PASADENA, Calif.—After completing a nationwide recruitment process, City Manager Miguel Márquez has announced the appointment of Tim McDonald as the new director of Pasadena’s Department of Libraries & Information Services. McDonald has been with the City of Pasadena since 2016 and has served as acting director since February 2022. McDonald will oversee a department that includes 10 branch locations, collectively circulating over 1.2 million library books, DVDs and other resources per year to the community. He will lead 99 full-time employees and direct an annual budget of about $16.5 million. With more than...
Pasadena Public Library
City of Pasadena Announces Pride Month Schedule of Events
PASADENA, Calif.—The City of Pasadena is hosting a variety of events throughout June in celebration of Pride Month. This year's events reinforce the City's commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity for all. Festivities kick off with the raising of the Pride flag at City Hall on June 1, a symbolic gesture of support for the LGBTQ+ community. Additional events during Pride Month include live music performances, book discussions, a movie showing, arts & crafts activities, and more. "We are proud...
City of Pasadena Announces First Community Town Hall Meeting for Central Library Retrofit and Repair Project
PASADENA, Calif.—The City of Pasadena invites the community to attend the first community town hall meeting to learn about the Pasadena Central Library Retrofit and Repair Project and meet the project design team. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 24, at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson Branch Library Auditorium, 1500 E. Villa St. Free on-street parking is available. Earlier this year, Pasadena City Council approved a contract with the design team led by Gruen Associates to develop the Central...
City of Pasadena Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month
PASADENA, Calif.—The City of Pasadena is proud to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May. This is a time to honor and recognize the contributions of the AAPI community that shapes the rich cultural tapestry of our city and nation. Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, and The Friends of the Pasadena Public Library are offering a month-long series of in-person and virtual activities and events to celebrate AAPI heritage, history and...
City Council Awards Central Library Seismic Retrofit and Repair Project Design Contract
PASADENA, Calif.—On Monday, Feb. 6, at the regularly scheduled council meeting, the City Council approved a contract to move forward and begin the process of seismically retrofitting and renovating the Pasadena Central Library. Gruen Associates and their qualified team of subconsultants were awarded the contract for professional design services for the retrofit project. This includes preparation of environmental documentation, final construction drawings and cost estimates for construction. The contract is for an amount not to exceed $6,104,109, which includes a...
Community Invited to Tunes, Toys and Trees Holiday Concert and Tree Lighting at La Pintoresca Park
PASADENA, Calif.—Come one, come all to the Tunes, Toys and Trees holiday concert and tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10, 4-7 p.m., at La Pintoresca Park, 45 E. Washington Blvd. Enjoy a variety of festive activities at this fun-filled, family-friendly event, including a “lil elves” play zone for toddlers, a toy giveaway and free photos with Santa, arts & crafts provided by Armory Center for the Arts, and the tree lighting ceremony with Councilmember Tyron Hampton. The concert will...
Pasadena Community Invited to the Reimagined Jefferson School Campus Open House
PASADENA, Calif.—Join City representatives on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. for an open house and tour of the Jefferson School campus at 1500 E. Villa St. This event is hosted by the City of Pasadena in coordination with District 2 Councilmember Felicia Williams and will feature kids’ crafts, food and games, police and fire vehicles, fire extinguisher demos, resource tables, and free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. The Jefferson School, which was closed in 2020, is now...
Voters to Decide on Continuation of Pasadena Public Library Programs and Services, Measure L
PASADENA, Calif.—Pasadena public libraries play an essential role in providing safe, accessible and 100% free educational resource centers for everyone. Individuals and families, no matter their socioeconomic status, can count on Pasadena libraries to provide them with the resources they need to succeed and the answers to important questions they can't otherwise find. In addition to their original purpose of providing information, Pasadena libraries provide early and digital literacy programs, school readiness programs, and free computer and Wi-Fi access. “It's...
24/7 Homework Help at Pasadena Public Library
PASADENA, Calif.—Pasadena Public Library recently launched HelpNow, an online live tutoring and eLearning platform. HelpNow provides tools for learners of all ages through qualified tutors using state curriculum and standards whose expertise best fit the learner’s specific need. Accessible through the Pasadena Public Library website, this live real-time homework assistance is available by laptop, tablet or phone. HelpNow provides subject-specific tutoring. Language arts and mathematics tutoring in English and Spanish is available 24/7. Core K-12 subjects tutoring in Mandarin, Cantonese,...
Pasadena Public Library Services Continuation Measure to be Placed on November Ballot
PASADENA, Calif.—On Monday, July 18, the City Council unanimously voted to place the Pasadena Public Library Services Continuation Measure on the Nov. 8, 2022, ballot. Voters will decide whether to continue a dedicated, special revenue source for Pasadena Public Library programs and services. If voters approve this measure, it will continue to generate approximately $2.8 million annually for the next 15 years in dedicated, locally-controlled dollars for Pasadena's libraries. Since its inception over 135 years ago, Pasadena Public Library has...