The Hastings Branch is part of Pasadena's city system and today's a good time to visit. It's open from 10-6 on Saturdays.
From the website:
Hastings has strong popular fiction, picture book, folk and fairytale, home arts, travel, and biography collections.
The meeting room accommodates up to 35 people. Use of the meeting room is free to groups who do not charge an admission fee or restrict admission on the basis of membership.
Hastings Branch has a large on-going book sale, where both hardbound and paperback books are sold.
Those are three of my favorite things about this branch. Go ahead and click the Hastings Branch link because they might have some of your favorite things, too.
My fourth favorite thing about this branch is the butterfly sculpture outside the north side of the building. I couldn't find out anything about it, so if you've got any info, let us hear it.
12 comments:
I copied this info off the PNI
New seating enhances charm of Hastings Butterfly Garden, .
Pasadena Journal, 8/12/2010, Page 10, Column 4, Article Size: Small
Illustrations: Photos
Subject Headings: Hastings Branch Library | Pasadena Public Library | Haderlein, Steve | Butterflies | Landscaping
Steve Haderlein wrote an article about the butterfly garden awhile back maybe there is an article archived? I went to the Pasadena Journal online and they did not have a search engine for their paper.
Thanks, Kalei. I found the article here
http://bit.ly/ADNr0j
It doesn't tell us about the sculptor but it tells us a bit about the plans for the garden where it's planted.
More from the website:
"...on February 17, 1959, Hastings Branch first opened its doors. It was the eighth and last library branch to be built, completing the plan to bring library service within a mile of every home in Pasadena."
Within a mile of every home? That's quite a target to achieve, and it seems the City did it. Had to look on the map where this library was, and it surprised me that it was on Orange Grove and not up in Hastings Ranch, as I'd assumed. I've probably driven past many times and not noticed this branch - it blends in so well, doesn't it? Glad that big pine tree survived Hurricane Rose.
Is that the backyard? I've only ever seen it from the front.
I wonder if, as the city has expanded, we're still all within a mile of a branch, Bellis. I know I'm that close to one.
Hiker, yeah, I guess this is the back. I think it's more attractive than the front and I always enter this way.
The building is at the corner of East Orange Grove and Sierra Madre Villa. One block north of Orange Grove is a side street called Rida Street, and this is the Rida side. You can enter the parking lot from here.
did u see this bit about the history of the library?
http://cityofpasadena.net/library/in_around_about_pasadena/neighborhoods/hastings/.
as far as the butterflies, from what i read your area gets an abundance of butterflies- hence the sculpture...
btw i called the library and they had no idea.. they said to call the city
Thanks, Kalei, yes, very cool link. I love the history (always do) and also that they have Pajama Storytime on Monday evenings!
Fun sculpture and an enterprising local library, a winning combination
Deb, in Pasadena a small percentage of the budget of every new building must go to public art.
One of the most admirable things about the European cities I've visited is how much art there is, absolutely everywhere you look. We will never have the ancient treasures of Europe, but at least we can strive to have art.
Oooh ahh! I went there all the time while Catalina was having its remodel
Love the butterfly sculpture -- and such a wonderful goal to have a library within 1 mile of every home!
Did you develop a preference, Des? I need to get back to Catalina and get some new pictures, now that it's reopened.
I agree with that, Ms. M. I wonder if it still holds true.
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