If you have not tried the new library app for the Pasadena Libraries, you don't know what you are missing. It's a very eye-catching, creative app that was developed for the Pasadena Library under a grant from the State Library of Texas, and it offers some wonderful opportunities to interact with your library from just about anywhere.
Some of you may be wondering just what an "app" is. An "app," or as it was originally designated in the dim ages of the past, "application," is a miniature program that runs on any smart phone, such as an iPhone, Android phone, Windows phone, or on tablets from any manufacturer. Examples of more familiar apps are: the camera app that allows your smart phone to take pictures; the maps app that shows you where you are and how to get where you are going; the social networking apps, like Facebook, Twitter, Viber and WeChat; and the game apps, like Bigbird, Minecraft, Tetris and Plants vs. Zombies. Joining this illustrious group of apps - now numbering over 1,000,000 - is the Pasadena Public Library App.
How do get it? How much does it cost? And what does it do? I will try to answer these questions for you.
First of all the cost is nothing, zero, zilch, nada. The State Library of Texas paid for it so that you can get it for free.
How do I get it? You only need to go to your app store for your phone or tablet and, in the search bar, type in "Pasadena Public Library." The store will ask you if you want to download it or install it on your phone or tablet, and you select "yes." That is all there is to getting it. If you would like help with those steps, or are having a problem with it or other uses of your devices, stop at the adult services desk at the library and ask for assistance. We will be glad to help you.
What does it do? The easiest way for me to show this to you is to show you what your app will look like, and then take you through each function.
When you click on your app, after it opens, you will see this:
MovieBox lets you view and select movies that are available right now in either Pasadena Library MovieBox. The latest Hollywood releases and the film classics are all there. They can be held for you until midnight on the day you select them. No need to stand in line to order your films.
My Account lets you sign in and see what you have checked out or what charges you may have on your library account.
Location & Hours tells you when we are open and where our two libraries are located.
Catalog gives you direct access to the library catalog, just as if you were in the library.
Events is the library calendar.
eBooks and Audio Books allows you to find and download eBooks or audio books to your device. You do not have to come to the library to get these great resources - wherever you are, so is the access to your eBooks and Audio Books.
Research & Databases and Full Library Website give you access to each of those things.
BookLook
is probably one of the cleverest parts of the app. If you are at a friend's home or in a bookstore, and you see a book that interests you, use the BookLook scan function and it will tell you if the Pasadena Library owns the book.
I hope you will join the hundreds of other members of the library who make the Pasadena Library App a useful part of their online existence.
