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!

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.

This library has been my go to for 2 years. Compared to many other libraries this place is optimal…read morefor seating & space. The library has outdoor seating , indoor study area with large tables, main seating tables by the bookcases , & ledge seating by the windows. Most tables are equipped with charger outlets. The library is well managed with staff who are doing headcount & open to questions or concerns. I haven't tried their actual checkout process for books as I only come to study. Parking can be tricky at times since the library is next to an elementary school. The golden hour is coming before 2pm or after 8am to avoid the car lines of parents or difficulty with parking. I personally enjoy the artwork that is displayed in the hallway which changes every so often as it's made by the community. Overall, a nice spot to study as you have different seating options & quiet environment.

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.

Excellent library. Great layout. Even the lighting is fantastic. There is a great sculpture made…read morewith books that gives the library a very nice touch. The staff is friendly and the patrons as well.

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.

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.

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.

What a nice, tidy, (no so little) library!…read more I love libraries: they are one of the few places you can go to where you're not expected to spend money. You can just go there to read, do research or work on a paper without spending a dime. A rarity, these days. Anyway, South Pasadena Public Library has a really nice entrance. The first floor is the library proper: I'll admit smaller than I expected. But the kids section looked absolutely awesome and had me hankering for younger days. There were a great deal of computers, mostly in use. And a nice little phone charger station: more libraries should have these! On the second floor, there are collection of large rooms which appear set up for community meetings or non-profit gatherings. But the star of the show is the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library Bookstore upstairs. Featuring a collection of gently used books, with some really cool titles. Many books about art and architecture, crafts, cooking as well as fiction. Prices for hardbacks are comparable to a typical used book store, but paperbacks were very reasonable. But, since this bookstore is the primary contributor to the running of the library, I definitely encourage you to go browsing. Eventually books (and DVDs and Blu-rays) that languish up here for too long get shuffled downstairs where they're on sale for next to nothing. The Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library Bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday 1pm-5pm M-Th and 11:30am-4:30pm Saturday and 10:00am-4:30pm Sunday. Definitely a nice library. Definitely worth visiting.

This is a nice public library in South Pasadena…read more The children's section was huge and there were 2 computers for kids to use with kid-friendly educational games. There was a librarian seated in the section, but she looked busy and didn't seem to want to engage with the kids while we were there. Street parking is available around the library. The library is located in a pretty park like setting. When we visited a few weekends ago, there was a tai chi class finishing up.

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.

Incredibly helpful staff with lots of resources from seeds for you garden to book club packs and…read moremuch more

Come one, Come all…read more... Gotta love all kinds of libraries here around Pasadena City College, CA.....We gotta be so fortunate as current returning/existing students here having all these libraries!!!! Ain't complainin' one bit.... Surrounded by all these upscale looking libraries is just going to get my life's other focus back for now....where to go 'Tis the question!!!! I just got a free two-hour parking spot earlier today, but I'll be back for more pics. Nothing Bundt Pics again....later on the weekend.

Wow! What a beautiful day that we had at the Huntington, my friend gave us graduation tickets for…read moremy daughter and myself, we did go on a Sunday, which was a little bit busier than expected, but I was working also it was on the hotter side and we went in the afternoon which I wish we would've gone first thing in the morning. The parking was free. They had a great gift shop and everything was perfect there. It was great to walk around. We must've been there for about six hours.. They had a restaurant you needed reservations. They also had a little area where you could buy drinks and snacks.. We'll definitely be back!

The first time I went here was for a high school field trip. I loved it so much that I continued to…read morecome back every few years long after I had graduated. Back then, what I remembered most were the beautiful porcelain pieces inside the mansion. Afterwards, now that I keep coming back as an adult, it's the Chinese Gardens that are my favorite. This place is the closest thing to being both in China and Europe. It's all very refined and beautiful. At the same time, it's welcoming and not intimidating. I've heard children playing in the Chinese garden while at the same time listened to elderly people conversing with each other in Chinese under the shade of one of the many pagodas. That being said, as beautiful and tranquil as the scenery is, it's not quiet. There's too many people to have true peace and quiet. Nonetheless, I remember thinking to myself as I stared at the Chinese bridge with 3 arches that reflected 3 perfect circles in the water "I don't want to go inside. This is the type of scenery that painters paint. I'm looking at the real thing." However, this time around I came during a heat wave and I did spend more time in the exhibits than I normally would just to be in the AC. I usually come during fall and winter, but what drew me out in summer was the hope of seeing not 1, but 2 corpse flowers in bloom. Unfortunately, I've now learned that by the time I've learned they've bloomed, it's too late. When I arrived they were both dead, corpses in and of themselves. It would've been better if I had come earlier when they hadn't bloomed yet because at least then they would've still been standing. There's no dress code, but the women noticeably dress up in sundresses both to stay cool and because the setting sets itself up for taking beautiful photos. I would also recommend bringing parasols/umbrellas and refillable water bottles. As many times as I've been here, I'm sure I'll come back even though tickets are a bit expensive at $34 each. Maybe one of these days I'll actually see a corpse flower in full bloom. I'll just need to remember to bring a collapsible stool for the long line to see it.