The Michael Towbes Library Plaza at the downtown Santa Barbara Public Library is slated for opening Saturday, Oct. 21 with a ribbon-cutting and community festival to celebrate the newly designed space.

The Library Plaza, with 10,000 square feet of accessible space, will offer a central gathering area for outdoor programs, events, and community festivals designed to contribute to the vibrancy of the library and the downtown Cultural Arts District.

“Michael Towbes believed everyone could do ‘something,’ and we each had a responsibility to give back to the place we call home,” said Jim Jackson, Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation Board president, and campaign co-chair.

“We are pleased to honor Michael Towbes with this special place at the heart of our community,” Jackson said.

The library has expanded its scope through its mobile Library on The Go van; Stay & Play family programs that encourage early literacy and community-building; outreach to schools; tutoring for young readers; and the community-wide SB Reads program.

With the completion of the Library Plaza Campaign and opening celebration, the library will help to fill the city’s need for a unifying outdoor space, bringing more of its services outdoors into the public square.   

The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation supports the Santa Barbara Public Library by funding large-scale initiatives. Learn more about the foundation and how to support the Santa Barbara Public Library at sblibraryfoundation.org.