Bibliophiles in Buellton will soon see expanded access to the library with the addition of Sunday hours.
Buellton’s library, operated by the city of Goleta since 2019, is adding four hours to Sunday under an amended agreement. The library will now be open Sundays from 1-5 p.m., bringing its total weekly hours to 39.
According to Buellton City Manager Scott Wolfe, there is no official date yet as to when the library hours expansion will take place.
He said Goleta is currently recruiting a librarian to work at Buellton, and once this person is hired, a date will be provided. He estimates the librarian will be hired in “late September or early October.”
Given the part-time nature of library staff, additional staffing will be required to accommodate for the new hours, according to Wolfe. However, he said the “final piece of the staffing puzzle” will be hiring the new librarian.
According to Goleta City Librarian Elizabeth Saucedo, the new agreement reclassifies the supervisor position to a degreed librarian. The new position will provide “professional-level library services,” including selecting material and developing programs designed to meet community needs and interests.
“We look forward to sharing more information with the Buellton community as we welcome a newly hired librarian to the team this fall,” Saucedo said.
Wolfe said the primary goal of expanding the hours to Sunday is to provide additional access to the library for those who cannot accommodate the current hours.
Along with the expanded hours, the amendment included “enhanced programming,” which intends to further engage the community.
“The enhanced programming mentioned in the staff report refers to new programming that the hiring of a full-fledged librarian will allow,” Wolfe said. “Previously, our library did not have a librarian on staff, although the facility was overseen by the Goleta librarian.”
While Goleta is responsible for managing the Buellton Library’s staff and daily operations, Buellton is responsible for the physical maintenance of the building, utilities and any other budget deficits.
In February 2025, Buellton relocated to 202 Dairyland Road from its previous location at 140 West Highway 246. Since the change, the new location has offered further accessibility with wider aisles and expanded programs such as children’s story time and other activities.
The additional Sunday hours and increased staffing will bring the total Buellton Library contract cost $323,198 for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which is a $27,538 increase over Goleta’s previous agreement.
Once the hours are expanded, the Buellton Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. The library will remain closed on Thursdays.
