La Pintoresca Branch Location and Hours

La Pintoresca Branch

1355 North Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 744-7268 | Map | Public Transportation

Technology Learning Center

La Pintoresca Branch Library

Branch Calendar

Branch Brief

La Pintoresca ("the picturesque") Branch Library, built in 1930, was named for the hotel which had previously occupied its northwest Pasadena site. Its parkland location centers La Pintoresca in the most highly populated service area of any Pasadena Branch. La Pintoresca Branch Library serves also as a community center, providing local residents with a welcoming, informal meeting place.

The La Pintoresca Branch Library neighborhood profile provides more details about where the branch is located.

The Branch on Video

Service and Programs

Book Groups 

See book groups at all branches.

Adult Programs 

• Pasadena READS, Literacy Tutors
  Joining Pasadena READS is easy.
  1. Call (626) 744-4034 and make an appointment to come to the La Pintoresca Branch Library
  2. Answer some questions about what you want to read
  3. Tell us what days and times you are available
  
  Within a few days you will get a tutor and you can start working on your reading and writing. Besides getting your own personal tutor, Pasadena READS has three other exciting programs you can join. All programs are free. More information is available:
  • How to Get Help with Your Reading 
  • Pasadena READS details 
   
• H.O.T. (Hands on Technology)
  Want to learn to use the computer? Learn how every Saturday from 10 AM to 12 noon. No experience necessary. Start whenever you want and come whenever you can. Depending on how many classes you take, you can learn to search the internet, write and send email, and learn the basics of computer use.
• Courage to Write
  Do you have a story to tell? Are you afraid to tell it? Don’t worry, it’s just a story. Put your thoughts and feelings down on paper in a supportive environment. Creative writing isn’t about grammar and spelling – it’s all about you. The writing group will meet every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 PM at the La Pintoresca Branch Library, beginning October 6, 2010.
• I READ
  If you want to read a book and talk about it with others, join our I READ book club. The first I READ meeting will be October 26th at 2 PM, when you will receive your free book and CD. You can listen as you read along at home. Join us for stimulating discussion and light refreshments. Call (626) 744-4034 for more information.
• Career Programs
  La Pintoresca Branch Library provides career assistance to job seekers on a regular basis through their partnership with Women at Work. Fresh Start Tuesdays provides job seekers with one-on-one professional career counseling, resumé writing, interview skills, and job applications. Job Prep 101 is a monthly job assistance workshop that meets on the last Friday of the month and focuses on job search basics.
• The Professional Job Club Network
  A networking group of professionals, meets weekly on Friday mornings at 10 AM at La Pintoresca to share their search experiences and leads with others going through the same process. Other branch libraries also offer career programs periodically. Please check the library newsletter or call (626) 744-4066 for upcoming programs.

For special and holiday programs, call (626) 744-7268. Or, for more information about programs here and throughout the Pasadena Public Library, you can visit our Library Calendar.

La Pintoresca Branch Library Collection

The collection of approximately 56,000 volumes includes several special collections, including African-American history and literature, arts and music, and international and regional cookery. The branch has special section of career and small business books along with job listings from various sources, as well as an extensive Spanish language collection, both juvenile and adult, with an emphasis on browsing and casual reading material. Unique to this branch is a comic book collection, including the history and artwork of comics, cartooning and animation.

Meeting Room

The meeting room with tables and chairs will accommodate up to 53 people. This room is free to groups who do not charge an admission fee or restrict admission on the basis of membership. It is available Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is handicap access through the north entrance. A meeting room reservation form must be submitted two weeks in advance.

Special Features

La Pintoresca is the home of Pasadena READS, our adult literacy program. The coordinator of the program, Rosalie Jaquez, and much of the adult literacy material were moved in May of 2001, to bring services more directly to the community.

La Pintoresca is pleased to offer free wireless Internet access to patrons with appropriately equipped wireless devices. A valid Pasadena Library Card and PIN are required to access the library's wireless Internet services. For more information on this service, please visit our Wireless Internet Access page.

La Pintoresca is also the home of a new computer lab, used for public training and use by the general public. The hours will be Monday - Thursday, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., for use by teens and students, and other library hours for use by adults needing to use the special databases there.

The La Pintoresca Associates group supports fund raising, community events, and community ideas.

School Services

In the 2008-2009 school year, La Pintoresca Branch provided 487 programs for children with 11,586 in attendance. Of these, 174 were class visits, with 3,824 total attendance. The branch also has public computer workstations and a homework reference collection.

Branch Characteristics

Branch Use Statistics