News Post

Celebrate All Things Public Library During National Library Week

Join the Santa Barbara Public Library in celebrating all things public library during National Library Week, April 8-14!

Today’s public libraries are about both collection and connection. They are the hearts of their communities- committed to the places where their patrons live, work and study.  Public Libraries are trusted places where all community members can gather to connect with one another and enjoy enriching programs and resources.

Modern librarians and library staff also embrace new and expanded roles. They work with elected officials, small business owners, students, parents, teachers, immigrant communities, nonprofits, and the public at large to discover and meet the needs of their communities.  Whether through offering e-books and other digital resources, technology classes, Adult Literacy Programs, programs for job seekers or those to support early literacy, librarians listen and respond to the community they serve.

“National Library Week is our celebration of how libraries have grown and evolved,” said Library Director Jessica Cadiente. “Community service informs our core mission, from the books we select to the partners we work with and the programs we offer.”

Central Library will offer a series of programs to highlight ongoing initiatives in Santa Barbara.

• Sunday, April 8: Join us at 2 pm for a special Bilingual Storytime followed by a Family Fun Carnival that includes crafts, games, and activities for the whole family, and lots of opportunity for preschoolers to learn letters and numbers in a fun way.

• Monday, April 9: Central Library will host a Book Club/Book Match event at 5:30 pm. Attendees will learn about the half-dozen book clubs sponsored by the Library, have the chance to nominate titles for our popular Book Club in a Bag collection, and hear book recommendations from Librarians in a variety of genres and formats, all while mingling with other book and reading enthusiasts.

• Tuesday, April 10: Central Library’s regular Tech Tuesday event, where children are invited to tinker with all kinds of technology, will instead be a Tech Extravaganza! Beginning at 3:30 pm, youth will have the option to sample all the Library’s tech programming, including Wonderbots, SnapCircuits, Cubelets, LEGO WeDo, and more! Grownups are welcome if they bring a kid along (and trust us, you’ll have just as much fun learning all about coding and robots, too).

• Wednesday, April 11: From 11 am to 1 pm, the public is invited to get a behind the scenes look at Central Library’s extensive collection of historical photos, as well as learn about the archival process and how the Library is working to make these accessible through the Digital Public Library of America.

• Friday, April 13: 3:30 at Central Library, kids are invited to a “book tasting”, where they can preview soon to be published children’s chapter books and let Librarians know which ones they think would be good additions to the Library’s collection.

• Also on Friday the 13th, Central Library will wrap up National Library Week festivities with a special Murder Mystery Party for adults, from 6:30-8:30 pm. Participants will get to play a character and hunt for clues to discover which player is the guilty party. This event requires registration.

The community can also look out for the Library on the Go! Van, which will be out and about registering new library cards, answering questions about library resources, and more!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.  

Contact: Jen Lemberger, Programming & Marketing Librarian

Phone: 805-564-5621

Email: JLemberger@SantaBarbaraCA.gov