September Events at Altadena Library!

E-CONNECT | SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE FROM THE ALTADENA LIBRARIES

Connect with Altadena Libraries through our new app, where you can
search our catalog,
listen to a new audiobook through cloudLibrary,
discover new music on hoopla,
learn new skills on LinkedIn Learning,

get homework help from an online Brainfuse tutor
explore upcoming events and more!

To download our app, search for "Altadena Library District" in the Apple App Store or on Google Play! You can also stop by the Info Desk for our app reference one-pager.

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Join us as we celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month with popup events at Read Local, Shop Local businesses throughout Altadena and earn some library swag!

Ways that you can earn Altadena Library swag, available while supplies last, this month:

Drop by one of our popup events and connect with library staff
Sign up for a library card
Play Altadena Library District trivia; game cards are available at the info desk at any of our locations. For teens and adults, 13+

Wednesday, Sept. 3 • 11am-1pm

El Patron, 2555 Lake Ave., Altadena

Saturday, Sept. 6 • 12-2pm

Grocery Outlet, 2270 Lake Ave., Altadena

Wednesday, Sept. 10 • 12-3pm

Fair Oaks Burger, 2560 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena

This popup is part of the “We Out Here” a weekly event for Eaton fire survivors. Please make sure to have proof of Altadena residency with your photo ID to participate.

Friday, Sept. 19 • 11am-12pm (Tea Tasting)*

Callisto Tea House, 1359 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena

*(program registration required)

Saturday, Sept. 27 • 11am-1pm (Little Free Library Ribbon Cutting)

Webster’s Community Pharmacy, 2333 Lake Ave., Altadena

We hope you can join us for one of these events!

English Classes (English as a Second Language)
Monday-Thursday every week • 10:30am-12pm Bob Lucas Memorial Library, 2659 N Lincoln Ave

Build your English fluency to help work through everyday situations. Our casual, small group sessions are designed for beginning English learners. Classes are free and in person. To sign up, call (626) 798-0833 x 102.

Help Us Design the Community-Led Bob Lucas Memorial Library Mural
Friday, Sept 26-Sunday, Sept. 28 • Various Times
Bob Lucas Library, 2659 Lincoln

Altadenans of all ages are invited to help us create a new mural inspired by the themes of: Regrowth. Rebuilding. Resilience. Literacy. Community.

You can sign up for a creative session to help develop the mural vision, led by artist Edgar Arceneaux and a local poet. There are eight sessions total at various times on Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Bob Lucas Library. Please register through our online calendar here.

Or you can help paint the mural Oct. 9-12 (more details available later this month).

If you can’t make it in-person, you can still submit your ideas online. Due to the timeline of the project, any entries received after 5 p.m. PDT Sept. 28 will not be considered.

For details, visit https://www.altadenalibrary.org/mural/

Community Food Distribution
Wednesday, Sept 17 • 11am-12pm
Main Library Parking Lot

Stop by the Altadena Library to pick up a bag of fresh produce, courtesy of Hollywood Food Coalition on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and every other Wednesday thru Dec. 10.

Supplies are limited, first come, first served! If you can, please bring your own extra bags!

The mission of Hollywood Food Coalition is to nourish the community by rescuing and distributing food, preparing nightly meals, and uniting efforts to achieve food equity.

Back-to-School: Design Your Own Pencil Case

Go back to school with a one-of-kind pencil bag designed by the one and only YOU!

Visit one of our libraries and get creative.

Friday, 9/5

4-6pm @ Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Tuesday, 9/9

5-7pm @ Main Library

Wednesday, 9/10

4-6pm @ Bob Lucas Library

All materials will be provided to personalize your own pencil bag while supplies last!

Meaning & Well-being Through Art & Poetry: Adult Creative Wellness Workshop with Nancy Choe

Friday, Sept. 5 • 4-5:30pm

Main Library Community Room

Join us for an afternoon of creativity and wellness with Nancy Choe!

Aboout the presenter

Nancy Choe (PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC) is an art therapist and LMU faculty. As an Altadena resident, she deeply understands the Eaton Fire's complex recovery. Her research focuses on resilience after burnout and trauma. Nancy's holistic, creativity-driven approach blends clinical expertise with a commitment to fostering wellness through creative expression.

Storytime with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
Saturday, Sept. 6 • 10:30-11:30am
Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Families with children are invited to join us for a special storytime with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation!

Space is limited, so please register for this event. Each child in attendance will receive a free book, a Dodgers hat, and a shirt (while supplies last).

Hobby Zine Workshop
Saturday, Sept. 6, 1-3pm
Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Come make a zine about your cool hobby! Ages 18+ No registration required

Open Mic Night
Monday, Sept. 8 • 6-7:30pm
Callisto Tea House, 1359 N. Altadena Dr.

Come to Callisto Tea House to share your music, story, or latest spoken word poem! We'll spend the evening cheering on our neighbors' work. All ages and genres welcome.

Author Visit: Danielle McKechnie
Thursday, Sept. 11
4-5pm
Bob Lucas Memorial Library

Author Danielle McKechnie will read from her book "Otto Normal's Monsterton." A fun art project and a musical component will be part of this author visit!

According to Kirkus Reviews "Otto Normal's Monsterton: The Disappearance of White Pine Beach" is a "wonderfully weird" paranormal series. Suitable for ages 8-12.

Heartthrob Hangout Book Club
Thursday, Sept. 11 • 4:30-5:30pm
Main Library Small Meeting Room

Check out our newest book club and join us for a monthly discussion of a selected romance novel. This month's romance pick: "A Forgery of Fate" by Elizabeth Lim.

Clownin' Around with Daisy the Clown
Friday, Sept. 12
4-5pm
Bob Lucas Memorial Library

Let’s welcome Daisy The Clown to the Bob Lucas Library for a one of a kind balloon twisting and bubble show! Watch her transform balloons into your favorite safari animals. And if you love bubbles, come to be WOW’ed with a prismatic array of bubble splendor she calls her Bubble Disco!

Conservation Clinic
Saturday, Sept. 13 • 10am-2pm
Altadena Main Library

Art Recovery LA, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and Altadena Library District, are offering FREE services to those affected by the fires, including:

Condition assessments of your recovered artworks and belongings
Cleaning objects to remove soot and ash
Demonstrations to remove the smell of smoke from small objects
Custom archival boxes for safe storage

Registration is required.

Bring your:

Artworks, Photographs and Photo Albums, Stuffed Animals and Toys, Collectibles, Ceramics, Jewelry, Textiles, and other cherished belongings that survived the fires

Please email questions to artrecoveryla@gmail.com.

The Conservation Clinic is made possible by LA County Department of Arts and Culture, Altadena Library District, the Conservation Association of Los Angeles (CALA), and FireAid.

Teddy Bear Clinic with Huntington Health
Saturday, Sept. 13 • 10:30-11:30am
Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Teddy bear clinics can help address children’s concerns or fears over doctor visits and routine medical procedures. Join us as we host Huntington Health for a Teddy Bear Clinic for a free stuffed animal health check.

A check-up for your furry friend may include:

Blood pressure checks.
X-ray.
Medicine.
Vaccination/immunizations.
Listening with a stethoscope.
Ear and nose otoscope examinations.

Certificate of Good Health will be awarded at the end of check-up.

Altadena Poets Laureate - Altadena Poetry Review Celebration - The 2024-25 Virtual Edition
Saturday, Sept. 13 • 3-5pm
Altadena Main Library

Featuring Mary Anne Berry, Don Kingfisher Campbell, Ron Koertge, Noriko Nakada, Anna Mixtlan, Thelma Reyna, Lynne Thompson, Pam Ward, Alene Terzian-Zeitounian + Open Mic; Hosted by Sehba Sarwar & Lester Graves Lennon.

This event will be livestreamed at youtube.com/altadenalibrary.

This event is made possible by Octavia's Bookshelf, Academy of American Poets, Poets & Writers, Friends of the Altadena Library, and the Altadena Library Foundation.

Featuring Mary Anne Berry, Don Kingfisher Campbell, Ron Koertge, Noriko Nakada, Anna Mixtlan, Thelma Reyna, Lynne Thompson, Pam Ward, Alene Terzian-Zeitounian + Open Mic; Hosted by Sehba Sarwar & Lester Graves Lennon About the poets Mary Anne Berry is a retired high school teacher of French and English. Her love affair with poetry began in early childhood, and she is never happier than in a group of like-minded poets working to hone their craft. She hosts a group monthly in her home in Pasadena, California. Don Kingfisher Campbell, MFA Antioch University L.A., taught at USC and Occidental College Upward Bound, board member California Poets In The Schools, publisher Four Feathers Press, host of the Saturday Afternoon Poetry reading and workshop series in Pasadena, California. Ron Koertge is the author of a dozen or so books of poetry from presses like the University of Arkansas, University of Pittsburgh Press, and Red Hen Press. He is a Pushcart Prize winner and has two poems in volumes of Best American Poetry. An entertaining and dynamic reader, he is also a sought-after handicapper of thoroughbred race horses. His newest book is Pandora’s Kitchen, due from Red Hen in fall 2025. Noriko Nakada is a multi-racial Asian American who creates fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art to capture the stories she has been told not to talk about. Her memoir Through Eyes Like Mine was shortlisted for the 2040 Book Award. Excerpts, essays, stories and poetry have been published in Hippocampus, Catapult, Made in LA, Linden Ave, and elsewhere. She is an LAUSD teacher and parent, and a UTLA organizer. She sits on the Women Who Submit board supporting women and nonbinary writers to submit their work for publication. She lives in Los Angeles on stolen Tongva Land. Anna Mixtlan, a Chicana born and raised in East Los Angeles, is fascinated by the idea of recreating one’s lost past through story-telling: our family stories, our love stories and our ancestral stories. She believes that we can give voice to our ancestors through storytelling, and to tap into the way our ancestors manifest themselves in who we are today. She is an elementary school teacher and a licensed clinical social worker who currently calls Altadena home. Lynne Thompson served as Los Angeles’ 4th Poet Laureate and received a Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. In September 2024, she represented Los Angeles at the Cultural Olympiad’s Poétique Marathon in Paris. Thompson is the author of four collections of poetry: Beg No Pardon, Start With A Small Guitar, Fretwork, and Blue on a Blue Palette. A lawyer by training and the recipient of multiple awards and fellowships, Thompson serves on the Boards of The Poetry Foundation, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Scripps College where she served a four year term as Chair of the Board of Trustees. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of Cave Canem, a literary nonprofit organization based in New York. LA native, Pam Ward recently released her poetry anthology, Between Good Men & No Man at All (World Stage Press). She is also the author of two novels, Want to Get Some and Bad Girls Burn Slow (Kensington), a 2024 Paris Olympic poet and UCLA graduate, California Arts Council Fellow, Pushcart Poetry Nominee and founding member of the Leimert Park Book Fair. Ward is the 2025 recipient of the Department of Cultural Affairs Trailblazer award and recently completed her novel, I’ll Get You My Pretty, the true account of her aunt’s notorious role in the Black Dahlia murder, an event that shocked the world, resulting in the closure of California’s border. Alene Terzian-Zeitounian EdD is a globally minded leader, poet, and educator with a deep commitment to advocacy and social justice. She currently serves as the Humanities Department Chair and teaches creative writing at College of the Canyons. She is also the faculty advisor of cul-de-sac, the campus’s award-winning literary and arts magazine. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, with a concentration in poetry, and a doctorate in education, specializing in leadership and innovation. Her work has been featured in publications such as the Bellevue Literary Review, Colorado Review, Mizna, and Rise Up Review. Altadena Co-Poet Laureate Sehba Sarwar is the author of the novel Black Wings (second edition, Veliz Books, 2019). Her essays and poems have appeared in Asia: Magazine of Asian Literature, Poetry in English from Pakistan, Callaloo, Creative Time, New York Times, Aleph, Vallum, and elsewhere while her short stories have been anthologized by Feminist Press, Akashic Books, and Harper Collins India. She is the recipient of honors from organizations, including Los Angeles’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Pasadena’s Cultural Affairs Division, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and Houston Arts Alliance. Sarwar trains youth leaders in Pasadena and Altadena. Altadena Co-Poet Laureate Lester Graves Lennon is the author of Lynchings: Postcards from America (WordTech Editions, 2022); My Father Was a Poet (CW Books, 2013); and The Upward Curve of Earth and Heavens (Story Line Press, 2003). He is an investment banker, the poetry editor of Rosebud Magazine and member of the board of directors of the Community of Writers. Both Sarwar and Graves Lennon are recipients of the Academy of American Poets 2025 Poet Laureate Fellowships.f

After the Eaton Fire: Altadena Tenants Rights & Resources
Monday, Sept. 15 • 4-5pm
Altadena Main Library

Join the Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County for a presentation regarding housing and tenants' rights.

Yoga Class with Sienna George
Tuesday, Sept. 16
4-5pm
Main Library Community Room

Join us for a relaxing afternoon of yoga with Sienna George!

Sienna George is a yoga teacher and classical bassist born in Long Beach, California. She has been studying yoga and reiki energy healing for 12 years and teaching for 5 years. siennageo.com

Tech Workshop: Explore Altadena Library’s Digital Media Apps
Wednesday, Sept. 17 • 10-11:30am
Altadena Main Library Community Room

The Altadena Libraries offer many ways for you to borrow e-books and audio books as well as movies, TV shows, and music… all for free!

In this workshop, you will learn how to download apps like cloudLibrary, hoopla, and PressReader, and the library’s app to use them on your phone or tablet.

This will be a hands-on workshop so you will get the most out of it if you bring:

A smartphone or tablet
Your Apple ID or Google password (so you can install apps)
Your library card number (so you can log into the apps)

Film Screening with Middle Ear Project
Friday, Sept. 19 • 6:30-8pm
Altadena Main Library Community Room

Come to the Altadena Main Library Community Room for a screening of short films, presented by Middle Ear Project. These films are special because they’re inspired by music compositions and tell stories with music instead of words. We will show 3 short films made by local musicians and film makers, with a live Q&A session with the artists. All ages welcome, no registration required.

Altadena Poets Laureate - Poetry and Garden - poetry and zine workshop with Xitlalic Guijosa
Saturday, Sept. 20 • 11am-1pm
Altadena Main Library Community Room

Participants in this workshop led by Xitlalic Guijosa will focus on exploring poetry alongside the theme of plants and gardens in our community and beyond.

All workshops are free and open to the public with priority being given to Altadena residents. Participating poets, as well as other community members, are invited to share their work at monthly open mics.

This event is made possible by Octavia's Bookshelf, Academy of American Poets, Poets & Writers, Friends of the Altadena Library, and the Altadena Library Foundation.

Altadena Poets Laureate - Poetry and Garden - poetry and zine workshop with Xitlalic Guijosa flyer

Danza Azteca Xochipilli
Tuesday, Sept. 23
4-5pm
Main Library Community Room

Join us at the Altadena Library as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with Danza Azteca Xochipilli, an Aztec dance group who will host an afternoon of dancing and education about Mexican culture and language. This is a family-friendly event. Please expect to participate in this enriching cultural event.

Coffee Tasting at Bob Lucas Library
Thursday, Sept. 25 • 10-11am
Bob Lucas Library

A coffee educator from local shop, Unincorporated Coffee Roasters, will walk attendees through a coffee cupping. A cupping is the method coffee professionals use to evaluate the product potential and quality during the buying and roasting process. Attendees will learn about Unincorporated's background and get a better understanding of the cupping process. You will be able to taste a sample of current offerings at Unincorporated.

Space is limited, and registration is required.

Melodia Mariposa Lecture Series: Conducting - A Life
Friday, Sept. 26 • 7-8pm
Altadena Main Library

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the most esteemed and influential conductors of our time, right here in Altadena.

Mr. Conlon is a rare figure whose work has defined and enriched the classical music traditions of the U.S. and Europe for over 50 years. He is giving this inaugural Melodia Mariposa lecture especially for the survivors of the Eaton Fire.

Tickets are free, but registration is required as space is limited. Register here or scan the QR code below.

ALD Teens Skate Day x Altadena Boys
Saturday, Sept. 27 • 1-3pm
Main Library Parking Lot

Come be in community! Watch a pro skaters shred, get a quick skate session (liability form must be signed), and enjoy the vibes! Pro Skaters! Resources! Instructors! Autism Spectrum/ADHD-Friendly Sk8 HAVEN coaches will be on site.

If participants want to partake in the skating sessions/lessons, they must have a parent/guardian sign an ALD Liability Form.

Huntington Health 2025 Free Flu Vaccine Clinic
Monday, Sept. 29 • 10am-12pm
Main Library

Flu vaccine requirements:

• No COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
• Parent or guardian must be present to give consent for children ages 9-17 years.
• Not allergic to eggs or the influenza vaccine.
• Not have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

For more information, call (626) 397-3376.

Huntington Health 2025 Free Flu Vaccine Clinic flyer

Want to find out more about our Board?
Come in person to our Regular Meeting of the Altadena Library Board of Trustees on Monday, Sept. 22 • 5pm in the
Altadena Main Library Community Room
or join us virtually at
https://www.youtube.com/AltadenaLibrary

September Events for All Ages

Chess Night
Every Monday
5:30-7:30pm
Main Library Reading Court

September Events for Children

Early Literacy Play at Loma Alta!, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Gourd Birds Craft (ages 6-12), Wednesday, Sept. 17, 4-5 p.m., Bob Lucas Library Registration required

Sensory Art & Play! (ages 3-12), Wednesday, Sept. 24, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Bob Lucas Memorial Library

Cardboard Construction Zone (ages 5-12), Saturday, Sept. 27, 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m., Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Preschool Storytime, Every Monday, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Bob Lucas Memorial Library

Baby Storytime & Play, Every Thursday, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Main Library Community Room or Children's Area

Family Storytime at Main!, First Saturday each month, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Main Library Community Room or Children's Area

Family Storytime at Loma Alta!, First Tuesday each month, 4:00-4:30 p.m., Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Evening Storytime, Third Tuesday each month, 6-6:30 p.m., Main Library Community Room or Children's Area

Explore Loma Alta Park by completing your own nature scavenger hunt! Stop by the info desk at our Loma Alta location from Sept. 2-30 during open hours to pick up the scavenger hunt and a box of crayons to color what you find (while supplies last)!

September Events for Teens

Teen Volunteer Orientation, Thursday, Sept. 18, 5-5:30 p.m., Main Library Teen Space. Teens (ages 13-18) are invited to volunteer and can earn service hours. Drop-ins welcome! Learn more at https://www.altadenalibrary.org/teens

Teen Linocut Prints with Nova Community Arts
Friday, Sept. 12 • 4-5pm
Main Library Teen Space

Learn how to carve and print your own linoleum print, or linocut. We’ll start with the basics of carving, including how to get textures and effects. After, you’ll get to print your block on our portable printing press to create an edition of prints! You’ll leave with several copies of your print, as well as your carved linoleum block. Registration is required!

Teen QQ Dumpling w/ Jess Wang from Pickle

Monday, Sept. 29 • 4-5:30pm Main Library Community Room

Come learn about making savory QQ dumplings and enjoy your treat afterwards! For Teens, 13-18 years old, only! Registration is required.

September Events for Adults

Huntington Hospital Health Screenings, Monday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Main Library

Adult Crafternoon: Windchimes, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park

Cozy Crofters Club, Friday, Sept. 26, 4 to 6 p.m., Callisto Tea House

English Conversation Club, Every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Main Library Small Meeting Room. Practice learning, listening and speaking English in a friendly setting.

Adult Dungeons & Dragons: A Library Adventure

Monday, Sept. 15 • 6-7:30pm Main Library Small Meeting Room

True Crime All The Time Virtual Book Club

Saturday, Sept. 27

4 to 5 p.m.

Zoom

Book: "Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers" by Caroline Fraser

Support Your Altadena Libraries

Altadena Library Foundation strengthens the mission and resources of the libraries through fundraising and advocacy. Learn more at

www.altadenalibraryfoundation.org.

The Friends of the Altadena Library stimulate public interest, assist with funding to purchase materials, and support cultural and educational programs. Become a member at

www.altadenalibrary.org/friends.

The Friends of the Altadena Library are not accepting any used book donations at this time.

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Main Library

600 E. Mariposa Street, Altadena, CA 91001

Phone: (626) 798-0833

Monday & Tuesday
10:00am-8:00pm

Wednesday – Friday
10:00am-6:00pm

Saturday
10:00am-4:00pm

Bob Lucas Memorial Library & Literacy Center

2659 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001

Phone: (626) 798-8338

Monday – Friday
10:00am-6:00pm

Altadena Library
at Loma Alta Park*
3330 N. Lincoln Avenue
Altadena, California 91001

Phone: (626) 798-0833

Monday – Friday
10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday
10:00am-4:00pm

*Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park is located in the park’s Social Hall. The Social Hall is a unit of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation System.

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