Santa Barbara’s “Library on the Go” Expands with New Van
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – In a morning ceremony at the Michael Towbes Plaza, the Santa Barbara Public Library announced the arrival of its second “Library on the Go” mobile outreach vehicle.
They’re calling this addition, “Library on the Go 2.0.”
It’s part of the library’s continued outreach to community areas and residents without immediate access to the library and its services.
The staff reminded the community, that even decades ago, the library was bringing books to workers building Gibraltar dam, delivered on a wagon to Cuyama.
“Library on the Go” was introduced during the COVID pandemic in 2021. It also picked up more interest during the main library construction in 2023 when there were many days with limited access. That’s when the library sent the van out more often to meet the community needs.
Supervising Librarian Lisa Gonzalez said, “life is so busy and we really want to make it easier by bringing the library right to you. So we’ve been dreaming of this increased access to libraries and books for years now.”
In 2025, there were 709 hours of public service logged at 373 “Library on the Go” van stops, “including participation in 13 major community events. During that time, we circulated 6783 items and created 513 new library cards, ” said Santa Barbara Librarian Brandon Beaudette. “So we’re literally just bringing you the same service you get here.”
Gonzalez said, “libraries are all about access access to books, access to information, access to ways to connect with each other.”Funding for “Library on the Go 1.0” was made possible by the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara.
Funding for “Library on the Go 2.0” came from the California State Library and a donation from the James M. Cox Foundation. Cox Market Vice President Kirsten McLaughlin said, “last year, we celebrated with the city with one of those big checks when we granted them $250,000 for this incredible vehicle. “
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