcoming events and programs include: Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 9-10:30 am – Drop by to learn and play, sing and share stories with other young children. Enjoy […]
Visit the Montecito Library (1469 E. Valley Rd. | 805-969-5063) for books, events, and more! Upcoming events and programs include: Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 9-10:30am – Drop by to learn and play, sing and share stories with other young children. Enjoy the company of other caregivers. Best for children under 5. Knit ’n’ Needle: Thursdays, […]
On March 14th, the Senate passed a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2025, providing funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through September 2025. On the evening of March 14th, President Trump then ordered that the IMLS – the singular federal agency dedicated to funding library services – “be eliminated to the […]
Santa Barbara has always been a city of ideas. From environmental activism to technological innovation, we’ve led conversations that shape the future. However, when public discourse is often divided, and big ideas get lost in the noise, we need spaces where thoughtful dialogue and new perspectives can thrive. That’s where TEDxSantaBarbara comes in. Over the […]
Now that Towbes Plaza has been ceremonially launched with an enormous pair of scissors, here comes the Local Author Book Festival to break the place in! Santa Barbara is unfairly over-blessed by the g*ds of literary talent, and here’s a chance to walk among these leading lights. Poets, novelists, authors all – some 40 of […]
In 2020 the Friends of the Carpinteria Library and the Friends of the Montecito Library commissionedMJ Gómez and Associates to do a study to determine what could be done for both libraries. The study provided that the Carpinteria Library could become independent, and Montecito library could not. It was pointed out that in Carpinteria, the […]
Last Sunday’s opening of the new Michael Towbes Library Plaza was everything the Journal’s Jeff Wing predicted it would be in a recent edition of the weekly MJ. It was indeed a mezzo shout of happy civic hollering as a Pandora’s box of color and sound reverberated on the sun splashed block party on Anapamu […]
When I was young, libraries were my gateway to adventure. I traveled through stories, climbed metaphorical mountains, and learned boundless skills, all from the coziness of an armchair. Stepping into a library always felt like stepping into a world where anything was possible, an enchanted gateway that took me on journeys beyond the horizon. This […]
Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie made a lot of money and couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. “The man who dies rich dies disgraced,” he wrote, and lived his credo. His stubbornly stated goal was to give away – in his lifetime – his entire fortune to causes which he felt would raise and edify […]
The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation supports charter amendment (Measure A2024) featured on the March 5th ballot. In partnership with the Santa Barbara Public Library and the City, the Foundation has been working to revitalize the Library Plaza since 2012. After many years of working through the City Hall approval process and completing a successful […]
