The Friends of the South Pasadena Library supports many wonderful programs like the popular summer reading program that is going on right now. Have you remembered to renew your membership to the Friends this year? You can do that by clicking on the link below.

Karen Sima

Membership Chair

www.friendsofsopaslibrary.org

Summer Reading Program & Events

IMAGE BY SOUTH PASADENA PUBLIC LIBRARY

It's not too late to join the Summer Reading Program (SRP)! The SRP is an annual celebration of reading for all ages - children, teens, and adults. The theme, "Find Your Voice," inspires self-expression and empowerment in the words we write, the art we create, and the movements we perform. Participants can earn prizes and books by tracking minutes spent reading using the Beanstack app or a paper reading log. The SRP is sponsored by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library and the generous donors of our community.

Join us for the following events in July!

Summer Storytimes are held weekly for different age groups and are held outside in the Library Park on the Oxley Street side, weather permitting.

On Wonderful Wednesdays, we will be hosting a live magic show by Zany Zoe, a dance and theater performance by the Dancing Storytellers, and an action-packed story of two science heroes saving Earth by Talewise.

The last Whole Steps Music & Dance of the summer will be held on July 28th. Come and join us to explore music and dance with the South Pasadena Arts and Music Academy. Designed for children ages 2 to 4, this program nurtures creativity and cognitive development using rhythm, movement, body percussion, pitch matching, and more. Pre-registration is required.

Check out the registration link and all the fun programs offered this summer by visiting the South Pasadena Public Library Calendar below.

The Friends of the Library Bookstore’s July Silent Auction features a collection of vintage treasures, many of them classics.

A set of two Bronte classics, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights is one offering. These volumes, published in 1943, feature wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg.

A volume containing 56 reproductions of original drawings of California from 1847-1952, by William Rich Hutton, is also available. This lovely book was published by The Huntington Library and the original drawings are part of their collection.

Another vintage book included this month is naturalist John Burroughs’ Squirrels and Other Fur-Bearers, published in 1900. This 120+ year-old book is in very good condition and contains a collection of essays and beautiful color drawings of woodland creatures.

The following auction items will be on view at the South Pasadena Public Library in a glass case with numbered bidding cards displayed on top. Winning bidders will be notified by telephone at the end of the auction. Click on the link below to view a catalog containing details and images of all the books available for bidding.

The largest source of funds for the Friends comes from the completely volunteer, Friends of the Library Bookstore. The Bookstore is located on the second floor of the library and is open five days a week. It is a treasure trove of used books, from recent bestsellers and children’s books to biographies and lovely vintage volumes. Click the button below for hours of operation.

The Library’s “Last-Chance” shelves on the first floor are available seven days a week when the Library is open. The Last-Chance shelves are located toward the back of the Library under the Friends’ sign.

The bookstore raised over $40,000 to support Library programs last year. We depend on donations from the community to stock our shelves and would like to encourage everyone to consider donating your gently used books to the Friends Bookstore when you are cleaning your shelves.

Donations may be dropped off at the main service desk during Library hours, or at the staff entrance down the driveway on Fairview at any time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept magazines, foreign language books or textbooks. If you have a larger donation, the Library staff would appreciate being informed ahead of time. You may reach the Library at 626-403-7350. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Bell at karenhannabell@gmail.com.

Restoration Concert

2023-24 Season, September 24 - May 19

Tickets for the 2023-24 Restoration Concerts Series are now available with the eight-concert sessions priced at $136. Piano and violin duet, Cindy Lam and Nathan Cole will be kicking off the season on Sept. 24.  

Some of the groups performing this season are Alma Nova, Flato String Quartet, an ensemble of flute-clarinet-piano, several duos, Robert Thies on piano, and the New Hollywood Quartet. The latter is the Restoration Concerts’ Quartet in Residence and will perform twice during the 2023-24 season. 

The concerts have been held for 27 years at the Library Community Room. The title of the series — Restoration Concerts Series — originated from its purpose to restore the Community Room.

Checks can be sent to Restoration Concerts, Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, 1100 Oxley St., South Pasadena, CA 91030. Individual tickets can be purchased at the door for $25 each. Follow the link below to find out more information about the concert series and to purchase tickets.