It takes more than a library to make a library truly work.

Besides the staff and employees there are a host of local organizations that help the library transcend its role in the community.

Enter The Pasadena Friends of the Library.

As President Joan Cathcart explained, the group works with the library in a host of ways to help expand its reach throughout the city.

“We have an organization with 18 directors. That’s everybody working,” said Cathcart, explaining the wide range of activities that the organization performs to raise money in support of the library’s efforts.

“The largest amount of money comes from our book sales, as patrons donate books to the Pasadena Central Library and then we turn around and sell them in a bookstore that is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday off the Eastern Patio at the Central Library, “Cathcart explained.

The group also holds a monthly book sale at the library on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

“It takes a lot of work,” said Cathcart, “We have a storage area in the basement of the library so we take the books in and out of there, and sort them weekly. And all our directors help with that. “

“Then we turn around and give some money that we raise back to the library,” Cathcart continued. Through 2014-2015, the group has pledged $69,500.

The group publishes a quarterly newsletter called The Library Insider. The newsletter features some information about the group’s activities, as well as articles about the books that are being read by various members of the community, like Mayor Bill Bogaard, for example.

Certainly there are more than enough programs which put to good use the money raised by the Friends.

“There is $25,000 to the Summer Reading Program,” Cathcart detailed, “and $10,000 to the teen program, and then this year we’re giving money towards creating a new presentation space on the 4th level of the library.

“We’re giving $6,000 for supplies, and then we’re giving $4,500 to the ‘One City One Story’ program, $1,000 to ‘ArtNight’ that happens once a year, and $5,000 to the Adult Speakers Program.”

“The Library is also celebrating “130 Years of Reading” and we are giving $3,000 for that, Cathcart added. “And we will also give $5,000 to support the Peek-a-book program located at every library site.”

Finally, the group has recently partnered with the Pasadena Public Library Foundation.

“Our mission is basically programming and services, while the library foundation’s mission is to help with the infrastructure and technology needs of the Central Library,” Cathcart explained. Both groups will be working together on the upcoming Library Day event.

Pasadena Public Library. (626) 744-4066. www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/
Friends of the Pasadena Public Library: www.friendsppl.org