Library began a marketing initiative by hiring Martha Hayes to coordinate our publicity efforts especially dealing with media. Also in 2001, the Pasadena Public Library received recognition for the library services we provide older adults. In recognition of our community outreach services begun 25 years ago, we received both the Texas Library Association LIBRARY PROJECT OF THE YEAR award and the Thorndyke Publishing Award for Service to Older Adults presented at the American Library Association’s annual conference each year. In addition to the award winning WINDOW ON THE WORLD program, we have provided bookmobile and homebound services. We have maintained deposit collections and provided programming to nursing homes, to daycare centers and to special population facilities such as the Verne Coxe Center. Our library system also received Texas Book Festival grants for both the main library and the Fairmont Branch Library. The Great Gatsby Project resulted in our library receiving a thousand-dollar prize from cable channel A&E. The entire city was invited to participate in the library’s celebration of the Roaring Twenties.
Our library seeks to give our community a place to interact with others. In the aftermath of the 911 tragedy, Pasadena Public Library was the first library in the United States to host the 911 New York-New Jersey Port Authority traveling exhibit. Over a two-and a half day period, over 1100 visitors from as far as Conroe came to experience this amazing and heart wrenching exhibit. Many that had family, friends and co-workers to die in the Twin Towers disaster expressed gratitude for the opportunity to experience first hand what others closer to the tragedy already had seen. For some, seeing the exhibit offered closure as they mourned the loss of loved ones and friends. As soon as news was received concerning Tsunami Relief efforts following the devastating Tsunami in December 2004, staff of the Pasadena Public Library actively sought to partner with any organization prepared to move forward. The closest effort in proximity to Pasadena was by I-Freed, a non-profit organization comprised mostly of physicians and other professionals of Sri Lankan descent currently residing in the Clear Lake area. Library staff not only provided a site for the community to drop-off donations, they also contributed generously to the effort. It was later learned that the library was the first donation site established in Pasadena.