Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) has received additional funding for staffing from the City Council during the fiscal year 2024 budget process that will allow the library to reinstate open hours on evenings and weekends.

After recruitment, hiring and training, the library will implement the expanded hours starting Sunday, Oct. 8 at Central and Eastside libraries.

“We know that the lack of Sunday, Monday and evenings hours at Central Library was limiting access for many in the community,” said Jessica Cadiente, library director.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of City Council to extend hours to make it more convenient for families, professionals, and those with less flexible schedules to visit the library in order to access our collections and services or attend educational programs and events,” she said.

New hours of operation:

Central Library

• Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday noon-5 p.m.

Eastside Library

• Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In preparation for the new schedule, all library locations will close at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 4 to facilitate staff training.

The library is also updating some circulation procedures.

Starting Saturday, Oct. 7, physical items checked out are eligible for one automatic renewal if no one has reserved the item. After one automatic renewal, a patron may manually renew an item up to two more times if no one else has reserved the item, by logging into their online account or by contacting library staff.

After three renewals, items are due back to any SBPL location.

Now that Central Library will be open seven days a week, the length of time physical items will remain in the hold shelf will be seven days.

The SBPL is a department of the city of Santa Barbara. For information, visit www.sbplibrary.org.