What the Library Does For All of South Pasadena—and Beyond

Everyone knows that South Pasadena’s literary and civic life pretty much revolve around a single institution—the South Pasadena Public Library. From movies and concerts to book talks and dramas, the library hosts events that benefit just about every constituency in the city.

But did you know that the library lends nearly 500,000 books and other materials every year? And that more than 2,650 children participated in this year’s Summer Reading Program at the library, where they logged more than 1 million minutes of reading?

Those were some of the highlights of the library’s 2012-13 annual report presented Wednesday night to the South Pasadena City Council by Edward Pearson, vice president of the Library Board of Trustees.

“In support of our schools’ vital education function, the library provides outstanding children’s services,” Pearson said at the city council's bimonthly meeting, adding that the library is a magnet for teens pursuing after-school studies as well as for young adults.

“What the library provides, however, goes well beyond serving the young,” Pearson pointed out. “All of us gain the benefit of the library as we continued the process of lifelong learning.”

The library adopted a four-year strategic plan in 2011 that continues to guide the trustees and the staff and “serves as the framework for the library’s efforts,” Pearson said.

Wearing a T-shirt dedicated to Fahrenheit 451, the bestselling book by the Highland Park-based author and longtime friend of South Pasadena Ray Bradbury, Pearson listed four key achievements of the library during the past year:

• The completion and dedication of an access ramp to the library compliant with the American Disabilities Act.

• The evaluation and implementation of a collection program to channel fines for overdue library materials into the library.

• The celebration of the 30th anniversary of a book store run by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library.

• The designation by the trustees of the library’s conference room as the Ray Bradbury Conference Room, including a ceremony this past May in which the “beloved author, a true friend of our library,” was honored.