The Library was the first building designed and completed for the University of California on this site (a former WWII Marine air base). In 1954, the Santa Barbara College of the University of California officially moved from its Mesa and Riviera campuses to the new location.
When the Library was completed, total enrollment was roughly 2,250 students. In 1959, the college was designated as a “general campus” by the UC Regents and renamed University of California, Santa Barbara.
The Library’s Department of Special Collections, located on the third floor, has more UCSB photos and artifacts in its archives.
Architect's renderingcirca 1954
Constructioncirca 1954
Postcardcirca 1954 First library building on Goleta campus.
Award for distinctive architecture1954
Library checkout cards1955-1964
Your Library informational publication1962
Black Studies Librarian Rubye Ballard at the card catalog1971
8-story tower1971
The Millionth Volume Celebration display1973
Library instruction1977
Poster for credit-bearing library course1979
Library catalog cards
Library computer1985
Report of the Task Force on the Closure of the Card Catalog1987
Floppy disklate 1980s
Checkout stamp1990s
"How Dialing in Replaces More Trips to the Library," Coastlines magazine1991
