what does carpinteria read? an eclectic mix. Carpinterians love mysteries, popular fiction, but they also love art books. Families with tod- dlers want picture books. For youngsters just learning, beginning readers are in demand. Dr. Seuss is always a favorite.


does carpinteria ban books? no. During Banned Book Week, we publicize books that have been banned elsewhere; it stimulates interest. People read the list and say, “You’re kidding! That was banned?” We carry banned books; many are classics: Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Toni Morrison ... and, as far as I know, in regards to the Patriot act, nobody’s requested information about usage of any particular item by any particular person.


how does the library choose books?


The Santa Barbara Library System’s acquisitions com- mittee selects books for purchase. They have the time and knowledge to scrutinize catalogs, select suppliers, and make bulk purchases. They’re responsive to patron requests. You can request a book online at the library’s website: www.sbplibrary.org.


what’s changed during your fifteen years at the carpinteria library? access to information has exploded. It’s given a small branch library access to the world. What’s on the shelves barely scratches the surface. Fifteen years ago, I knew little about computers. now the library has two public access Internet stations—desktop style. Two catalog comput- ers also access many databases the library subscribes to for the public. The Friends of the Library donated three laptops, and these are in use all the time. People working on laptops, either their own or the library’s, often occupy nearly every seat.


what staff do you have?


I’m the only fulltime staff person; we have four half-time assistants, a ten-hour page, and an able volunteer crew, including Grace Moyer, who was the librarian here for 27 years, retired, and came back to volunteer.


66 carpinteriaMAGAZINE


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