Library Collections

INTRODUCTION

The Santa Barbara Public Library System provides a diverse collection of materials to meet the informational and recreational reading needs of community residents. The materials collections include traditional print sources such as books for adults and youth, magazines and newspapers, as well as online information sources available via the Internet. In addition, the Library maintains significant collections of materials in audio and visual formats including DVD, music CDs and books on CD. Smaller and sometimes unique collections include choral scores, local history, and resources on foundations and grants.

The Santa Barbara Public Library System offers over 433,687 items to local borrowers. Library staff is always on hand to assist you in finding reading material and information. Please ask.
 

ADULT FICTION & NON-FICTION

The adult fiction collection consists of over 70,000 volumes in the Central Library and branch facilities. Novels and short stories are arranged on the shelves alphabetically by author’s last name; collections of short stories by multiple authors are shelved by title. The fiction collections also include mysteries, science fiction, westerns, and romance novels. Paperback fiction is also available at each location.

The adult non-fiction collection includes more than 135,000 factual works arranged on the shelves by subject. The Santa Barbara Public Library System uses the Dewey Decimal System to divide and shelve non-fiction materials such as books on computers, psychology, religion, social sciences, science, health, technology, the arts, sports and recreation, poetry and drama, geography and travel, and history.

During the first year after publication, additional copies of popular works of fiction and non-fiction may be available in New Books and/or Express Books sections of the Library. Express Books are the newest and most popular additions to the collections and are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a checkout period of seven days only.

Reference collections total over 23,000 volumes in the Central Library and branches of the Santa Barbara Public Library System. These print resources augment the information available through Internet sources, and cover statistics, encyclopedia entries, legal codes, indexes, business directories, manuals and other sources of information. Reference materials may be used within the Library only.

TEEN COLLECTIONS

Fiction

Young adult fiction consists of novels for readers from grade seven through grade 12. These are selected with attention to literary quality, relevance to teen life, current trends in teen literature and teen requests. The fiction collection includes mystery, fantasy and science fiction titles as well as historical and contemporary novels.

Non-Fiction

Many young adults use the adult non-fiction collection for school assignments, but the Central Library and branch libraries also offer a small young adult non-fiction collection concentrating on specific areas of interest to teens. These include careers, poetry, pop culture, self-image and self-development, popular celebrities, sports and writing.

Graphic Novels

This is a developing collection of titles that integrate graphic art into the storyline as an essential element. A format rather than a genre, graphic novels include titles that are fiction and non-fiction. The Central Library has a separate collection of graphic novels in the upstairs Teen Corner in addition to titles in the adult collection.

Magazines and Paperbacks

Teen magazines in both English and Spanish are available for browsing and checkout, and paperback copies of popular series and authors can be checked out at Central and branch libraries.

For help in selecting or finding materials, please ask a member of the Library staff.

CHILDREN’S COLLECTIONS

The children’s section of the Central Library and each branch library has a number of collections for different age levels, including:

Fiction

Children’s fiction consists of novels for readers from grade 4 through grade 7, which are selected for literary merit and to meet diverse reading interests. Fiction includes the genres of mystery, fantasy, science fiction, historical and contemporary stories. Children’s classics such as The Hobbit and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and contemporary classics including the Newbery Award winners are also found in this section.

Non-Fiction

Books of information for ages pre-school through junior high are arranged in subject categories according to the Dewey Decimal System. The non-fiction collection also includes the literary categories of folk and fairy tales (j398.2), Mother Goose (j398.8), poetry and plays. The non-fiction collection is a rich resource for browsing and school research.

Picture Books

Picture books can tell their stories almost exclusively through pictures and with very few words. Most often the picture book is intended to be read by an adult to preschoolers through grade three and can include an enriched vocabulary that youngsters can understand but not yet read themselves.

Readers

Intended for the first and second grade beginning readers, these books have limited vocabulary and few words, but offer the new reader a chance to follow a story on his or her own. The standard was set by Dr. Seuss’ classic reader The Cat in the Hat.

In-Between

In-between books are intended for the emerging reader who is ready to tackle a longer, more complicated text and vocabulary. Third and fourth graders are comfortable with the longer works, often called "chapter books."

Reference Books

There are many reference titles available to help with student homework and with the selection of reading materials. Up-to-date encyclopedias are kept at the Central Library and each branch library. Subject indexes are available that index picture books, fairy tales, fantasy, poetry and science fiction. The Central Library has an extensive reference collection that includes reference sets about authors, endangered animals and historical literature. There are many individual titles about specific topics, such as famous people or California missions, of interest to children or parents.

Magazines

Children’s magazines in a variety of subjects are ready for checkout. These range from “Highlights” to “Ranger Rick” to “National Geographic World.” Current issues may be read in the library and older issues may be checked out.

Audio Visual Material

The Santa Barbara Public Library System has audio video material for children in many formats. There are books-on-tape, music CDs, videotapes and DVDs. For younger children, there are book-and-media sets that allow the child to follow along in the book while listening to a cassette tape or CD.

Spanish Language Materials

Spanish language material for children is available at the Central Library and most branch libraries in the Santa Barbara Public Library System in the categories listed above and in print, audio, and video formats.
Library staff is always on hand to assist in finding information or selecting reading materials – please ask.

AUDIO & VIDEO

Audio and video materials in the Santa Barbara Public Library System include formats such as books-on-cassette, books-on-CD, music CDs, videotapes, and DVDs. There are currently approximately 10,000 audiotapes, 8,000 CDs (books and music), over 14,000 videotapes, and 300 DVDs available for check-out system-wide. The music CDs range from opera to rock, and include folk, new age, jazz, rap, classical and children's recordings. The DVD collection, still growing, offers new film releases as well as classic titles and Spanish language titles.

NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES

A variety of newspapers are found at branches throughout the Santa Barbara Public Library System. The collections include local community daily and weekly papers, as well as selected newspapers from major cities.
The Central Library provides over 50 newspaper titles and has available the Santa Barbara News-Press on microfilm from 1875 to current. The Los Angeles Times is available on microfilm from 1967 to current, and the New York Times on microfilm from 1852 to 2005.

The following newspapers are accessible electronically, and will require you to type in your 14 digit Library card number when prompted.

For Los Angeles Times and New York Times

For Ventura County Star, The Tribune, La Opinión, and others

Popular reading magazines are part of collections at every Library location, and include over 330 titles. The largest collection is at the Central Library and offers approximately 275 titles for adults, 16 titles for teens, and 15 titles for children. Print copies are available for checkout, and other titles can be found electronically by clicking on Infotrac General Reference Center Gold

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Choral Scores

The choral score collection includes scores for approximately 150 choral works by Haydn, Mozart, and other classical composers. Scores may be checked out for a three-week loan period.

Edson Smith Photograph Collection

The Edson Smith collection of historic photographs of Santa Barbara shows views of local residents and structures from the 1880’s to 1908. There are over 1,400 negatives available for borrowing in order to duplicate for publication or research. The Edson Smith collection is located at the Central Library; please ask a member of the Library staff for assistance.

Foundation Center Collection

This Foundation Center-sponsored collection provides information on foundation and research funding, applications and guidelines. The collection is located at the Central Library for use within the building. Aimed primarily at non-profit organizations, information includes current directories, information on specific grants and indexes by topic or organization, and is national in scope. Access to the Foundation Center Online Directory is available only at the Central Library.

Government Documents

This collection, at the Central Library, consists primarily of local city and county documents, including Grand Jury reports, Santa Barbara City Council agendas and budgets, Santa Barbara County agendas and budgets, local environment reviews, and local General Plans. A very few state or federal documents relating to local projects may also be available at the Central Library.

Large Print Materials

Books in large-print for both adult and juvenile patrons are available for checkout at the Central Library and most branches. The number of large-print titles available for purchase is limited, so copies of large-print books are rotated among Libraries for easy access by visually impaired cardholders.

Local History Collection

Books and bound periodicals of interest to readers and researchers of Santa Barbara and regional history are available for use within the Central Library. Materials include Santa Barbara City directories from 1875 through 1989, criss-cross directories from 1994 to present, biographies of local figures, family histories, and monographs on local places and events. A local history database is maintained at the Central Library Reference desk; please ask for assistance.

Local News File/Clippings

The local news file is comprised of newspaper clippings, primarily from the Santa Barbara News-Press, but including news reports from local weekly newspapers. News items are filed by subject and cover local residents, government, environmental and growth issues, crime and criminals, notable events, and celebrations. The local news/clipping file is located at the Central Library; please ask at the Reference desk for assistance.

Spanish Language Materials

Spanish language materials for adults and juveniles include videotapes, audiotapes, CDs, DVDs, books, magazines and fotonovelas, and are available for checkout at the Central Library, the Bookmobile, the Eastside Branch, the Carpinteria Branch, the Solvang Branch and the Goleta Branch libraries. Materials cover a wide range of popular subjects such as fiction, health, sports, cooking, citizenship, music, learning English, personal growth, and family issues. Magazines include Tú, Buen Hogar, Hola, Mechánica Popular, Vanidades, Furia Musical, and others. The Eastside Branch Library has the largest quantity of materials in Spanish.

Telephone Books

The telephone book collection at the Central Library includes over 400 volumes of white– and yellow-pages and covers all of California, major metropolitan areas nationwide and a limited number of major cities outside the U.S. The Goleta Branch Library carries over 160 telephone books for most of California and selected U.S. cities, while other branch libraries offer smaller collections of telephone books for local and southern California areas. To access an online nationwide telephone directory, click here and enter your 14 digit Library card number when prompted.