Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    4.3 (235 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Central Library Pasadena Public Library Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    Recommended Reviews - Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cassandra Y.

    The Service: Unfriendly staffs. No smile. When I asked them for direction... it seems like I am "disturbing" their time? The Library: Very unique library. Huge! Very historic look inside. Many different rooms/sections... it gets confusing? Never seen so many homeless inside the library.... they brought their bags and blanket to the library... and taking naps. Some people even using cell phone but no staff doing anything about it. The Parking: Private parking lot. 3 hours limit. free. but always packed.

    Joyce G.

    10/13/2017 Thanks to Pasadena Art Night, I got to see this place for the first time. Definitely "old". Love the architecture. Humongous library!! You could get lost!! SO MANY places to sit so that you can do your homework/paperwork/study/relax/read! LOVE IT!!! I wish it was near my home, then for sure I would visit it often. LARGE DVD selection. FREE WIFI!! Since it was Pasadena Art Night, there were some works of art on display. We couldn't stay as long as we would have liked because some alarm came on and everyone had to leave.

    Hot summer day - cool inside
    Franklin M.

    Old school since 1927. Nothing beats going into a classic old historic library. The interior is so inviting it just makes you want to sit and relax for hours while you read a book and forget about the rat race outside.

    Ukelele program flyer
    Sophia C.

    Central Library has so much to offer to the community. I was quite surprised when browsing the children's calendar to see they offered free ukulele lessons for one month with performance. They also loan the instrument with your library card. I was further surprised to learn they did a similar program with guitars earlier in the year. I really appreciate they access they are creating for youth to music, art, and technology (3D printing, Sewing Machine, Virtual Reality Headset, and more). The location is a beautiful old building that is well kept. It has plenty of room for individuals to utilize the free WiFi, or just get out of the cold/heat. There are some homeless who come to the library for some relief from the weather I imagine but there have never been any problems on the many occasions I visited. I highly recommend checking out this library. They have so much more available than I mentioned.

    Ivan G.

    This library is the biggest and most impressive, architecturally, in the San Gabriel Valley. I think the only bigger library is the LA Central Library. You have to walk through the facility at least once if you reside in the area. It's a short walk from the Memorial Park Gold Line Station. Walking through the doors and quaint plazas always does something positive to my step and mood. Tons of media to browse through as well, which is why you should be going but you can find amusement and awe simply by appreciating the architecture. Best public utility in the area.

    Lolia S.

    Pasadena's main library is no ordinary library. Dedicated in 1927, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's located across from City Hall and has its own parking lot, courtyard with a fountain, coffeehouse (closed on weekends), bookshop, and large auditorium. There are various quiet reading rooms, high ceilings and long communal wood tables. It's open daily. The interior resembles a university library with plenty of dark wood and it's equally quiet. I've never encountered such a quiet, serious public library. People barely speak (not even to whisper). I didn't encounter screaming children. The air conditioning is marvelous and there are plenty of power outlets. The creaky old wood chairs aren't the most comfortable for long periods of camping though. There's a fancy DVD dispensing machine (similar to Redbox) where you request what's available from the nearby computer and pick it up at the machine. The original Pasadena main library was founded in 1882. You'll find a model of it in the current library and the original library arch in Memorial Park. This review was inspired by Brian S.

    Children's wing
    Irene Y.

    What an enormous library! You could easily get lost in here. The main hall reminds me of the Monsters University library and there are many corridors specialization in different categories. One thing that is different at this library is that all their dvd's are separated by age. Most Disney cartoons are in the children's section, old school black and white movies and documentaries are in the adults, and the remaining in the young adults. Enjoy!

    Exterior

    See all

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tiger G.
    123
    357
    16

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shauna R.

    Shauna R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 0
    Love this 18
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joyce G.
    468
    1254
    6677

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of kat f.
    390
    19
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Megan R.
    4865
    950
    3723

    6 years ago

    Helpful 31
    Thanks 0
    Love this 26
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JH K.
    20
    12
    21

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sun H.
    272
    467
    3529

    9 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue M.
    1884
    424
    2296

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lolia S.
    2532
    2681
    10170

    14 years ago

    Helpful 22
    Thanks 0
    Love this 19
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Irene Y.
    1941
    1722
    3989

    11 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lynn T.
    3
    15
    30

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ruthy Y.
    0
    5
    1741

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mimi V.
    361
    767
    1061

    15 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    This place is closed due to unsafe conditions in the event of an earthquake don't come here they need to update this yelp

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K C.
    0
    15
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rusty H.
    1841
    377
    1258

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Savi H.
    3
    17
    13

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    Can I donate books?

    Yes.

    Is it open to study during covid?

    Probably not.

    Can you bring your dog?

    No, but they might make a few exceptions.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Central Library Pasadena Public Library

    Anyway I love the architecture in Pasadena Library and it's easy to find a place to study and research.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library - Women's bathroom!!

    Hastings Branch Pasadena Public Library

    (36 reviews)

    Omg I am completely mortified. The library was full of homeless people and just a lot of weirdos…read more There was a lady in front of me cursing out loud at the desk I was sitting at. The ladies bathroom had a hole in the wall!!! And when I went outside to see wha room is next door it was the men's bathroom!!!!! I feel mortified and absolutely shocked. Libraries are supposed to be a place you can feel safe and take your kids. I would never bring anyone here. The librarians were just sitting there on their monitors. I felt so unsafe I immediately left and will not be going back.

    Taking one star away from a full rating, as it was extremely tedious to sign up for a library card!…read moreI'm not sure if you can do it in-person, but I did it online on www.cityofpasadena.net/library But this was still a bit of a process. **Rating my experience with a toddler** This is our local library and I'm only familiar with the kids section. I would say that about 1/4 of the library is dedicated to kids, so a pretty good selection! There are reading areas, books are neatly organized by author, and I find the staff very friendly and helpful in finding books for us. You can also find books on their online catalog and place holds. When the book is available, they will send you an email and you have about a week to pick up the book. They also have story time in parks and frequent book sales. Plenty of guest parking. I never had to struggle finding a spot. The max number of books you can check out is 100, so we have a lot to go!

    Crowell Public Library - Art hallway

    Crowell Public Library

    (113 reviews)

    During heat waves like this week the library turned into cooling center had a room so the elderly…read moreand frail can go their about 2 days ago they had it open late so our elderly don't die from heat wave I think yesterday it was in the 90s and the other day it was like 100 so thank you crowell library keep in mind it's still technically winter and March so global warming maybe but this library is a life saver

    During my visits to Crowell Public Library, I initially observed that the exterior architecture…read morecarries a historical charm and is visually appealing. However, beyond the building's design, my experiences within the library have been deeply concerning. Over multiple visits, I have encountered employees whose conduct has been inconsistent with professional standards. Staff behavior has, at times, been selective and antagonistic toward certain patrons, including both adults and children. On several occasions, this conduct has escalated into interactions that were verbally aggressive and physically intrusive in nature. Personally, I, along with my nephews, niece, and other family members, have experienced repeated instances of being singled out, harassed, and subjected to what can reasonably be described as hazing while attempting to use the library and its resources respectfully. These incidents have not been isolated, and I have documented several of them through recordings. The overall environment created by staff has, at times, felt restrictive and punitive rather than welcoming, which is not in alignment with the purpose of a public library. This pattern of behavior is unacceptable. Library staff and management are responsible for ensuring that all employees consistently uphold professional ethics, integrity, and appropriate standards of conduct--without exception or selective enforcement. I expect immediate review and corrective action to address these concerns and to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all patrons.

    Altadena Library - Plenty of parking in their lot

    Altadena Library

    (57 reviews)

    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.

    Central Library Pasadena Public Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...