Goleta Library temporary closure starts April 1st for improvements but alternative site will be open

GOLETA, Calif. – The Goleta Valley Library will close its location at 500 N. Fairview Ave. on April 1st to begin construction on significant renovations. The city of Goleta says the facility has not undergone any major upgrades in the more than 50 years since opening in 1972.

The city of Goleta received a $4.2 million Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program grant from the California State Library to bring the Goleta Valley Library up to current standards and improve accessibility, safety, and sustainability measures.

The project is set to last roughly 18-24 months and will address improvements such as security installation and upgrades, renovating the children's and adults' restrooms to meet accessibility requirements, and repairing weather and termite damage.

In the meantime, the library will move to a temporary location at 6500 Hollister Ave starting sometime in early June 2025. Programs and services will still be available offsite.

 Goleta City Librarian  Elizabeth Saucedo said, "as soon as the kids are out of school and dive right into our summer reading program, which is really, an important bridge between school years for learning and literacy."

It also gets very busy. Saucedo says, "our visits always increase on a month to month basis, about 12 to 13,000, visits. And then in the summer, in June and July, that number increases to about 15 to 16,000 visitors through the door."

A parent with his three kids said they enjoy the library, going through the books and having stories read to them. Andrew Fuller will be using the temporary library and looks forward to the improvements at the main library. "Yeah. It's exciting to kind of get a refresh on something that hasn't had a refresh in a long time," he said.

Community favorites including Senior Happy Hour, Nursery Rhyme Dance Time, Goodland Yarn Works, Writers’ Workshop, and Mystery Book Club will meet at their regularly scheduled days and times at the Goleta Community Center at 5679 Hollister Avenue.

Poetry sessions will be taking place at UC Santa Barbara.

Locals can also continue to borrow and return books at their nearest Bookvan six days a week. Books chosen through the on line process will be ready at the Bookvan for pick up as well. Book drops will remain open at 500 N. Fairview until further notice.

Learn more the project here.