2024 Year in Review

SBPL Librarians work tirelessly to curate a collection that is meaningful, relevant, and accessible to our community. By staying attuned to our patrons’ needs and preferences, we ensure our collection continues to serve as a valuable resource for all. Some standout highlights from this year included the addition of the Lucky Day Collection at Central Library (to be rolled out at branches in 2025) and an expanded World Languages Collection – which now includes titles in Korean, Arabic, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese.

Here’s how our users have engaged with the collection this year!

Most Checked Out Item Systemwide: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (all volumes)
Most Checked Out Book Systemwide: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (all volumes)
Most Checked Out Book at Central: Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier,(all volumes)
Most Checked Out Adult Nonfiction: Outlive by Peter Attia, MD
Most Checked Out Adult Fiction: The Women by Kristin Hannah
Most Checked Out Young Adult Book: Tied:The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han; A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Most Checked Out Picture Book: The Pigeon Has To Go to School! Words and pictures by Mo Williams
Most Checked Out Adult & Teen Graphic Novel: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Most Checked Out Manga: Bleach, Story and Art by Tite Kubo
Most Checked Out Children’s graphic novel: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey 
Most Checked Out DVD: Oppenheimer
Most Checked Out Library of Things Item: Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens Membership Pass
Most Watched on Kanopy: Detective Montalbano: Season 1
Most Popular E-audiobook on Libby: The Women by Kristin Hannah
Most Popular E-book on Libby: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Most Popular Item on Hoopla: Hallmark+ Bingepass
Most Popular Content on LinkedIn Learning: Teaching with Technology
Most Popular Title on Palace: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This year, our innovative programming staff provided 1,102 programs across a wide range of categories, serving seniors, adults, teens, tweens, children, babies, caregivers, and more. Our dedicated Spanish outreach team provided 491 hours of outreach to the Spanish-speaking community, ensuring access to library resources for all. Additionally, the Library on the Go brought library services directly to our patrons at 426 van stops. Thanks to a grant from the California State Library, SBPL created a series of programs focusing on sustainability including a Fix-it-Fair, teen clothing swap, and community gardening.

SBPL expanded its outreach efforts and areas of focus this year creating more opportunities for community connection and communication. Events like Speed Friending, Library on the Go at Local Senior Centers, Bilingual storytimes at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, MakeSB: a punk show at Central Library, Local History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Trail Talks, and Love Cafe for Seniors attracted numerous attendees. These initiatives and more, will continue to grow as we strive to spread library magic from the building to the street.

This year, the Spanish Outreach team significantly grew community partnerships and collaborations with local organizations. Notable visits included Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, the Santa Barbara High School Swap Meet, and the Schott Center — each providing valuable opportunities to bring library services directly to the Spanish-speaking community. The monthly Spanish Language Book Club often drew up to 22 regular participants, including English speakers looking to improve their Spanish skills. In addition to these efforts, the team played a key role in authoring City Council’s Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation and nominated La Bella Vida from the Saint George Center for special recognition, celebrating their outstanding work in the community.

Central Library’s children’s area has undergone exciting improvements this year, including moveable Hublet stations, craft carts, and new toys that allow patrons to use the space in ways that fit their needs. This year’s Lunch at the Library, in partnership with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, served 1,780 people under 18 over 41 days, providing healthy, free meals and enriching activities. Six teen interns assisted with the program working 961 total hours. A standout event was the Community Baby Shower on State Street, the largest ever held, which served as a connection point for new parents and caregivers and inspired the County Education Office to host its own similar resource fair for older children. New programs like Comic Chaos Club, Minecraft Club, and Tinker Time have helped children aged 9-11 build social skills through interactive learning experiences. From stomping around at Dino Day to digging in the Community Garden, SBPL’s Youth Services division goes above and beyond every day, offering creative, fun educational opportunities to children.

In 2024, we ramped up our teen programs (ages 12-18), including the re-launch of the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.), which helps shape programming and identifies community service projects. The Hangout (El Encuentro) provided a space for teens to connect and explore interests like video games, anime, block printing, and jewelry making. Teens participated in Dungeons & Dragons, Relax & Craft workshops, and are planning Teen Talk, a new presentation series. The Teen Clothing Swap, in partnership with the SBHS Sustainable Fashion Club and former teen interns, was a success. Teens also wrote book reviews, helped maintain the community garden, and volunteered at Teen Volunteer Time.

SBPL’s Adult Education Division plays an important role  in enhancing the lives of adults in our community, offering services designed to support literacy, employment, and connection to critical local resources. Key achievements from 2024 include hosting four successful Job Fairs reaching approximately 1,000 job seekers and linking them with local employers in fields like retail and healthcare. A series of six basic computer classes provided participants with a foundation in understanding operating systems and effective use of the internet. Additionally, staff conducted resume-building and interview workshops in both English and Spanish. At the FARO Center, SBPL staff dedicated over 132 hours, assisting 42 patrons with workforce development. The adult literacy team also made significant strides by providing tutor training workshops to help tutors more effectively assist learners to improve reading skills, prepare for the GED and US Citizenship tests, and build English proficiency. Furthermore, SBPL’s contracted Community Support Specialist from Family Service Agency provided crucial support, helping 577 individuals experiencing housing and financial insecurity connect with essential resources.

Eastside Library

For many years the Eastside Library has been a cornerstone of the Eastside Neighborhood, and this year was no exception, despite an essential construction closure. The renovations addressed water damage sustained during winter storms, implementing a permanent drainage solution to prevent future issues and addressed repairs to the walls and floors. While the building was closed our resilient staff pivoted library services and programs to different locations like Franklin School, Eastside Neighborhood Park, and Saint George Center. From Coffee with a Cop to Read to a Dog, the newly renovated Eastside Library continues to be a vibrant space for community and connection.

Montecito Library

The reintroduction of programming and special events at the Montecito Library was the most notable development for the branch in 2024. Fiber artists gather weekly at Knit ’n’ Needle, caregivers are returning for Thursday Stay and Play, and the Montecito Book Club has had engaging discussions around monthly book selections. Stand out programs included an SB Reads themed Love Cafe for Seniors and an author talk with local writer, Stevan Gilbar. We’re excited to continue offering new programs at the branch in 2025, as well as the regular reading recommendations, access to this cozy public space, and other library services offered throughout the year.

Collectively, our three largest initiatives this year reached approximately 7,400 people. SBPL staff are always creating fun and engaging activities throughout the year, but these three signature programs truly made an impact.

SB Reads

SB Reads 2024 hosted 20 programs attended by over 350 people giving away 900 books in both English and Spanish. Focusing on the romance genre, staff created events and programming that served all age groups. Highlights included a Love Cafe for Seniors at Montecito Library, an romance author panel in partnership with Smitten Books, book discussions covering 7 different titles, and The Art of Love: A Romance Novel Cover Retrospective.

Raíces y Sueños

SBPL’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month served over 4,000 participants through special events and programs culminating in a beautiful and bustling Mercado, the first event held on the Michael Towbes Library Plaza after the grand opening. This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.

Read & Shine Summer Reading

Our Summer Reading Program was robust this year, engaging 2,436 patrons. Special events and programs attracted a total of 1,714 attendees of all ages and 1,169 adults and children signed up for the Summer Reading challenge. This annual initiative helps to foster a love of reading for all ages and skill levels, supporting the library's mission of life-long learning.

We are proud to serve the community of Santa Barbara and would like to acknowledge the invaluable support of the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Santa Barbara Public Library, Friends of the Montecito Library, the Library Board, individual donors, and many committed volunteers. 

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to you, our patrons. Your continued use of the library, participation in programs, active engagement, and valuable feedback make this institution a vibrant, accessible space that reflects the spirit of our community. As we continue to grow and transform in 2025, know that we appreciate you and it's really cool that you use the library!

Keep reading, listening, and participating!

Happy New Year!