As we move toward a full reopening of our library buildings in the coming weeks (details coming soon!), I must reflect on the many discoveries we made during the pandemic and the special work our staff has been able to accomplish during our building closures in mapping the many impactful resources in Altadena, building deeper relationships with our community partners, and exploring new ways of designing our offerings. The time and flexibility this unique period afforded us will no doubt make a lasting impression on how we approach community engagement, focusing on meaningful connection, resource sharing, and the power of listening. Earlier this month, we celebrated this work during National Library Week with a series of social media posts that highlighted just a handful of the partnerships in process and the fruits already blooming from the connections we are making. (Check them out on Facebook or Instagram if you haven't already!)

These models of engagement are shaping our approach to programming, focusing our efforts on reducing duplications of efforts and responding more directly to community needs. Over the past month, our staff, through careful research and program design, has earned over $25,000 in grant funding to implement initiatives in the coming months that will directly meet some of the needs we are discovering through our relationship-building! Here is a sneak peek at what is coming thanks to these grants:

Since the launch of Read Local, Shop Local last month, our program has quickly expanded! 20 local businesses now offer exclusive discounts to customers that present their Altadena Library cards at checkout, meaning it's the perfect time to tell your friends and neighbors to sign up for library cards and enjoy these special offers!

Shoppers can explore a full list of discounts and businesses can sign up to participate at www.altadenalibrary.org/shoplocal.

Did you know that you can submit your very own handmade zines to our special zine collection so that our community can check them out and enjoy? Visit www.altadenalibrary.org/zines to learn how to make your own zine and submit it.

Tune in on the third Saturday every month at 3:00pm on the @AltadenaZineLibrary Instagram account for a live workshop featuring notable zinesters from around the country. On Saturday, May 15 at 3:00pm, meet Daryl Gussin, managing editor of punk fanzine Razorcake! Razorcake has been documenting the punk underground in Los Angeles and beyond since 2001, and features editorials, interviews, reviews, and more! Every skill level is encouraged to attend this workshop. 

Through May 12, we are partnering with teens from Altadena’s Masjid Al-Taqwa and nonprofit Ramadan READy to provide weekly video storytimes, sing-alongs, and crafts designed to educate about Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Check out the Altadena Library YouTube channel every Monday or click the thumbnails below to learn about this tradition that is observed by members of our community and people around the world!

Check out our online calendar of virtual and in-person events at www.altadenalibrary.org/programs!