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.

My Library Account is a record of your personal information at the library, items currently checked out, requested items, overdue items, and any fines/fees you may have.

To log into your personal account you will first need to obtain a PIN (Personal Identification Number) created by you at the Library with a staff member.

Once you have established a PIN you may access your personal information from home via the Internet.

PIN/password may contain letters and/or numbers and should be at least 4 characters long.

ACCESS to My Library Account:

Click on My Library Account

At the prompt, enter your 14 digit library card number (omit spaces)

Type in your PIN and press enter or click the “Submit Button”

Once you are logged in to My LibraryAccount you can:

View items checked out

Renew items

Request checked out items ($1.00 fee)

Modify your PIN

Modify your email address

View your fines and fees

Search the Catalog

Set up preferred searches

Reset forgotten PIN

FORGOTTEN PIN:

If you have forgotten your PIN you can reset it by email if you have a valid email address in your account.

On the account login page, click on the Forgot your PIN link.

Library Services for Adults

• Circulating collection of books, audiobooks, music cds, movies, magazines
• Interlibrary Loan for items beyond our collection 
• Readers advisory
• Reference collection, online resources, databases and reference staff
• Downloadable ebooks and audiobooks at the Southern California Digital Library
• Spanish collection
• Local History Collection
• "Titles to Go" homebound delivery service 
• Book clubs and programs
• Computers with Internet access and Microsoft Office
• Printing, photocopying, scanning 
• Pleasant environment and outside patio 
• Wi-Fi Internet Access

Services by Interest

Seniors particularly enjoy the large print collection, Playaways and books on tape.

Homebound patrons will benefit from the "Titles to Go" program which will deliver books to the door.

Volunteers help either in the Library or through the Friends organization.

Teachers may apply for a teacher card that can be used to check out items to supplement their classrooms.

Families enjoy many of our services and programs together, but check out the Children's and Teen's pages for age-specific services.

Travelers & Commuters use Audio Books and Playaways for long journeys.

Job Seekers benefit from how-to books on resumes, and online resources. Many people use the public computers to create resumes and apply online for jobs.

Readers can browse our online Catalog, or search for items around the world in Worldcat. Online databases such as NoveList, and the Thursday Book Club and Adult summer reading club encourage discussion on literary matters.

Life-long learners access how-to books on a variety of subjects, online reference resources that cover many disciplines and reference staff to help answer your questions. Books on specialized topics can be borrowed through our Interlibrary Loan service.

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.

Children's Bookflix Online Storybooks: Scholastic BookFlix pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills and introduces children to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Programs

Summer Reading Program: We sponsor a very popular eight-week Summer Reading Club. Children register at the library for this free activity and enter one of three reading divisions:

• Non-readers
• School-age readers in Grades 1 – 6
• Challenger division for children in Grades 2 – 6.

Barks & Books: Children are invited to read to a gentle and friendly dog visitor on the second Thursday of each month between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Preschool Storytimes: This very popular program brings babies, toddlers, pre-school children, parents and caregivers together for stories, songs, puppets and crafts. Days and times are:

• Monday mornings: at 10:00 a.m.
• Wednesday evenings: at 7:00 p.m.

Please Note: Preschool Storytime will be taking a nap! Preschool Storytime will NOT meet on Monday June 3rd, nor on Wednesday June 5th, 2013.

Parent Child Workshop Series: Families with children ages three and younger are invited to a five-week Parent/Child Workshop featuring noted resource professionals on Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. The interactive workshops include toys, crafts, books and play in addition to discussions of parenting issues and concerns. Enrollment is free, but in-person pre-registration at the Library is required to ensure a spot in the program. Contact the Library for more information at 626-355-7186. The Library is a national Family Place Library.
More info on Parent/Child Workshops in March

Reference & Research

Personal reference assistance: Library staff is always ready and able to assist our young members of the public in finding information, both print and electronic.

Study space: Children use our library after school as a place to study, do homework and research topics for schoolwork.

In-Library Class Visits: Teachers and leaders of youth organizations bring children to the library to listen to stories, do research and find books.

Children's Book Lists

Caldecott Award Winners
Newbery Award Winners
ALA Notable Children's Books

Recommended Children's Websites

American Library Association - Great Websites for Kids
California State Website - Just for Kids
California State Websites - Grades K - 5
Discovery Kids
NASA Kids' Club
National Geographic Kids
National Public Radio - Book Club for Kids
PBS Kids
U.S. Government - Official Kids' Portal
U.S. Government Websites for Kids - Ben's Guide

Children's Collection

The Children's Collection includes board books, picture books, beginning readers, fiction, non-fiction audio books and DVDs. Our fiction collection includes popular books and classics for both leisure reading and academic support.

Children's Online Databases

In addition to print materials, our online databases support both recreational and educational inquiry. Databases include: Biographies, Bookflix, NoveList, ReferenceUSA, and World Book Online. 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 children's programs and services or to make a suggestion, please contact Meegan Tosh, Youth Services Librarian or by phone at 626-355-4672.