The Santa Barbara Public Library reopened the upper level of its Central Library on Tuesday, after being closed for construction projects since July.
With access to the upper level restored, library patrons can now use the public computers again, and printing is available from the public computers or personal devices. The microfilm machine and local history archives also are available on the upper level.
Additionally, full access is available for patrons to browse the nonfiction, graphic novels and young adult collections.
“It’s great [to have more of the library reopened],” Library Services Manager Molly Wetta said. “Especially the public computer access is critical to some people.”
She added that many programs, such as Community Connections or workforce development appointments, had to be moved to different areas because of the construction.
“A lot of programs in the library were being compromised due to sharing spaces,” Wetta said. “Having more of it accessible is really important to a lot of people.”
It was also announced Monday that free in-person storm recovery assistance is now available in English and Spanish through the library’s Community Connections program, with Adult Education staff and contracted social services support workers available to answer questions and make referrals.
Appointments for assistance can be made by calling 805.962.7653, or by visiting the Central Library or Eastside Library.
About half of the main level of the Central Library is still closed to the public, but the downstairs Children’s Library reopened in November, and staff can assist with retrieving books from the main level, which includes the adult fiction and world language collections.
Operations and access to the library have been modified since July during three simultaneous construction projects — including renovation of the Library Plaza, construction of a new accessible elevator, and a new staff workspace on the lower level.
Wetta said that the staff workspace is anticipated to be complete in the summer, at which point the rest of the library should be able to reopen aside from the new elevator and Library Plaza.
Construction of those other two projects is expected to be complete in the fall.
“We’re looking forward to having it all done,” Wetta told Noozhawk. “It’s going to be really interesting to look at as well.”
She said the library’s current elevator was built in the 1980s, so the new ADA-compliant elevator is critical for accessibility and for moving materials between levels.
When the new elevator is complete, it will be glass on three sides, and there will be a large mural depicting “under the sea” in the Children’s Library and scenes of Santa Barbara in a folk-art style in the upper level.
“You don’t get to build an elevator in Santa Barbara that often, so we want to make this project fun,” Wetta said.
