On May 1, 1952, the first meeting of the Friends of the Santa Barbara Public Library was held. Since that first meeting many advances and changes have occurred in the world, and in our lives, that were unimaginable at the time. The past five decades have brought us the polio vaccine, frozen food, contact lenses, and the pill. We now have credit cards, laser beams, computers and digital cameras. Man has invented air conditioners, clothes dryers, and fast food. We have watched as a Man walked on the Moon.
Over the years, the Library, through the support and funding from the Friends has also seen many advances and changes. The Library started its collection of long playing records in 1955. That was also the year a $300,000 bequest made it possible to renovate and remodel the library. We have provided the seed money first for the Library's books on tape then for Books and Music on CD; first for video tape and then later the DVD collection. We acquired drive-up book bins, equipped the Faulkner Gallery for a wide range of activities, with gifts of a movie projector, sound apparatus, chairs and a lectern. Through the generous gifts from the Friends, the Library was provided with many extras from clocks to patio beautification to book fairs; from large print books to radio programs, from an aquarium for the children's room to culturally-rich music, dance and art programs, and of course book collections. The Friends are dedicated to fully funding the entire Children's Programming at the Library.
In 2002, during the Golden Jubilee of the Friends of the Library, the Board recognized and acknowledged all that had been accomplished in the past 50 years. We also realized that in order to insure that our Library and our community were positioned to embrace the advances and changes that will come in the next 50 years, an endowment fund would be needed. Several bequests and gifts have given us the seed money for this recently created Endowment Fund which will serve our community for generations to come.
Since our 50th Anniversary, we continue to partner with the Library staff to help fulfill their greatest needs. It was during this time that we started our annual Special Campaign to raise money for the expansion of a specific collection or to enhance and support programming. We have focused this campaign to "Buy a Book for the Library," "Buy a Book on CD" or "Buy a DVD" to expand these collections. This year our Special Campaign is to fund the Children's Programming at the Library.
As book lovers and lovers of reading, the Friends believe that a good library is essential to the intellectual and cultural growth and well being of our community.
The mission of the Santa Barbara Friends of the Library is to inspire and encourage our community to provide resources that will ensure a superior public library that serves our diverse population.
To view the Friends of the Santa Barbara Library products, please visit: http://www.friends-sblibrary.org/shop/index.html
Book Bag - Featuring Artwork by Brian Andreas - $20
This book bag was designed by Santa Barbara artist Brian Andreas. It is natural with red trim and has Brian’s colorful “story people” parading along the front. A heavy-duty canvas book bag, it has a snap and sturdy double handles.
Book Bag - Featuring Painting by Sally Hamilton - $20
This book bag was designed by Santa Barbara artist and previous Board Member of Friends of the Library, Sally Hamilton. It is natural with forest green trim and has Sally’s painting of the downtown library. A heavy-duty canvas book bag, it has a snap and sturdy double handles.
Blue Book Bag - $3
Very light weight, royal blue, double-handled, book bag with Friends of the Library logo in white. 12.5” long x 9.5” wide x 15” tall. Made of non-woven polypropylene, which looks and feels like cloth. Folds flat when not in use. Wt. 3 oz. Hand wash only.
Travel Mug - $3
Metallic blue, plastic, 16-ounce capacity travel mug with Friends of the Library logo in white. 7” tall. Stainless steel interior. Removable lid presses into place. Not for microwave use. Hand wash only. Wt. 5 oz. Comes in white cardboard box.
