This summer, the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are excited to launch the 2020 Book to Action program, which will run from Tuesday, July 7th through Friday, August 21st. This year’s program centers around the moving true story Strays: A Lost Cat, a Homeless Man & Their Journey Across America by Britt Collins. Strays describes the incredible journey of Michael King, a homeless man living in Portland, Oregon who befriends a lost cat he names Tabor. As the two travel across several states and overcome many challenges together, they form a healing bond that speaks to the special connection that we share with our animal companions and the impact that rescuing an animal can have in a person’s life. Copies of the book are available for the community to borrow from the print and digital collections at Goleta, Buellton and Solvang Libraries.
In celebration of this theme, the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are offering a variety of virtual programs for all ages throughout July and August. To kick off the program, patrons who participate in the libraries’ Sidewalk Service will receive a color-your-own-cat bookmark in their paper bags at pick-up, with a link to the website to view the full schedule of events. Weekly programming will include fun pet-themed craft workshops, engaging book discussions, adoption-themed storytimes in English and Spanish, presentations by expert community panelists, and even an author spotlight visit from Britt Collins herself. All of the Book to Action programs will be accessible virtually through GoToMeeting, Facebook and YouTube.
In August, the Book to Action program will culminate in a donation drive for area organizations such as ASAP to provide them with essential supplies and materials to continue helping local animals in need. The Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries will serve as collection sites for these materials and will present them to the organizations at the end of our Book to Action program.
Library staff is excited to engage with the community around these impactful themes and to unite for an important cause through the Book to Action programming this summer. Please read below for a detailed description of the upcoming Book to Action programs and visit GoletaValleyLibrary.org to see our full calendar of events!
Detailed Program Descriptions
Color your own bookmark!
Dates: Tuesday, July 7th – Friday, July 31st
This uplifting bookmark activity is for all ages! The adorable cat design represents the theme of Strays and includes information about the 2020 Book to Action program.
Rescue Pet Brag Board
Dates: Tuesday, July 7th – Friday, August 21st
Do you have a rescued pet? We want to see them! Many of our local residents have adopted their beloved pets from shelters and are advocates for all animals finding their forever home. You are invited to send in photos of your rescued pets to be shared on our social media pages for everyone to admire! Photos can be submitted to goletavalleylibrary@cityofgoleta.org, solvanglibrary@cityofgoleta.org, and buelltonlibrary@cityofgoleta.org.
Virtual Pet Crafts
Dates:
Wednesday, July 8th @ 3pm: Pupcycle Craft at Goleta Valley Library
Saturday, July 18th @3:30pm: Cat Craft at Buellton Library
Wednesday, July 22nd @ 3pm: Cat Toy Craft at Goleta Valley Library
Thursday, July 23rd @ 3pm: Pet Crafternoon at Solvang Library
Wednesday, August 5th @ 2pm: Dog Craft at Buellton Library
Designed for all age groups, a variety of pet-themed craft programs will offer hands-on participation experiences for patrons to enjoy creatively expressing themselves while focusing on the themes of pets and pet adoption. These workshops offer an inventive way to celebrate the pets in our lives as well as those we would like to adopt one day. All craft workshops are virtual; please check the Library Events Calendar for participation details.
Virtual Storytimes
Dates:
Tuesday, July 7th @ 10:15am: Wiggly Storytime at Goleta Valley Library
Wednesday July 15th @ 10:30am: Wiggly Animal Storytime at Solvang Library
Tuesday, July 21st @ 2pm: Bilingual Storytime at Goleta Valley Library
Friday, July 31st @11am: Cat Storytime at Buellton Library
Tuesday, August 4th @ 10:15am: Wiggly Storytime at Goleta Valley Library
Tuesday, August 18th @ 2pm: Bilingual Storytime at Goleta Valley Library
These programs use the power of storytelling to convey messages to young children and their families about the importance of taking care of animals and the journeys that pets go on before they are adopted. Curated book lists will bring to life many of the same themes of Strays in terms that are appropriate and accessible for children. Storytime offerings will also include books in Spanish during Bilingual Storytime. All storytimes are virtual; please check the Library Events Calendar for participation details.
Pet Book Club
Date: Tuesday, July 14th @ 2pm at Solvang Library
Bring your pet, and a favorite book about a pet, to this online virtual book club! The discussion will cover Strays and more.
Pet Preparedness Panel: Santa Barbara County Animal Services and Office of Emergency Management
Date: Friday, July 24th @ 2:00pm
To help provide education and resources to the many pet-owners and animal-lovers in the community, Santa Barbara County Animal Services and the Office of Emergency Management will provide a virtual talk on pet preparedness. This will include such topics as packing emergency preparedness kits for pets, options for pets during an evacuation, how to keep pets safe during natural disasters, and more. Links to further emergency preparedness resources will be provided as well.
Strays Book Discussions
Dates:
Tuesday, July 28th @ 3pm at Goleta Valley Library
Tuesday, August 11th @ 4pm at Goleta Valley Library
Friday, August 21st @ 1pm at Buellton Library
As community members read and enjoy Strays as either a print or eBook, staff will lead readers in lively and insightful discussions of this rich text. Meeting in a virtual setting, participants will be able to share their responses to the story and take part in important conversations about the themes and issues that are conveyed through the main characters’ journey. All discussions are virtual; please check library Events calendar for participation details.
Rescued: Bonds Between Humans and Animals
Date: Thursday, August 13th @ 2pm at Solvang Library
Join us for a moving, educational and inspirational panel of speakers from three incredible local organizations: Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding, Happy Endings Animal Sanctuary, and Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. The Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program mission is to provide quality equine assisted activities to children and adults with physical, cognitive, social, emotional and or other life challenges. Happy Endings Animal Sanctuary provides refuge to abused or neglected horses and other domestic animals and uplift the lives of disadvantaged youth by providing a life-changing rehabilitation experience benefiting both children and horses. The mission of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network is to rescue, rehabilitate and return to the wild sick, injured, orphaned, or oil-impaired wild birds, reptiles, and small mammals in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and to educate the public about living in harmony with wildlife. Panelists from each of these organizations will share information about how their missions are fulfilled every day and the differences that they are able to make in their communities.
Britt Collins Virtual Author Spotlight
Date: Date and time to be announced.
Strays author Britt Collins will provide a live streamed presentation on the true story behind her book and the important messages that she hopes readers will take away from the story. An interactive question and answer session with attendees will follow her presentation.
Culminating Event: Donation Drive for Local Animal Organizations
Dates: Saturday, August 1st – Thursday, August 21st
In support of area shelter and rescue efforts, the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are partnering with a number of local animal organizations such as ASAP to generate community support for their needs through onsite donation drives. The libraries will serve as collection points for donated items such as pet food and supplies that will be provided to the participating organizations at the culmination of the program.