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Central Library Resources | Branch Library Resources

Electronic resources - State-of-the-art business, economic, historical, contemporary and educational databases allow you to access scholarly and professional resources. For highlights of the collection including policy and remote access please visit: www.cityofpasadena.net/library/e-resources.asp

Internet Reservations - You must have a valid Pasadena or Glendale Public Library Card to reserve an internet session.

PC Reservation Station: Reserve one Internet session per day (up to one hour in length) with your Pasadena/Glendale library card at self-serve PC reservation stations located in the Internet Commons and the copy center. If you do not yet have a Pasadena/Glendale card, the application form is available online or at any of our libraries. The last reservation for the current day can be made about half an hour before closing.  Internet stations shut off 15 minutes prior to closing. 

Reservations by phone: Phone reservations can be made for the current day only, Monday through Saturday with your Pasadena/Glendale library card number. For reservations at our Central Library, call (626)744-4066, option 2 for assistance.

Online reservations: You can conveniently “Reserve a PC” online up to one hour per day of Internet time using your Pasadena/Glendale library card.

Express Stations - Eight 15 minute express terminals are available in the Reference and Humanities Wings on a first-come first-served basis, with no reservations required.  The computers are equipped with the library's catalog, electronic resources, and the Internet. Express stations shut off 15 minutes prior to closing.

Computers for Kids - There are computers in the Children's Room of the Central Library with educational software for children and limited Internet access. These computers will only link to sites on our Library or City web, or to sites linked directly from the Library's web. This permits parents and children to use the library's own resources, but does not permit full web access. Parents and kids should view our Internet Policy for Kids. There is also a special Kids' Catalog computer in the Children's Room, designed to help kids search for books in our collection. Computers in the Children's Room shut off 5 minutes prior to closing.

Pay-for-use computers - These are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Internet Commons of the Central Library at the cost of $4.00 per hour, payable only using a Cash-card. Pay-for-use computers may be used for Internet access, as well as for any electronic resources available on computers in the Technology Learning Center, the Express Stations, and all Internet computers. The pay-for-use computers shut off 5 minutes prior to closing.

Word processing - Word processing is available on all Internet computers.  It is only available without a reservation during the hours the Technology Center is open to the general public:  Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. 

Printing Documents - In order to print documents or web pages from our computers, you may use cash, coins, or a Cash-card. These are available in the Copy Center at the Central Library or at the Circulation desk of any of our branch libraries. You can add value to the card in the same vending machines or at our branches. The Cash-card can also be used to pay for the use of copy machines and fax machines in our library, as well as pay-for-use computers. At present, only black and white laser printers are available for your use. Each page printed on these laser printers costs 10 cents. All print requests are held for 24 hours.  Print stations are available until 5 to 15 minutes before closing, depending on location.  Check with staff for details, or view step-by-step instructions for printing at Central Library.

Visual Enhancement Workstation - The Central Library offers computer workstations with visual enhancement software. For further information, please call the library at (626)744-4066, option 7 for Reference Services.

Technology Learning Center - This computer lab is the site of many of the Library's free computer training classes for the public. When not in use for training, it is open to children and teens Monday-Thursday, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.  With a wide variety of applications, ranging from web browsing to office software, it permits the users to learn new skills or spend time researching for reports.  Users can sign up for 30-minute time slots, up to two slots per day. In addition, the TLC is open to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis during the following hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:45 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. During these expanded hours for the general public, only limited internet service is available, for the use of the library web pages and the direct links from those.

Wireless Access - Wireless Internet access is available from any public room at any Pasadena Public Library location. This will permit patrons with properly equipped laptop computers and other portable computing devices to access the web while doing research in our library.  Wireless access is available during all open hours.  A valid Pasadena library card and PIN are required for Wi-Fi access.  Library cards are available at all Pasadena locations free of charge to any resident of the State of California.  Temporary library card numbers, which can used for certain online services (including onsite wireless) and which can be converted to permanent library cards within 60 days, are available online.

Internet stations are available at each of our Branch Libraries. You can sign up for 30-minute time slots at branches that offer manual reservations or for 60-minute time slots at branches that operate on our PC reservation system. Up to two slots are allowed per day, at any one of our sites. Please contact the individual branches to inquire about computer hours.  To make a phone reservation for current day only, call (626) 744-4066, option 2, or call the branch directly.

Computers for Kids - These computers are at all of our Branch Libraries, and have educational software for children, as well as limited internet access, only to websites that are directly linked to the Pasadena Public Library website. This permits parents and children to use our direct Internet resources without access to the full web on these computers.

Wireless Access - Wireless Internet access is available from any public room at any Pasadena Public Library location.  Wireless access is available during all open hours.  A valid Pasadena library card and PIN are required for Wi-Fi access.  Temporary library card numbers, which can used for certain online services (including onsite wireless) and which can be converted to permanent library cards within 60 days, are available online.

Computer Labs:

La Pintoresca Branch Technology Learning Center

Lab hours:
For careers/jobs/FC Search only:
Mon. - Thu. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.;
Sat. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For careers/jobs/Career Friday events only:
Fri. 10 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
For children only:
Mon. - Thu. 2 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
For the general public:
Sat. 1 p.m.  - 5:45 p.m.;
Sun. 1 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

During their dedicated Lab hours, children and teens may sign up for a maximum of one hour per day.  During Lab hours dedicated to careers, jobs, and FC Search, Internet use is limited to those resources. Other public computers are available at the site for adults to use for general Internet searching and other needs.

Villa Parke Computer Lab - This computer lab has Internet and word processing applications that permit users to do research, create documents and make use of other options for doing schoolwork or for personal enjoyment. Hours for use by the general public are Monday - Thursday 3:00 - 7:00 pm and Friday 3:00 - 6:00 pm.

Last update: October 21, 2008