Between recurring events such as storytimes and Senior Happy Hour, along with special events like stuffed animal sleepovers and a Star Wars Jedi party, there’s always something going on at the Goleta Valley Library.
Some of the staff members who organize and make these events such a success include program planner Linda Hori and children’s librarian Elizabeth Saucedo.
Hori was the mind behind the most recent Harry Potter-themed stuffed animal sleepover in October — where children dropped off their stuffed animals for a night of fun and mischief in the library, and picked them up the next morning with a goody bag, certificate, and photos from the night.
“Linda has just this amazingly creative energy that she brings to the library,” Saucedo said.
“Sometimes [the stuffed animals] get into mischief, like they’ll make copies on the copy machine, they’ll climb onto the bookshelves, they’ll answer the phones, so [the children] are able to see all the little mischief that they get into.”
Hori described the stuffed animal sleepovers as “very late nights, but worth every minute,” as she stays at the library until about midnight arranging photos of the plushie friends.
Another recent event at the Goleta Valley Library was the Star Wars Jedi Party for Star Wars Reads Month, which brought in about 1,400 people, Hori said.
“We were really excited to be able to have that event, because we originally planned it to happen in the May of 2020,” Saucedo said. “It was one of those things that had just been in the works for years, so when we were finally able to do it in October — which is Star Wars Reads Month — it was just like this great feeling of, ‘Wow, this is what we have been dreaming of.’”
The library has several recurring programs, such as the weekly Baby & Me Storytime and monthly Senior Happy Hour, where seniors can get together to make crafts, as well as craft days for everyone throughout the month.
“We really try to have programming for all ages, from babies to seniors,” Saucedo said.
Special programming such as the stuffed animal sleepovers, Dr. Seuss birthday parties, summer and winter reading programs, and more usually occur almost every month, with Hori and Saucedo planning events and programming nearly a year in advance.
“We really do try to have a diverse calendar, and have activities every month because I think it’s really important to have kids come in the library,” Hori said. “Not just during the school year — we also want them to come in every month of the year and keep it exciting for them.
Hori also said that they try to encourage the children to be thoughtful and giving, such as by organizing ways for them to make holiday cards for local nursing home residents or writing letters to firefighters while there were large wildfires happening.
Hori and Saucedo both credited the library’s volunteers and Friends of the Goleta Valley Library organization for much of the work and events they’re able to do.
“A lot of things like the sleepovers and the summer reading program — that is all supported by the Friends of the Library,” Hori said. “Without them, there wouldn’t be like 80% of the activities that we have.”
The Friends of the Goleta Valley Library sponsors several events, renovation, materials, and more at the library, and raises fund through the permanent book sale in the library’s lobby, donations, and more.
“I think that the great thing is that, in a way, the community is actually doing it because a lot of those funds come from the book sale,” Hori added. “The community gives us the books, other community members purchase the books, and with those funds we get to do our programs.”
The library’s volunteer program, which has opportunities for both teens and adults, helps with preparing and during events and craft days, as well as with cleanup afterwards. Other volunteer opportunities include tutoring for the free after-school homework help program and as tech tutors.
More information on the library’s volunteer opportunities can be found here.
“Our volunteers are just amazing, we’re super lucky to have them,” Saucedo said. “They really make it special.”
As the Goleta Valley Library celebrates 50 years in the community, Hori organized a large photo wall in the library, with photos of events over the years, the book van, and historic photos from the library’s early days.
“One of the best things is when they go to the wall and they’ll see a picture of themselves from 15 years ago or 10 years ago,” Hori said.
“Or you’ll see someone come back and they have their own families and their own kids, and you remember them as teen volunteers or as little kids who used to come here for storytime or crafts — and that’s exactly what we do this for.”
Starting this month, the Goleta Valley Library will be receiving new books for the first time in several months, Saucedo said, and there will be more events to celebrate the library’s anniversary in the new year.
A calendar of events and programming at the Goleta Valley Library can be found here.
The Goleta Library is at 500 N. Fairview Ave. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
It is closed on Mondays, and will be closed Dec. 24 to 26.
