Upcoming Events

Featured Events

An illustrated orange yarn ball against a transparent crochet knit background.

Knit 'n' Needle

Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Montecito Library

Program Type:

Arts & Culture

Age Group:

Adults
Library Branch: Montecito Library
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture
Neon illustration of icons of a microphone, music notes, and a person dancing.

Tween Glow Party

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Island Room (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High)
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Island Room (Central)
Age Group: School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High)
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Body:

Calling all 5th-8th graders! Get ready to GLOW at the library. Make glow-in-the dark crafts, play glowing games, dance, and have fun during the darkest time of the year.

Two hands hold a microphone and paintbrush in a pop art style, with orange radiating lines in the background.

Open Mic Night & Art Gallery

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Fireplace Room (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Arts & Culture

Age Group:

Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Fireplace Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Culture
Body:

Take the stage and share your voice! All are invited to Santa Barbara Public Library’s Open Mic where all forms of expression are welcome, including spoken word, music, poetry, comedy, and dance.

Colorful illustrations of science supplies and doodles on graph paper.

Explore Together

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 10:15am - 11:15am
Island Room (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Arts & Culture, Early Literacy, STEAM & Maker

Age Group:

Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), Family
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Island Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), Family
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Early Literacy, STEAM & Maker
Body:

Join us Saturday mornings at the library for fun, interactive learning activities for the whole family! Explore science, math, literacy, and art concepts together in a hands-on, engaging way.

Illustration of multiple colorful hands raised upward against a white wooden background.

Teen Volunteer Time

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:00am - 12:30pm
Eastside Library

Program Type:

Civic Engagement, For Teens, Spanish

Age Group:

Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School)
Library Branch: Eastside Library
Age Group: Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School)
Program Type: Civic Engagement, For Teens, Spanish
New Tutor Training for Adult Literacy on transparent cream background

Tutor Training for New Adult Literacy Volunteers

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Faulkner Gallery (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Adult Literacy, Tutor Training

Age Group:

Adults
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Faulkner Gallery (Central)
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Adult Literacy, Tutor Training
Registration Required
Body:

Note: Attendance is required for both sessions: Saturday, January 31 and Saturday, February 7. Registration is combined for both dates.

Hands use red scissors to cut green tissue paper on a table covered with craft supplies.

Relax & Craft for Teens

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Upper Level (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

For Teens, Spanish, STEAM & Maker

Age Group:

Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School)
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Upper Level (Central)
Age Group: Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School)
Program Type: For Teens, Spanish, STEAM & Maker
Body:

Calling all teens in grades 7-12! Join us for a relaxing crafting session! Head upstairs to the Teen Area and learn to crochet, relax and color, or explore classic crafts like friendship bracelets and keychain making.

Chuck Berry singing on the back of a red car with a guitarist behind and the logo of the Santa Barbara Black Culture House in the corner.

Screening of Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll and Q&A with Darrell McNeill of Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm
All Faulkner Galleries (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Arts & Culture, For Teens, Job & Career

Age Group:

All Ages
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: All Faulkner Galleries (Central)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Culture, For Teens, Job & Career
Body:

Santa Barbara Black Culture House, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Public Library, will be presenting a free screening of Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail!

A crescent moon and two stars hanging on a soft pastel background.

Baby & Me

Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:00am - 11:30am
Island Room (Central) at Central Library

Program Type:

Early Literacy

Age Group:

Early Childhood (Ages 0-5)
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Island Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Literacy
Filters
Age Group

Read to a Dog

3:30pm–4:30pm
Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6)
Central Library
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Island Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6)
Program Type: Books & Reading

Practice your reading with our furry friend, Tallulah! Sign up at the desk for a 10-15 minute reading session, first come, first served. Reluctant readers, emergent readers, and dog-loving readers are welcome! Our volunteer therapy dog team is certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Disclaimer(s):

Participants in this event may be photographed by Library staff. These photos may be used in promotional or educational publications, including in print, social media, and presentations. Please see staff if you do not consent to having your photo taken. Staff will obtain individual, signed photo releases of photographs that contain only an individual as opposed to a group.

Imagine That! STEAM Hour

4:00pm–5:00pm
School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6)
Central Library
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Island Room (Central)
Age Group: School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6)
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Spanish, STEAM & Maker
Body:

Get crafty in the library! Turn your imagination into reality with a new, hands-on STEAM-inspired workshop on the first Wednesday of every month.

Bilingual English and Spanish speaking staff will be present.

Juneteenth

All Day
All Branches
Closing
Branches:
Central Library, Eastside Library, Montecito Library, Library on the Go (LOTG), Virtual, Off Site
Description:

All SBPL locations will be closed on Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth.

Independence Day

All Day 7/3–7/4
All Branches
Closing
Branches:
Central Library, Eastside Library, Montecito Library, Library on the Go (LOTG), Virtual, Off Site
Description:

All SBPL locations will be closed Friday & Saturday, July 3 & 4, for Independence Day.

Open Mic Night & Art Gallery

6:00pm–7:30pm
Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Central Library
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Fireplace Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Culture
Body:

Take the stage and share your voice! All are invited to Santa Barbara Public Library’s Open Mic where all forms of expression are welcome, including spoken word, music, poetry, comedy, and dance.

Open Mic Night & Art Gallery

6:00pm–7:30pm
Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Central Library
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Fireplace Room (Central)
Age Group: Early Childhood (Ages 0-5), School-aged children (Grades K-2), School-aged children (Grades 3-6), Teen (Junior High), Teen (High School), Adults, Family, All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Culture
Body:

Take the stage and share your voice! All are invited to Santa Barbara Public Library’s Open Mic where all forms of expression are welcome, including spoken word, music, poetry, comedy, and dance.