If you think you’re too old to get carded, think again. In this case, we’re talking library cards. Regardless of where you live in the area, you can join four local library systems: Pasadena, Altadena, City of Los Angeles and LA County.

A library card from your home library entitles you to get cards at the others which is a good idea according to Shauna Redmond, Virtual Services Manager at the Pasadena Public Library. Voice of the Village asked Shauna to elaborate on the benefits of belonging to more than one library system and how to make the most of library memberships.

More cards, more selection

Not all libraries offer all the same apps, carry all the same titles or deliver all the same services. It just makes sense to cover all your bases by joining more libraries.

Download multiple book apps

According to Shauna, Libby is the most popular app for downloading eBooks and audiobooks. (This is because only Libby offers eBooks for Kindle.) Don’t stop with just one app. CloudLibrary and Hoopla also allow you to borrow eBooks and audiobooks. By downloading multiple book apps from multiple libraries, you can really cover all your bases.

Libby also makes it easy if you have more than one library card. Your searches and holds will sync across all the libraries so you might have less time to wait and can get your book sooner from another library.

Read your favorite daily

New York Times, LA Times, The Guardian… They’re all there on PressReader. Well, they’re all somewhere on PressReader. Not every library carries the same newspapers, which is another reason to have more than one library card. The daily Pasadena Star-News is available online with a Pasadena library card.

Check out magazines

Libby, PressReader, and Flipster all let you download magazines. There are literally 100s of magazine titles at your fingertips, from the most obscure – Angling Times and Numismatic News, for example – to the most popular – New Yorker, The Economist and The Atlantic. Again, each library subscribes to different magazines, so… yeah… cover your bases.

Watch TV shows, movies and documentaries

In addition to eBooks and audiobooks, Hoopla offers a big selection of TV shows and movies. Kanopy is another app with an even more extensive selection of movies.

Listen to music

Freegal is a lot like Spotify or Apple Music. Listen to as much streaming music as you want from across all genres. It’s a fun way to learn about new artists. Each week, you can store up to three titles to a personal playlist.

For those who still prefer the feel of holding a book and turning pages, the doors are open — just not the Main Library doors at Pasadena and Altadena, yet. Pasadena Main Library renovation is on schedule to open May in 2028. Updates on the Pasadena Central Library and Altadena Main Library building are available on the library websites.

Altadena also has a mobile library called Curiosity Connection. On Tuesdays, it stops at Grocery Outlet on Lake (10am-12:30pm) and Fair Oaks Burger (3-5:30pm) and on Thursdays at Triangle Park (10am-12:30pm) and Prime Pizza (2:30-5pm). Come by, become a member and find a gem to check out.

There’s more. Author Talks. Book clubs. Computers, sewing machines and other items to check out. It all starts with a card. Or two. Or three. Or more.

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