Santa Barbara Public Library – 2025 Year in Review

Despite ongoing challenges, SBPL’s librarians and technical services team remained committed to creating a meaningful and inclusive collection.  

A major highlight was the launch of the Children’s World Languages Collection in spring 2025. With 191 new titles in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Polish the collection has received enthusiastic feedback from both local and visiting families. Staff have heard an array of different languages spoken in the Children’s Area, and many caregivers shared how welcomed and represented they feel. With almost 800 total checkouts so far, we are excited to see this collection continue to grow. 

We also launched new reader engagement offerings: 

• Book Nook, a monthly newsletter delivering staff picks and fresh reading recommendations directly to your inbox. Sign up today!
• The Fiction Book Club, which meets the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM has quickly become a warm, thoughtful space for discussing contemporary literary fiction, one of Santa Barbara’s most beloved genres. Join in today! 

By The Numbers:

• Approximately 15,000 new items were added to the collection.
• 61,380 holds, requests made by patrons through the catalog for library materials were filled for patrons.
• SBPL has 6,910 Spanish-language print materials for all ages which circulated 23,886 times this year.  

Highlights:  

New Adult Events Series: In 2025, SBPL introduced Open Mic Nights and Hot Off the Press, two new event series designed to deepen adult engagement through creativity. Open Mic Nights offer a welcoming space for writers, musicians, and storytellers to take the mic and share their voices. Hot Off the Press, a series developed from community feedback, responds to the growing interest in themed hands-on craft activities. With a combined attendance of approximately 300 participants, these events often sparked new friendships and meaningful connections. Both series will continue into 2026, building on their early success. 

Fix-It-Fair: SBPL partnered with local organizations to host a Fix-It-Fair focused on sustainability, repair, and reuse. Community members accessed services including bike repair, sewing and mending, bulk household items, and new this year, jewelry and electronic device repair. The event drew about 260 enthusiastic attendees eager to learn, fix, and reduce waste. The Fix-It-Fair was made possible by: Idyll Mercantile, Explore Ecology, Sunkissed Pantry, Mask Block SB, Bici Centro, AS Bikes, VeloPro Cyclery, and City of Santa Barbara Sustainability and Resilience Department. 

Lunar New Year Celebration:  We celebrated Lunar New Year in partnership with Santa Barbara Chinese School, honoring cultural traditions through hands-on activities and musical and dance performances, as well as local food vendors, and an art exhibit featuring historic photographs of Chinese Santa Barbarans. We're excited to bring this joyful experience back in 2026!

Highlights: 

The Library hosted a series of joyful, family-focused events in 2025 including:

• Messtival: A Messy Art Festival and Bluey Bonanza: Messtival brought 198 kids and families to Central Library’s Lower Plaza, where everyone embraced the mess, getting knee-deep in paint, slime, pastels, and more for a hands-on creative experience. Bluey Bonanza welcomed 110 attendees for a playful program featuring storytime, imaginative play, crafts, and a dance party delighting young fans and caregivers.  

• Children’s Book Week: In early May we welcomed a series of special guests at storytimes, including Chloe Hsun Lin’s Chinese Language School; Mia Lopez leading plant exploration and storytelling from Chumash history; and Connecting Thru Sign Language featured an ASL Storytime. 

• OG Readers: In 2025, 40 trained tutors regularly met with 40 students in grades 1-4, providing one-on-one reading support to help children reach grade-level literacy benchmarks. Five students graduated from the program this year, achieving grade-level reading proficiency and celebrated the milestone by selecting a free book to take home and keep! 

• Local Kids, Local Chefs Cooking: Six free cooking classes, led by local chefs Emma West and Dalan Moreno, were presented in June and July. With a typical attendance of 10 children per class this offered an opportunity to for kids to learn cooking skills from professionals and to engage with the library in a new way. 

• Día del Niño Celebrations:  SBPL celebrated Día del Niño at both Central and Eastside Libraries with joyful, community-centered events honoring children and families. At Central Library activities filled the Upper and Lower Plazas, featuring $2 tacos, face painting, craft stations, community partners, a Youth Makers Market, and a Friends of the Library book sale, special guests and a musical performance by Nathalia that had children singing and laughing all over the plaza. At Eastside Library, 102 community members, primarily children, attended enjoying hands-on activities, animal encounters, and reflective moments like writing letters to their future selves. These celebrations created meaningful and memorable experiences for SBPL’s youngest patrons.  

  By the Numbers: 

  • 262 Early Literacy Programs
  • 41 School Tours were delivered. 

Teens stayed busy in 2025 through weekly community service programs at Central and Eastside Libraries, Relax & Craft for Teens every Saturday, and special programs like the Teen Clothing Swaps and Teen Job & Volunteer Fair. The Teen Advisory Board helped plan special events, like an 80's-themed Murder Mystery event, College Advice Q&A panel, a beach clean up with Tidy Seas and roller derby workshop with the Brawlin' Betties. Teens also learned social-emotional skills with regular workshops with What is LOVE and participated in art making with Santa Barbara Museum of Art. For more information and to learn how to get involved, visit our teen services page!  

SBPL’s Spanish Outreach Team continued to strengthen connections with Santa Barbara’s Spanish-speaking communities through thoughtful programming and trusted partnerships. Highlights included the celebration of Día del Niño, honoring children and families through joyful, bilingual activities, as well as a series of mental health–focused programs that provided accessible information and support in Spanish. Eastside Library hosted a Family Preparedness Workshop, offered both in person and on Zoom in collaboration with Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County where Spanish-speaking attendees received practical guidance on creating emergency preparedness plans. Staff also expanded outreach beyond library walls, connecting with the day laborer community and spending additional time at the Santa Barbara High School Swap Meet to engage people  where they live and work. 

Well-attended programs such as Zumbando con Eva and ¡A Bailar! invited movement, wellness, and connection, while the Spanish Book Club continued to attract regular participants seeking community, conversation, and opportunities to strengthen their Spanish language skills.  Literary and cultural programming remained a cornerstone of outreach, including a commemoration of poet Gabriela Mistral in partnership with the Chilean Consulate. In addition, Raíces y Sueños offered a dynamic series of events celebrating Hispanic and Latino heritage.  

These efforts reflect SBPL’s ongoing commitment to meaningful, inclusive engagement with Santa Barbara’s Spanish-speaking communities. 

SBPL’s Adult Education division continued to support literacy, workforce development, and lifelong learning. Our services aim to help patrons reach their learning goals, while connecting them with local resources. 

SBPL Works! Workforce Development: SBPL staff assisted 970 job seekers through SBPL Works!. Staff also conducted resume building and interview workshops, assisting patrons in both English and Spanish. 

English and Spanish Conversation Groups: Growing out of the success of English Conversation Groups, library staff developed a popular new offering: Spanish Conversation Groups. 180 people attended 23, classes improving their Spanish language skills while creating new opportunities to connect with others.  

Community Support Specialist: Contracted through Family Service Agency our Community Support Specialist assisted 359 individuals experiencing housing or financial insecurity, through our Community Connections Program. 

 
By the Numbers: 

• 13  Book Detectives provided 791 hours of service
• 7 Tech Coaches provided 530 hours of assistance to the public     

From public computers and printing, to WiFi, 3D printing and circulating hot spots, SBPL remained committed to providing free technology access for all who need it. Throughout this year, this continued to be one of our most essential services, ensuring that everyone regardless of income, age, or background can access the services they need. The statistics below highlight SBPL’s ongoing role as an important digital access point for Santa Barbara. 

By the Numbers: 

• 32,806 onsite PC reservation sessions systemwide equaling 30,952 hours of computer usage.
• 161,376 wireless internet sessions at Central and Eastside Libraries
• 1,206 wireless client logins at Montecito Library
• 491 3D printing projects used 97lbs (6.65 miles) of compostable plastic (about the same weight as 20 chickens or the height of Mt. Everest above sea level!) Submit your project today! 

Library on the Go (LOTG) brought library services directly into neighborhoods. With 63 regular locations, including 15 new spots this year, and participation in 13 major community events such as Pride Celebration, Earth Day, National Night Out, and the Senior Expo, LOTG continued to make SBPL resources accessible wherever people live, work, and play.  

Supporting Seniors: LOTG expanded monthly visits to 8 different retirement communities, increasing access to library materials for patrons with transportation limitations. Staff observed a noticeable rise in participation from wheelchair users and other patrons who had previously faced barriers to accessing library services.  

Rapid-Response Access at the Immigration Town Hall: When more than 200 community members were unable to enter the Franklin Center due to capacity limits, LOTG staff quickly set up an outdoor streaming station using the van’s equipment. This allowed more attendees to watch and participate in the Town Hall event.  

Disaster Relief: After the Los Angeles Fires, LOTG partnered with the Project Camp Day Program at Cold Springs School, engaging 80+ families and children displaced by the disasters. Staff distributed free books, masks, backpacks, and library information. In the following weeks, staff connected with these families at physical library locations. Many said that being able to come to the library during this time was a great help and they first got connected through a van visit.  

These examples demonstrate Library on the Go staff’s ability to respond swiftly to community needs, their flexibility in serving families during emergencies, and the impact of mobile outreach in connecting people to library spaces, directly linking literacy with community building. 

Montecito Library:

Montecito Library, a calm and welcoming neighborhood hub, received some exciting new improvements, including new book returns, a revitalized Reppy Reading Room, and refreshed paving outside. Regular programs such as Knit n Needle and the Montecito Book Club continued to see dedicated attendance while new programs including Decluttering: Why should I do it and why is it so hard? and SB Reads: Vietnamese Stories and Crafts saw record attendance of above 50 people, including new library users. With its strong community support and the Friends of the Montecito Library the space remained an accessible space where residents can gather to read, learn and connect throughout the year.   

SBPL focuses on three major initiatives each year: Raíces y Sueños, SB Reads, and Summer Reading. 

Raíces y Sueños: A Celebration of Community and Resilience 
SBPL engaged thousands of community members through its annual Raíces y Sueños (Roots & Dreams) Series. This 25 program, multi-location initiative expanded significantly following the overwhelming response to last year’s events. With a deeper focus on cultural awareness, inclusion, and community connection, this year’s series highlighted music, storytelling, visual art, and workshops to share the diverse experiences of Santa Barbara’s immigrant community. 

The programming was shaped by input from the community and major highlights this year included a Lowrider car show & Chicano Poetry event, an exhibition featuring the vibrant works of Jacqueline Valenzuela, and a Día del Abuelo celebration with Virtual Reality experiences for seniors, and so much more! 

We can’t wait for you to see what 2026 has to offer. 

Raíces y Sueños is generously supported by the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation. 

SB Reads: Our Community Reading Program 

SB Reads is generously supported by the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation. 

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Lunch at the Library

Each summer from June through mid-August SBPL hosts Lunch at the Library, a free, nutritious meal program for children and teens as part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program. In partnership with the Santa Barbara Unified School District, 1,538 meals were served with no sign-ups or income requirements, ensuring easy access for families when school is out of session.  

The Summer Food Service Program is a program of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, administered in California by the California Department of Education. Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California.

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Treasured Tales: 2025 Summer Reading Program and Lunch at the Library 

This year’s Summer Reading Program, already the Library’s busiest season, had it’s highest participation yet. Designed to encourage joyful reading and support literacy, the series engaged the community through reading challenges, a zine activity, incentives, and staff-led conversations about books. These activities help bridge the summer learning gap for children while building positive experiences around reading. 

By the Numbers: 

• Total Child Sign-Ups: 1,676
• Total Teen Sign-Ups: 46
• Total Adult Sign-Ups: 225
• Reading Conversations with Kids to Earn a Bead: 2,132