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About the Friends of the Carpinteria Library

The Friends of the Library (FOL) formed in 1967 out of the obvious need for support and fundraising for the Carpinteria Library. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) who meet monthly to oversee the funding and organization of our organization and to promote membership recruitment and scheduling of events.

The Board of Directors meets in the library the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Carpinteria Library Mission Statement

The mission of the Friends of the Carpinteria Library is to support the library in meeting the needs of the Carpinteria community.

Our primary objectives are:

  • To promote extension of library services through the Carpinteria branch of the Santa Barbara Public Library.
  • To enhance the facilities of the library by obtaining materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget.
  • To focus attention on libraries and to encourage and accept, by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate materials that may enrich the lives of the people of our community.

Our organization offers financial support for library programs, community outreach and facilities improvements through activities such as book sales ensuring that extra funding beyond the library's regular budget is safely protected and earmarked to enhance the library's services.

Friends of the Carpinteria Library volunteers seek to engage the community in library programs, upgrade the quality of library services by means of gifts, reading materials, facilities, and programs.

Tax deductible donations of time and money allow Friends of the Carpinteria Library to advocate for library programs and supports the spirit of volunteerism, advocacy, and participation in community education through the Carpinteria Library.

History of the Carpinteria Library: 1894 - present

  • 1894: The Carpinteria Literary Womans Club purchased a set of Warner Library of Best Literature and made it available to the public in a room on the second floor of the Town Hall.
  • 1909: The State legislature mandated in 1909 that all counties provide library service to rural communities. Santa Barbara County contracted with Santa Barbara City Library to provide this service.
  • The Womans Club's creates the first library November 8, 1910: The Womans Club's "nucleus of a library" provides the base for the Carpinteria Branch Library that opened with Miss Jessie Jean McLean in charge.
  • 1936: The library moves into the new County Veterans Memorial Building.
  • 1965: The City of Carpinteria incorporates. The City assumes management of the County Veterans Memorial Building and the library building space.
  • 1967: The Friends of the Carpinteria Library forms "... to establish closer relations between the library and the public, and to promote knowledge of and enlarge its resources and services."
  • May, 1971: County, City, and Friends combine to build the patio, create a children's room and purchase furniture for the library.
  • 1986: Friends pursue plans for expansion into the former County justice court.
  • multipurpose room1993: Local builders Bradley Miles and Ted Theilmann complete the addition to the library: the multipurpose room.
  • January 1994: An arsonist torches the library; damage is estimated at $600,000. The main library provides a doublewide trailer in the city parking lot by the train station for local residents to use while the damaged building is restored.
  • 1995: The Carpinteria Branch Library reopens.
  • 2008: The Friends revise their Bylaws: 'Our mission is to support the library in meeting the needs of the Carpinteria community.'
  • April 2009: The City rents the Seaside Building, 5103 Carpinteria Avenue, to the Friends for their used bookstore.
  • The Friends Used Book Store opensAugust, 2010: The Friends Used Book Store opens.
  • November 2010: Friends of the Library host a Centennial celebration for the library and present conceptual plans for renovation and expansion of the aging facility.
  • June 2011: As recipient of the Baker & Taylor Award, the Friends receive national recognition for their accomplishments from the American Library Association.
  • July 2011: The Friends launch the Save Our Library campaign in response to unprecedented budget cuts and the threat of future closures.