Downtown Children’s Library Now Open During Construction

By the City of Santa Barbara

The City’s construction projects at Central Library at 40 E. Anapamu St. have progressed to the point that will allow families to access the Children’s Library beginning Friday, November 18.

The Children’s Library will have books and materials from all children’s collections accessible for browsing, furniture and space for families with children to read, gather, and study, self-directed learning activities, and educational toys and manipulatives available for use in the Library.

Some weekly youth services programming that has continued off-site in parks during construction will return to Central Library in the Faulkner Gallery in December, including Wednesday morning early literacy classes – Wiggly Storytime at 10:15 a.m. and Baby and Me class at 11 a.m. Saturday morning Library Lab at 11 a.m. will move from Eastside Library to the Central Library Faulkner Gallery. Library staff will also add a weekly Thursday early literacy class, Music and Movement, at 10 a.m. 

Weekly early literacy classes and school-age programming at parks will continue, including Friday Stay and Play at 10 a.m. at a different park location each week and the Thursday morning Music and Movement class at 10:30 a.m. at Shoreline Park. Weekly Science in the Park program for school-age children will continue on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. at Bohnett Park.

View the Library’s calendar for complete details on classes and events.

Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) has modified operations to maximize public access to the facilities, collections, and services during construction. Three simultaneous projects began in July 2022, including the renovation of the Library Plaza, the construction of a new accessible elevator in the center of the Library, and a new modern staff workspace on the Lower Level.

Grading work continues on the Library Plaza project, and the retaining walls are in process. As part of the new elevator design, there will be a new mural spanning three floors that depicts the ocean, mountains, and landscape of the town. It will include illustrations of landmarks, people, places, and elements that make Santa Barbara a vibrant community done in a Modern American Folk Art style. SBPL will offer opportunities for members of the public to suggest details to include in the mural in person at the Library and on social media in 2023.

In the lower-level staff work area, new data and phone lines are being added to accommodate a modern workspace. Once the lower-level staff area is complete, the public will be able to access the Upper Level and additional space on the Main Level of the Library. This is anticipated to be completed in late spring 2023.

All three projects are expected to be completed in late summer or fall 2023.

Santa Barbara Public Library is a department of the City of Santa Barbara. Visit the Santa Barbara Public Library online at SBPLibrary.org for information about programs and services. All library programs are free and open to the public.