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    Altadena Library

    3.0 (2 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    5 months ago

    Very friendly and professional staff, found books I was looking for, nice building and comfortable atmosphere inside library .

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    9 days ago

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    Altadena Library - Plenty of parking in their lot

    Altadena Library

    3.9(59 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I went to a seminar in the library's community room, and it was very informative. SBA spoke about…read morehelping families out with mitigation. The community room was a nice size with rows of tables and chairs. This library is historical in Altadena and has an old-school nostalgic vibe. Everyone was nice. It has easy parking and is great for finding items needed for research, etc.

    Absolutely lovely library! It's deceptively huge - and surrounded by the most peaceful gardens and…read moregrounds - just lovely! They're currently showcasing a small exhibit of beautiful native California bee photos by local conservation photographer Krystle Hickman which was the reason for my visit. The exhibit is found in a small seating area in the center of the library. It's almost like a little outdoor courtyard in the middle of the library! Lots of natural light and plants surround cozy seats and the back wall is highlighting the bee photos - it's a very beautiful small gallery and I'm so glad I visited! Her work with the native California bees has been significant. I took a class with her at the LA Arboretum this year and learned SO much! So I was very excited to learn this library was promoting her work! There's plenty of parking in their large lot. They have a water conservation garden section outside with interesting info on plants and wildlife. They have a huge beautiful art piece near the door. You have to climb several small flights of stairs to enter this way - but there's a handicap entrance around the corner in the front. The inside is quiet and very welcoming with friendly, helpful staff. Definitely a great place to relax, read, and get work done.

    Photos
    Altadena Library - One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

    One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

    Altadena Library - One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

    One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

    Altadena Library - One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

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    One of the lovely photos in their current exhibit of native California bees (July 2023)

    Santa Catalina Branch Pasadena Public Library

    Santa Catalina Branch Pasadena Public Library

    3.9(12 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    I attended a speaking engagement at the Santa Catalina Library in Pasadena and was pleasantly…read moresurprised by its charm. It's a small, quaint library with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff was friendly, inviting, and genuinely helpful. The book selection is very good, especially for a neighborhood library. I can easily see this being a wonderful place for guest speakers, children's programs, and other community gatherings. The library has updated computers that make searching for books quick and easy without feeling overwhelming. One of my favorite features was the beautiful décor. Hand-painted book covers line the walls, adding a unique artistic touch and giving the library a special character. It has a very community focus fell. Outside, there are plenty of shaded benches where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Parking is available on the street, and the restrooms are located outside the building. Overall, Santa Catalina Library is a charming community library that feels welcoming and inviting. It's a lovely place to browse for a book, attend an event, or simply spend a quiet afternoon.

    Great children's programming and kind staff…read more We attended Bubbleology and it was a fun and educational program for both kids and adults. Library provides little floor pads for children sitting on the ground which is honestly such a luxury! The program finished early so even adults got to take turns standing inside a bubble! World's smallest parking lot. Don't even bother driving in to check for spots. Very hard to back out of because there's a large dumpster. Just get street parking in the surrounding residential area.

    Photos
    Santa Catalina Branch Pasadena Public Library - Neighborhood Pasadena library branch

    Neighborhood Pasadena library branch

    Santa Catalina Branch Pasadena Public Library
    Santa Catalina Branch Pasadena Public Library

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    Central Library  Pasadena Public Library - sad

    Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    4.3(234 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Don't sit next to "staff only" in the mystery section if you need to study unless you don't mind…read morenever ending loud conversations. Wonderful library convenient 7 days a week business hours. Fast Internet, modern computers, printers respectful staff.

    Wow- is the building almost 100 years old? Built / opened in 1927, when walking into the building,…read moreit feels like you have stepped back in time. Many nearby libraries have undergone major renovations and if you are a fan of older buildings, this would be a place to visit. Within 10 or so steps you can easily find yourself on the next floor - there are 4 floors altogether and the main floor is the 2nd floor. (+) free 3 hour parking (+) reasonable amount of seating in certain areas. Not as much seating amongst books. (+) decent variety of magazines There seems to be constant complaints of the homeless population, but this is typical of any city library. As long as they are respectful, I am OK with that. I hate to rate a public resource low or average, but the experience was mediocre at best. The stairs are very industrial-like and loud and the carpet looks like it could be cleaned. With all the taxes the city of Pasadena collects, there should be more done to preserve its charm.

    Photos
    Central Library  Pasadena Public Library - My Favorite place to study, love this corner. The vintage design  makes me want to smoke a cigar while studying.

    My Favorite place to study, love this corner. The vintage design makes me want to smoke a cigar while studying.

    Central Library  Pasadena Public Library - Technology learning Center

    Technology learning Center

    Central Library  Pasadena Public Library - Pasadena Central Public Library Halloween Pumpkins '17

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    Pasadena Central Public Library Halloween Pumpkins '17

    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library - 6.10.26  Outside

    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library

    4.1(38 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    I enjoy visiting public libraries whenever I can. Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library is one of…read moremy favorite library that I visited recently. The Library is very organized and spacious. I stopped by the front desk to apply for a library card. The staff who helped me was a very nice lady. It took less than five minutes to get a card, Voila! There is an adjacent parking lot. Street parking is available too. The kids section looks so cozy. In general, the library has very inviting and relaxing vibes. They have a wide selection of books and genres. Online catalog is available in which you can look for books and place hold on items. The staff will notify you when the book is available. You can check out up to one hundred items total. This includes books, DVD's , Music CD's , board games, video game, and steam kit. The library also offers E- Books , E- Audio Books, E-Resources of magazines, music, TV shows & movies. As it is said "Books are uniquely portable magic". So, if you are planning to spend a quality time with a portable magic, Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library is your perfect destination.

    Library services in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California…read more.. Since I had some time, I wanted to check out a public library and do some reading. Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library had good reviews, so I drove over. The small parking lot was free, but the access was a bit challenging. The left turn into the driveway was kind of awkward. When I got to the front door, there was a sign that said they were currently closed for renovations. Shucks. I peeked in the windows and it looked like a pleasant environment. Even the grounds outside were welcoming! I'll return in a couple of months!

    Photos
    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library
    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library
    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library

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    Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center - Mad Science show at the renovated Bob Lucas Library in December 2025.

    Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center

    2.3(8 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I also have had issues with the story time and children's area. Story times are way too strict…read moreconcerning how the 1-2 year olds behave during these timse and in general at the library. The story time begins at 9:30am, a half hour before the library opens, which is nice. But then the librarians won't let our baby crawl into any other section other than the kid section even though the library isn't even open to the public yet. And since they don't want to sit still during story time we then have to leave. A would also support the librarians getting some training on how handle the baby and toddler population.

    This library in theory should be a great place for kids to hang out. They have a kids section, it's…read morea beautiful new space and kids programming. However they don't let the kids and babies act like kids and babies. They get agitated when the babies come for storytime and touch the toys during it. They get agitated when they crawl and don't sit still. They built a fountain at baby/toddler height and get agitated whenever a child touches the water. It's clear these librarians have no sense of what children are and it makes the programming impossible to take advantage of. I think some education on how children learn and behave would be very good for all librarians who run the story times. And some overall assessment and discussion of what truly benefits kids and families and how to make it more family driven is needed. RESPONSE TO RESPONSE: The safety of patrons is not threatened by crawling babies. It might benefit you to send your staff to the Jefferson branch to see an example of a storytime that allows children to be children. Also I would argue your chief concern is the comfort of the librarians as children are definitely not made uncomfortable by other mobile children. I have never seen hitting or any child to child violent act so not sure why making sure children stay unmoving and not touching any of the visible toys is necessary. Again, other libraries which I imagine are under same guidance have succeeded, so maybe worth an educational visit.

    Photos
    Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center
    Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center
    Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center - Summer Reading Program 2016 display

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    Summer Reading Program 2016 display

    Altadena Library - libraries - Updated August 2026

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