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.

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.

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.

Great Arcitecture! I…read morelove visiting older buildings with vintage architecture and I love visiting libraries. Visiting this Library was a great experience. The inside is vibrant, cozy, and clean. The Inside sports very high ceilings, wood floors, and beautiful stained glass windows. They have free Wi-Fi and offer cozy Nooks to read or do work. The ambience throws you back to a period that is reminiscent of times you read about in books during the early 1900s. We stopped by here twice and if I was in the area I would stop by again. They have their own parking lot and there's also street parking. The librarians were very friendly. I am a fan.

Really appreciate the wonderful professional courtesy by each staff member. Very helpful and…read morepleasant atmosphere. Including but not limited to helping my elderly mother enter through the back entrance.

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.

Three years for a retrofit?? Seriously hope tax dollars aren't going to this place considering they…read morehave been closed for 2 years and aren't scheduled to be open until end of 2023. When it was open the building was cool and a great place to study. Security guard was on a power trip and spent his time telling people to put their water bottles away instead of dealing with the homeless that were sleeping there or causing a ruckus. Why was this person not fired is beyond me. City of Pasadena needs new leadership if it takes 3 years for a retrofit. Ridiculous and poorly run--play it again sam welcome to LA --land of the incompetent.

It was so nice to hear the teachers reading the students a story and being able to enjoy the…read morelibrary space.

It is my favorite library near my house. Always quite and well-maintained. The staffs are polite.read more

This is my favorite library! The staffs are always super nice and helpful. When my kids need…read morehelp looking for books, they would always gladly help them locate the books they are looking for. They would greet me with a happy face even when I walked in a minute before closing to return some books. I took my kids there yesterday to sign up for the 2023 Summer Reading program and needless to say, the staffs were friendly and they explained to us how it works. While we were there, we stayed for the Bubble-Ology 101 program and it was Amazing!!! My kids enjoyed it so much! They learned a lot and it was fun. Just Wow!!

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!

A sweet little spot that time forgot, with books on everything from Balinese Culture to gnomes and…read morethe occult. It is a reading room where you may sit and immerse yourself in a book for an hour or two. They are open from 2 PM until 4:30 PM, but I'm not sure if it is weekdays only or includes weekends.

Great library for anyone interested in Theosophy Hinduism, Buddhism, esotericism, etcread more

Super small but cool library in the Villa Parke Community center. It has a small computer lab, copy…read moremachines, a couple of desks and some new book releases too. Hacob and Renado are both very friendly and helpful. I imagine this to be a good place to do some reading, studying and research. Its on the second level and inside the community center. Being a bookworm, I naturally love this library.

Classic library. I am sure you could find all the books you want in this library! Worth to…read morespend a day here just to read and enjoy the building. Great for retired people to spend time here as well as students to find a place to study. It's near Pasadena old town so that you could go have lunch or dinner afterwards.

Great space for teens and children in the community! The old school is perfect for the additional…read morerooms to put library materials.

Wonderful children's library with lots of books, activities, games, and weekly programming. They…read moreeven had lovevery playlist to borrow. Great place to spend time during hot days this summer. Very impressed with the healthy lunches too with actual fruit and veggies.

I was a bit disappointed when I initially came to this location. It is a bit loud for a library and…read moredoes not offer the same amenities as the other library in Altadena. No WiFi printing, and not much of a computer area. I was however impressed with the activities they offer for children. My son attended a mad science show here once and all the kids were ecstatic. There is a literacy program here that comes highly reviewed. As a library, it's not great but as a center geared towards helping youth is fair. I would likely not return for library use.

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.