This month, we're launching a new programming schedule that shows all the activities happening at the Pasadena Libraries. Each library has two adult themed programs and two children's programs each week. Bring your preschoolers for a great story in the children's department. If you are babysitting a young family member, a trip to the children's department in the library is a great way to provide a break in the daily routine for you and your child. Adults may want to consider attending a class on financial planning for your retirement; exploring local Texas history, or learning to cook an interesting meal. You can also learn all about couponing and how to sell and buy on e-bay like a pro. Pick up a monthly calendar at the circulation desk or the reference desk, or find it online on the library's website or attached to this newsletter.

The "Read with the Stars" display has moved to Fairmont library. Every one of the well-known celebrities displayed in the large photographs posted near the entrance to the library consented to having their pictures taken and displayed at the library because reading is important to them. They all are successful in what they do and attribute part of the reason for their success to their love of reading. Books have played a major part in transforming them into who they are today. Can reading a book transform you? Can it make you successful? Can it make you a star as well? Try it out and see for yourself!

On March 28, the library was closed for a day, to allow the staff to do planning to establish goals for the coming year. The Pasadena libraries are here to serve the people of Pasadena. At the planning session, we looked at who uses the library and who does not use the library. We considered various ways to improve our services, make our facilities more welcoming to all of our residents, and make our community more aware of the wonderful free resources which await them at the library. We have already increased our books and media in the Spanish language and will be doing even more to strengthen our Spanish collection in the coming year. Some of our programs are offered in both English and Spanish, and even more Spanish programs will be seen in the coming months. If you are interested in a special program that you may have heard about elsewhere and you think others in the community might be interested in it as well, please jot down the pertinent information and send it to me. I will be happy to research it and see if we can offer the same program here at our library.

Interested in family genealogy or the early history of Pasadena? Did you know that the library has a nice genealogy collection with old high school yearbooks, family histories, photographs, copies of the Pasadena Citizen that date back more than 40 years, and many other items of interest to the local historians? Our staff can help you find your way though this treasure trove of Pasadena's past. Our genealogy section is always interested in old photographs or documents relating to the early years of the community. Contact Lucy Turoff, who is responsible for the genealogy room, if you would like to make a donation. As a reminder, if you have old or even new books which you would like to donate, the Friends of the Pasadena Library are pleased to accept those donations. They will be either incorporated into the library collection or sold, and the money from the sale will go through the Friends to support library activities.

As a final thought, the Friends Book Store, which is located next to the coffee area at the Central Library, is a great source for books for your own library or for gifts to friends and family. The gently used books in the store sell for as much as 97% off of the original list price. That number is correct.... 97% off of the original list price. If you think a certain "half price" book store has good deals, check out your Friends Book Store.

Thomas C. Simiele