Work will begin Monday, April 2 on renovations to the Sierra Madre Public Library Children’s Room. During the 6-week “makeover,” the Children’s Room will be closed. Children’s services will move temporarily into the adjacent Library Reference Room, with a limited collection of picture, fiction and non-fiction books available for checkout. One homework and two early literacy computers will be available for use. Preschool Story Times will continue as scheduled, but school class visits will be suspended during construction. The remodel is scheduled to be completed in time for the Summer Reading Program.

Sierra Madre, CA – After an extensive recruitment process, the City of Sierra Madre is honored to announce that Carolyn Thomas has been selected as the City's new Director of Library Services.

We welcome financial support as well as donations of books, your time or expertise. In addition we encourage you to join our support group, The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library.

Computer Classes
The Library offers free beginning computer classes for adults taught by expert volunteers. Instruction takes place on PC computers using Microsoft Windows.
Current classes include:

• Introductory Windows 7
• Pick the right PC
• Basic Email
• Microsoft Word 2010
• Excel 2010

Classes are limited to 4 students and meet on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Schedules and Registration forms are available at the Library.

There is a $20.00 registration fee, refundable on day of attendance. For more information please call the Library at 626-355-7186.

Download current schedule of classes:

Teen Programs

Teen Book Club
Middle school and high school students are invited to join the Teen Book Club, Wednesday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m. during the school year. Participants receive free paperback books, eat snacks, play board games, meet other students their age, share ideas, and make friends.
NEW DAY - please note the the Teen Book Club will be meeting this year on Wednesdays, starting October 12th, 2011, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Library basement.

Teen Summer Reading Program
We sponsor a popular Summer Reading Club division for teens. Participants read eight books by the end of the program and earn prizes for every two books read.

Teen VolunteersThe Summer Reading Program depends on teen volunteers in grades seven and up. Volunteers are asked to work two hours a week to help with the Summer Reading Club, read to children, keep books organized on the shelves, clean books, and perform other necessary tasks during their shifts. We have always been fortunate to have many enthusiastic teen volunteers during the summer.

Reference and Research

Teen Collection
The Young Adult collection includes fiction and non-fiction for seventh through twelfth grade, for both recreational reading and educational support. Our fiction collection includes popular books and classics.

Online Databases
In addition to print materials, our online databases support both recreational and educational inquiry. Databases include:  Biographies, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Opposing Viewpoints, Maps, NoveList, ReferenceUSA, World Book Online, Language learning.

You can access these excellent resources in the library and remotely at home and school. Remote access requires a library card and a PIN.

For more information about programs and services for teens or to make a suggestion, please contact Meegan Tosh, Youth Services Librarian or by phone at 626-355-4672.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, containing the first twelve short stories about the famous detective by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, will be honored during February at the Sierra Madre Public Library as the City of Sierra Madre’s One Book One City selection for 2012. All events are free and open to the public.

Sierra Madre Public Library is a Universal Borrowing Library, serving residents from anywhere in California.

Library Card Applications

Patrons must complete and sign a registration form and be present to receive their cards.

• Adult Library Card Registration Form

ONE BOOK, ONE CITY

A yearly city-wide read of a selected book to encourage members of the community to share in the reading experience and to participate in programs relating to the book. Events are planned for February of each year.

Unbroken: a World War II Airman's Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand, has been chosen as the City of Sierra Madre 2013 One Book One City selection by the Sierra Madre Public Library.

A month-long series of free events, open to the public, is being planned for February 2013, focusing on WW II. Copies of the book to check out are available now at the Sierra Madre Public Library.

Previous selections are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Zorro by Isabel Allende, and On Gold Mountain by Lisa See.

If you need help finding information or materials please don't hesitate to ask Library staff at the service desks, by phone at 626-355-7186 or via our email reference service at ref@cityofsierramadre.com.

Our goal is to provide excellent services to the public; no question is too large, or too small. We have an excellent print reference collection and access to online reference resources. Questions beyond the scope of our local resources are forwarded to the Southern California Library Cooperative Reference Center (SCLC).

Online Databases

Business

ReferenceUSA - Database of 14 million U.S. businesses contains verified, accurate data and is updated monthly. Information includes company name, executive title, business type, sales volume, year established and more.

eBooks

EBSCOhost eBooks- Online non-fiction eBooks

Online Reference Books- eBooks on the Environment, Medicine, Science & Social Science

Overdrive - Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, fiction and non-fiction

General Research

Ancestry.com - The world’s largest online family history resource, with 7 billion genealogical records from across the globe and millions of family trees. Access limited to in Library use only.

General Reference Center Gold- General interest and business titles, from national news magazines and encyclopedias to core business journals, providing a comprehensive reference resource

World Book Online- Encyclopedia covering a broad range of topics

Health

ReferenceUSA – Find physicians and dentists

Kids & Teens

Bookflix- Reinforces early reading skills and pairs video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning

Novelist K-8- Comprehensive reading recommendations for fiction and nonfiction titles, includes award winners and lexile reading levels

World Book Online for Kids- Encyclopedia covering a broad range of topics

World Book Online Info Finder (for older kids)- Encyclopedia covering a broad range of topics

World Book Online Reference Center (Teen & Adult)- Encyclopedia covering a broad range of topics

World Book Online Spanish version- Encyclopedia covering a broad range of topics

Literature & Authors

Biography in Context- Over 600,000 online biographies

NoveList- Comprehensive reading recommendations for fiction and nonfiction titles, includes award winners and book discussion guides

Worldcat Firstsearch- 247 million global information sources in all formats — books, full text, electronic books and journals, Web-based articles, and audio and video recordings—from the full range of recorded history.

People

Biography in Context- Over 600,000 online biographies

ReferenceUSA – US Standard White Pages

You will need a valid Sierra Madre Public Library card & PIN/password to access most of these databases if you are not within the Library. Once authenticated, you can browse between databases without further requests to log in.

Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Fund: Ancestry.com, Biography In Context, NoveList, ReferenceUSA, and World Book Online databases.

Bookflix is provided courtesy of the California State Library.