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Wynyate: If the Walls Could Talk

The Library will be hosting a special event celebrating National Preservation Month and the City’s 135th birthday on Saturday, May 6th, at 3 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Wynyate: If the Walls Could Talk will explore the history of South Pasadena and the historic South Pasadena home, Wynyate, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The recognition prevented the home from potential destruction and contributed to the battle against the 710 freeway expansion. The Library and the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation will be co-sponsoring the event and the Friends of the Library will be providing refreshments. 

Saturday, May 6th, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Library Community Room

1115 El Centro Street,

South Pasadena, CA, 91030

Library Volunteer Recognition Tea

Recognized as 2022 Volunteers of the Year for the South Pasadena Public Library are (second from left to right) Karen Sima, Pamela Kemp, and Sally Kilby. The Library gave special thanks to Nancy Lem (right) and Library Director Cathy Billings (left) - Photo by Henk Friezer

Some fifty Friends of the Library volunteers, officials, and library supporters gathered for the annual volunteer recognition event in the Library Community Room on April 20. Baked goods from Heirloom Café in South Pasadena were featured. 

Mayor Jon Primuth expresses appreciation to volunteers at the Library Volunteer Recognition Tea held in the Library Community Room - Photo by Henk Friezer

In opening remarks, Mayor Jon Primuth noted that 7,000 hours had been donated to the library by volunteers. “You have demonstrated your love for the library,” he said. Three adult volunteers were honored as Volunteer of the Year for 2022. Dean Serwin, president of the Library Board of Trustees, announced the winners. Sally Kilby was honored for publicizing Friends’ activities and making the organization more visible. Karen Sima was honored for increasing membership by 68%, bringing in more than $44,000. Pamela Kemp, a bookstore volunteer, was honored for excelling at every aspect of bookstore operations. 

Nancy Lem, 2022 Friends’ Art Director, was given special thanks for her role in enhancing the image of the Friends. Library Director, Cathy Billings, acknowledged guests in the audience who helped pass Measure LL, the Library Special Tax, in 2022, with no expiration date. 

Keynote Speaker, Josie Huang, shares her experiences as a reporter with attendees at the Volunteer Recognition Tea in her presentation: Telling Stories: Public Radio Reporting Today - Photo by Henk Friezer

Also attending were all members of the Library Board of Trustees, the City Council, the City Manager, and management staff. Keynote speaker Josie Huang told stories of local interest that reflected her experience as a public radio reporter. She works for LAist 89.3, Southern California Public Radio. 

The evening prior, Mayor Primuth had presented a proclamation at a city council meeting to Cathy Billings and Friends’ members proclaiming April 20 as “Library Volunteer Recognition Day.”

Sally Kilby

Friends’ member

The Friends of the Library Bookstore’s May Silent Auction features eight items, including several beautiful art books, and a classic children’s book. 

An art book for sale is  “Leonardo Da Vinci and the Secrets of the Codex Atlanticus,” by Marco Navoni.  This volume is filled with high-quality photographs of many of Da Vinci’s inventions contained in his notebooks.

A children’s classic book is “The Wind in the Willows,” beautifully illustrated and published in 1971.

Bids will close at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 27th

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.

Upcoming Concert in

Restoration Concerts Series

The Restoration Concerts Committee of the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library will be presenting a Restoration Concert on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 4 p.m. The quartet in residence, The New Hollywood String Quartet, returns to perform the Debussy Quartet in G minor and the Ravel Quartet in F Major. Tickets will be available at the door for $25. The concert will be held in the beautiful historic Library Community Room at 1115 El Centro St. in South Pasadena. Mask wearing is optional but strongly recommended.



The Restoration Concerts Committee has a goal to bring world-class music at an affordable price to the concert goers in South Pasadena and surrounding communities. Net proceeds from the concerts provide for restorations, enhancements, and other benefits to the South Pasadena Public Library and Community Room.

Sunday, May 28th at 4 p.m. 

Library Community Room

1115 El Centro Street

Tickets are $25 at the door if not sold out

Contact: restorationconcerts@gmail.com

During National Library Week in April every year, library staff members are recognized for the valuable contributions they make to their communities through their dedication and hard work. 

It is our amazing staff members who keep our library running. Libraries are more than a place for borrowing books — they reflect the needs and expectations of our community. And library workers are the ones meeting those needs and fulfilling those expectations by making information, books, and resources more accessible. 

Here’s how the Friends recognized the staff this year: 

• On Monday, April 24, the library staff returned to work to a large Thank You banner, personal thank-you cards, and snacks to start their day
• On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 25-26, the staff was treated to wonderful lunch.
• On Thursday, April 27, beautifully packed homemade goodies and a basket full of snacks and donuts awaited employees in their lunch room.

Library Director Cathy Billings said the staff was touched by these gestures, and she thanked the Friends’ Board.

Friends' members thank our library staff for everything they do and for their continued support, contributions, enthusiasm, and dedication to our library and community.