After three months without a physical library space, Goleta residents can once again browse through books and DVDs in person at the Goleta Valley Library Express that opened Wednesday.
The express library, at 6500 Hollister Ave., Suite 105, will serve as the city’s temporary library for the next two years while the branch library at 500 N. Fairview Ave. undergoes accessibility improvements and restroom upgrades.
“Our staff have worked very diligently to keep services alive and well out in the community, but it’s always exciting to have a physical space back to welcome in patrons, and we’re just excited for patrons to come see it,” city librarian Elizabeth Saucedo said.
She said they had a smooth transition to the express library thanks to a detailed packing plan and support from the city departments and community members.
“We appreciated everybody’s patience because this was the first time our patrons have probably gone through this, too,” Saucedo said. “So, we’re grateful that our community stuck with us and they were willing to learn the new rules to get to this point.”
Library staff was originally planning to open the express library in early June, but the opening was delayed because of tenant improvements to the space. Saucedo said three suites were reconfigured to make Suite 105, and they customized it to make it work for library staff and guests.
Saucedo said they were able to fit almost all of the materials they wanted into the express library. Anything that couldn’t fit is being stored upstairs in City Hall, giving staff easy access in case patrons want to check out a specific item.
The express library is located in the lot next to Goleta City Hall, and the entrance is across the street from the Goleta Valley Athletic Club on Los Carneros Way. The site has 20 parking spots for library patrons and two spots for disabled patrons. There is also street parking on Los Carneros Way and overflow parking at City Hall.
Click here for a map of how to get to the express library.
Walking into the express library, guests will see four computers, the same shelves, materials, some furniture they know from the Fairview library, artwork with a timeline of the library’s history, and some renderings of what the Fairview library could look like after construction.
Patrons are invited to take a survey about what they want to see in the remodeled library.
“We wanted to really kind of showcase our roots of where this beloved community library has been, our origin, and to bring a piece of home with us,” Saucedo said. “And then we also really wanted to highlight where the library is going.”
Feedback from the survey will be shared at an upcoming Library Advisory Commission meeting, and construction is expected to begin later this summer or in the early fall, Saucedo said.
Construction at the 500 N. Fairview Ave. site will include restroom upgrades, modernizing and replacing the HVAC system, new lighting and security, new doors and windows, and new exterior paint.
Goleta received a $4.2 million grant from the California State Library to make the improvements with the contingency that construction has to be completed by June 2027. City staff determined that in order to make the deadline, they needed to fully close the library during construction.
During the three months without a physical library, staff held events, storytimes and other programs in city parks and at the Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave.
The library book van has grown in popularity during the closure as the van was available twice a week at the Goleta Union School District and Community Center.
The book van still will visit the Community Center on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through July 30, but Saturday visits will stop after this weekend.
Programs and events will continue at the Community Center and local parks. Saucedo said having events out in the community has allowed them to connect with new patrons.
“Our community has been showing up, they’ve been so supportive and grateful that we’re still offering those services in between sites,” Saucedo said. “I think it’s off to a positive start, and then we’re looking to continue kind of branching out later this fall.”
One upcoming event will be a silent disco at the Community Center on July 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where kids ages 6 to 12 will be given headphones and access to three age-appropriate music stations so they can dance their hearts out — without making too much noise.
Click here for a schedule of events and programs.
As staff and guests get used to the new temporary location, Saucedo said they hope to add more decorations, updates about the construction project, and they want to hear from patrons about what they want to see included in the space.
“We’re very excited to welcome people into this library,” Saucedo said. “We know that it’s been hard to be without a library, and we have missed our community so much.”
Due to the limited space, only 35 people are allowed in the library at a time, so if it’s busy, there may be a brief wait to get inside.
The express library’s hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The express library will be closed on Mondays.
