AnonymousSource: City of Santa Barbara
The Library’s buildings may not be open, but Santa Barbara Public Library has never truly closed.
Over the last six months, Library staff have creatively adapted in order to offer services during the COVID-19 pandemic. From mailing books during the stay at home order, generously funded by the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, to continuing to offer Lunch at the Library in partnership with the Foodbank over the summer, the Library has continued to provide critical services.
By evaluating the needs of the community through public surveys distributed in April and August, the Library has been able to adjust its services and hours of operations. This week, the Library is launching new opportunities to browse for materials and offering expanded pickup times for holds at Sidewalk Service as a result of feedback.
Sidewalk Service for holds pickup will be available during the following expanded hours.
As part of efforts to expand our Sidewalk Service hours to Saturday, the Library is shifting the hours staff are available to answer questions over the phone, through chat service, or reply to email inquiries.
Hours for general reference or account information are now:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays:
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Fridays and Saturdays:
10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Call (805) 962-7653, email referenceservices@santabarbaraca.gov, or chat with us during business hours.
Patrons have also expressed an interest in being able to access the collection for browsing, or get the help they usually would in person in finding materials. Patrons can browse curated collections of new materials and staff favorites in each category according to the schedule.
A rotating selection of staff picks for all ages will be available for browsing.
Tables of books will be set up near the historic Anapamu doors. Browsing is limited to members of one household at a time, and anyone waiting must remain in line spaced 6 feet apart. Staff will be able to assist you in finding books or DVDs you are interested in and answer any questions about them. Have your library card number ready, and staff will check out items.
If patrons aren’t able to come to the library to browse, Librarians can curate a personalized reading list using our Book Match service. Fill out a form for requesting materials for adults, or requesting materials for kids and teens.
The Library has also resumed printing services, and has Chromebooks available for checkout for those who need computer access.
Many of the Library’s programs continue virtually, from book clubs to storytimes. SBPL Works!, the Library’s workforce development program that offers assistance with all aspects of getting a new job, from interview practice to skills classes, has been able to help many local residents find jobs over the last six months.
If there’s something you need from the Library, don’t hesitate to call. “We are here to help, and continue to prioritize the health and safety of patrons and staff while finding creative solutions to meet community needs,” said Library Director Jessica Cadiente.
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.
It’s SCANDALOUS that the libraries are still closed. If retail shops can be open, with masks required, there’s no reason why the libraries can’t open safely.
Loosecannon, you are well named. What is scandalous is that other places are open and encouraging people to spread COVID in the name of commerce. People are dying in the US at a pace that is the absolute worst in the world. We represent about 4% of the population of earth and nearly 20% of the deaths. Time to button up for a time to break the cycle.
RHS – your line of thinking would keep us closed forever. It’s time to open up…
It would be idiotic to open up. Didn’t you learn anything from the last “open up” fiasco?
It’s a real bummer that the SB Public Library has been largely ruined by our city officials’ allowance for the homeless to occupy it and trash it’s surroundings. No way I’d take my kid there even if it were open. What a shame. Used to be a nice library for adults and kids.
Much of what the library does is online, anyway. I wish the pickup hours were longer, but I think it makes sense to keep the physical building closed until it’s certain to be safe. It’s a very large space; to keep it clean, regularly, daily, hourly would be a major job — and that should not be the job of the librarians or the library staff.
BIRD, Cleaning surfaces is basically more or less pointless since COVID is spread through droplets. Masks take care of that. Trader Joe’s is open. Home Depot is open. Rite Aid is open. Are you suggesting that libraries are non-essential? Philosophically, I have a big problem with that. People need access to books and information. If everyone, workers and patrons, were required to wear masks, I see no reason why the libraries should remain shuttered. It is a DISGRACE.
Loose thinking like that will keep us in the purple zone forever.
Public sector workers (teachers, librarians, others) who refuse to go back to work on the basis of irrational fears, when there are good, scientifically-proven means of avoiding infecting and spreading it ,are at great risk of squandering the goodwill of the taxpayers, who depend upon their services, and may not in the future be quite so inclined to support pay raises and other benefits. A lot of people in the private sector, self-employed and otherwise, are taking it on the chin massively, and we’re not unaware of the fact that city employees continue to draw salaries and benefits as if nothing is happening. I, for one, am losing patience, with basic services, like libraries and schools, that remain closed despite the Science.
You’re not following the science, but the politics. The science and the data show that opening up will only lead to more infection and death. Your need instant gratification doesn’t show much patience.
But we already have opened up… everything is open!! Correction, everything that has a motivation to open is open… it’s just schools, libraries, etc that are closed… places with little to no motivation. If that check keeps coming (and your kids Are in school like teachers and school district administrators) why open??
There’s little motivation to kill children, parents, and teachers, except in some circles.
A-1600146221: If you have documentation to prove that mask-wearing patrons of Trader Joe’s, CostCo and your corner pot store are contributing to a massive spread of COVID-19, please provide it. Otherwise, let’s open the libraries. And the schools. Following the usual protocols (mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing),
I’m all for people congregating to buy weed (not for me these days, alas, too old for that). I think us old farts can browse the shelves in our libraries, wearing masks, without contributing to the chaos.
My politics are way to the left of Biden, BTW.
Everything is open though! This isn’t about health or safety… tons of kids are in school, many since June. Restaurants, bars, etc… everything and everyone with a motivation is open… you want your job to stay closed while you get paid, which makes sense! But it’s dishonest… and hypocritical.
The lack of communication to patrons during this crisis is a clear indication that there is a problem with leadership at the library.
Someone needs to step up and CLEAN HOUSE, from Santa Barbara to Goleta…
We’ve done some ill=considered openings, and therefore should do more???