Tag archives: Montecito Library

Surf Photography to Honey Bees
By Kim Crail   |   June 7, 2022

Summer is fast approaching and Montecito Library is hosting a Summer Reading Program for folks of all ages. See our calendar at SBPLibrary.org for what’s happening! We are delighted to invite everyone to two library programs in June with professional photographer and beekeeper, Branden Aroyan. Bearing the gift of fresh honey from Hope Ranch beehives, he […]

An Eventful May
By Kim Crail   |   May 10, 2022

We’re having an eventful May at the Montecito Library. Check our calendar at SBPLibrary.org or come by to see what’s happening! Watershed Classes for K-6 with Explore Ecology Have you ever wondered where the water goes when it rains? In this lesson series, students will learn how water moves across the land and what can […]

Library Friends: They’ll Be There for You
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 3, 2022

It’s not hard to get a clear picture of the breadth of the age range served by the Montecito Library. Take a look at the events tab on the Friends of the Montecito Library website and you’ll find Italian Conversation, Knit ‘n’ Needle, Poetry Club, Spanish Conversation, Pre-School Story Time, and a New Yorker Discussion […]

The Little Book
By Lynda Millner   |   April 12, 2022

Writers and friends gathered at Tecolote recently to celebrate Steven Gilbar’s latest tome, having published over 20 books. This one is titled The Little Book of Montecito Writers and includes over 50 names. This doesn’t count journalists or memoirists.  No garrets or starving poets here, with the median home costing about $5 million. Gilbar thinks […]

The Elephant on the 1200 Block of Coast Village Road
By Montecito Journal   |   April 12, 2022

Have you ever wondered why you can’t find a parking space on Coast Village Road? Coast Village Road is not downtown Santa Barbara. Unlike downtown, Coast Village Road does not have public parking structures and has suffered from a parking shortage well before the pandemic. So, it should come as no surprise that removing 23% […]

Stay and Play
By Kim Crail   |   March 8, 2022

Spring is almost here and the Montecito Library is keen to bring back some weekly programs for younger children! Our answer? Stay and Play, an outdoor opportunity for little ones to play and their grownups to chill. No rushing to get anywhere at a certain time or abrupt transitions, just a wide window of time […]

Romance in the Library
By Kim Crail   |   February 8, 2022

In the mood for a steamy read or just a happily ever after? We could all use some healthy distraction these days and Montecito Library staff are preparing for one of our favorite displays: “Blind Date with a Book.” Rather than judging a book by its cover, author, or genre, let us surprise you with […]

Introducing New Recruits
By Kim Crail   |   January 4, 2022

It is with great joy that I announce our two new Library Technicians, Kelly and Carli. Starting a few weeks ago, they have been working hard, training on the many facets of public library work and the small branch culture that we cultivate at the Montecito Library. They are looking forward to meeting you! We […]

Literary Gift Ideas
By Kim Crail   |   December 7, 2021

We love good books, and we cannot lie! Choosing which books to give beloved friends and family, however, is not an easy task. With the holidays coming up, here are some staff picks for books that might be worthy of your consideration. For older kids and teens, it’s much more difficult to throw out titles […]

Through Children’s Eyes
By Kim Crail   |   November 2, 2021

Giggles and wiggles increase whenever we have Pre-K kids visit the library. Enthusiasm shoots up exponentially with each additional child until we reach a critical buzz of excitement. El Montecito Early School’s four- and five-year-olds came by for a tour this month and it was a joy to host them. Their first stop was the […]

Community Discusses Members Only
By Kim Crail   |   October 5, 2021

Race, class, family, and belonging are central themes in Members Only, a novel by local author Sameer Pandya. Accused of racism at both his tennis club and university teaching job, the main character’s experiences provide ample opportunity for readers to use the book as both a mirror and a window.  How do we respond when […]

Spotlight on the Montecito Library
By Clara Watson   |   September 28, 2021

Elba Library is believed to have been the oldest library in the world. Historians have concluded it was built around 2500 to 2250 BC in Syria. Although they had giant clay tablets, instead of neatly bound printed paper books, archaeologists still found signs of the tablets being arranged and even classified according to content or […]

New Montecito Library: Hours Start on August 10
By Kim Crail   |   August 12, 2021

Expanding public library access is important to our entire community. Visitors or folks new to the area often come here first to get a sense of what Montecito is all about and to connect with a helpful person face-to-face. The Montecito Library hours are: • Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am – 5 pm • Wednesday […]

How to Experience Montecito Like a True Local
By Leslie Westbrook   |   August 12, 2021

If you recently moved into the neighborhood and you want to fit right in, these few tips should assist in the transition from city slicker to Montecitan.  Despite almost a half-century of living here under my belt – and summer forays in my youth with my best friend whose grandparents had a second home in […]

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 […]

Pandemic Progress: Montecito Library Increases Hours and Services
By Kim Crail   |   June 10, 2021

Montecito Library will be open four days a week starting June 1. This date marks our biggest reopening level in over a year.  Our new hours will be: • Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 2-5 pm• Thursday 10 am – 4 pm Along with new hours will be a 30-minute per day maximum and new building […]

Storywalk Continues
By Kim Crail   |   May 20, 2021

We continue to offer the monthly Storywalk® program, which allows households to enjoy a story together while social distancing. This has been a wonderful way to encourage literacy and family time. Special shout out to the All Saints, Mount Carmel, and Montecito Union students and their grownups that came out, braving the mysterious helicopter situation […]

Once Upon a Time in Montecito
By Kim Crail   |   May 20, 2021

Join us on Thursday, May 20 at 5 pm for a virtual talk titled “Wintering in Montecito” with local historian and Montecito Journal columnist Hattie Beresford. Santa Barbara has drawn winter visitors ever since the 1870s when travel writer Charles Nordhoff promoted Santa Barbara as a health resort. The salubrious waters at Hot Springs Resort […]

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 […]