What to Know about Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries Reopening in Limited Capacity on June 2nd

Sidewalk Service Still Available

Now that the Goleta, Solvang and Buellton library branches will be reopening for Express Service to the public in limited capacity beginning Wednesday, June 2, 2021, we want to prepare you for what this will look like. Library staff will be following COVID-19 safety guidelines, and patrons who choose to come inside the library must wear a mask (ages 2 and over) and maintain at least six feet of distance from others. There will also be gloves and hand sanitizer available at the entrance.

Express Service Library Hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The hours are the same as Sidewalk Service which will remain open. Please note, the entire library will be open at all three branches except for the restrooms. Below is information on how each of the three library branches will operate:

• Goleta Library: Patrons will be allowed in on a first-come, first-served basis and will have 15 minutes to spend inside picking out material and checking it out on a self-checkout machine, using an Express computer, and/or browsing the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Up to 25 people will be allowed in at a time.
• Solvang Library: This branch will accommodate up to six people at a time. There will be a limited number of public computers available. Solvang Library will take reservations 24 hours in advance via the library website (GoletaValleyLibrary.org) and via telephone at 805 688-4214.
• Buellton Library: The Buellton branch will accommodate up to five patrons at a time. This branch will also follow a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons can also call the Buellton Library at 805 688-3115 if other accommodations are needed.

Sidewalk Service will remain open Wednesdays – Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for those who want to quickly grab their holds without entering the building.

For now, the material available to check out, whether in-person or through Sidewalk Service, will continue to only be from the Goleta, Solvang or Buellton branches. There is not a date set for when patrons can begin receiving material from other Black Gold Libraries. Black Gold receives funding from the Federal Government that is funneled through the California State Library which pays for the shipments between the seven Black Gold jurisdictions. The funding was severely slashed for this 2020/21 Fiscal Year and we do not yet know what will happen for FY 21/22 which begins July 1, 2021. 

We are so excited to be reopening! We have missed you all after this long year and can’t wait to see you back in the library beginning June 2!

Pictured: Goleta Valley Library staff member Nicole Lvoff preparing to reopen the library