FAQs
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GENERAL | PUBLIC SERVICES | CIRCULATION | YOUTH & TEEN | COMPUTERS | WIFI
General Questions
At the Central Library you can check out a key to one of our four study rooms at the Circulation Desk.
Fairmont has 2 small study rooms that do not require a key.
At the Central Library, ask at the Circulation desk to use the phone. They will dial the number for you, and ask that you keep the conversation brief.
At the Fairmont Branch, you can ask at the Reference Desk.
The Central Library has two restrooms located near the front entrance, and two located on the hall between the Café and the meeting room. Two additional restrooms are located in the Children’s area.
Fairmont has two restrooms in the lobby.
At this time, we do not anticipate Fairmont opening on weekends. However, we are always optimistic that this will change.
In the coming months, you will see many exciting changes to the Fairmont Branch.
Central Library hours are:
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
Closed Sunday
Fairmont Branch hours are:
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Public Services
Typewriters are NOT available for rent at either location. The Fairmont Branch has a typewriter available for use in one of their study rooms. It is on a first-come first-served basis.
Both library locations subscribe to variety of magazines and newspapers.
We keep magazines for two years (current year and the previous year). We keep newspapers for three months with the current month shelved in public display areas.
Past issues of the Houston Chronicle and Pasadena Citizen newspapers are available on microfilm. Ask a Reference Librarian for specific date or year availability. Microfilm and microfilm reader are ONLY available at the Central Library.
A variety of articles from other magazines and journals are available in our periodical databases for article/journal research. Ask a Reference Librarian for help.
We do not offer ESL or GED classes at either Central or Fairmont libraries. We do have a list of locations that offer these classes. Please call or speak to a Reference Librarian for more information.
We have auto manuals available at the Central Library either for checkout or in reference. The most recent auto manual information is available on the Chilton Database. Access to the Chilton database is available through the Research link from the library catalog homepage. (www.ppltx.net)
Generally we are able to place orders on upcoming releases of books and other items before they hit the store.
However, we usually receive the books on our shelves a few weeks after placing the orders. Stop by the Reference Desk to check on any specific title.
Yes, we have law books covering a large variety of topics. Books of reproducible law forms are also available.
No, we do not have textbooks available for checkout. Textbooks are very expensive and since our loan period is two weeks, you would not be able to check them out for an entire semester.
Please contact your school library, college library or bookstore for textbooks. Also the following websites sell textbooks: www.bigwords.com and www.amazon.com/textbooks.
The library has books containing divorce forms and other legal forms that may be photocopied. In addition, we can access a variety of legal forms on the Internet.
The Texas Young Lawyers Association produces a Divorce Handbook with detailed information on the divorce process. It is also available in Spanish.
Yes, the library has copies of many of the most commonly used tax forms and booklets.
For forms and publications we do not have, we can print them out from the IRS website at www.irs.gov
No, we do not provide passport service.
The Post Office in Pasadena does provide this service. They are located at -
1199 Pasadena Blvd.
Phone (713) 472-5137
We do not provide notary service; however, here is a list of area notaries.
Basic Bookkeeping & Tax Service
1320 Southmore Ave.
Pasadena TX 77502
713- 473-2920
Reliable Notary Services
705 Southmore Ave.
Pasadena TX 77502
713-740-9802
San Jacinto Bookkeeping & Tax Service
1315 Richey St.
Pasadena TX 77502
713-473-9403
Zuniga’s Multi Service
2207 Strawberry Rd.
Pasadena, TX 77502
713-477-4773
Circulation
No, a Pasadena Public Library card is required and it is valid at both the Central and Fairmont locations.
No, we do not rent any type of projector.
Yes, you can borrow DVDs at both locations. DVDs are located in both the adult and youth departments. 8 DVDs may be checked out per library card.
Individuals can check out the following amount of items at any given time:
- Books (65)
- DVDs (8; children under 18 cannot check out movies)
- Audiobooks (4)
- CDs (8)
- KITS (2)
DVDs check out for one week (7 days). All other materials check out for two weeks (14 days). DVDs can be renewed one time for an additional week (7 days). All other materials can be renewed two times.
Yes, children of any age may get a library card as long as a parent or legal guardian signs the application. Children includes anyone under the age of eighteen (18).
Parents and legal guardians are financially responsible for items checked out on a child’s card.
Library cards are issued to everyone who has official identification with their current name and residential address. Children under eighteen (18) must have their parent or legal guardian present to sign the library card application as they will be held financially responsible for items checked out on a child’s card.
Official identification includes-
- A valid Texas Driver’s license
- State of Texas Identification Card
- or other picture identification plus a piece of mail with a current address
All residents of the State of Texas are eligible for a library card. Library cards are free and there is no age restriction. Applications must be filled out and turned in at the Circulation desk at either the Central or Fairmont Library. Your library card can be used at both Pasadena Public Library locations.
You are financially responsible for items checked out on your card and your child’s card. Lost or stolen cards should be reported immediately.
There is a $1.00 fee to replace a card.
If materials are available in the catalog they can be placed on hold. You can do this from the library’s catalog or at the Reference Desk. All you need is an active library card.
Youth and Teen Services
Yes, you can access books in the teen room before 2:00 p.m. The Reference Librarian on duty in the Customer Service Area will give you access to the room.
You can leave your child in the children’s area if they are 8 years or older. The teen area requires children to be between the ages of 12-17 years old.
A child must be 12 years old to be dropped off alone at the library.
We have implemented an environmental theme to our story time in partnership with Luz Locke of the City of Pasadena’s Engineering Department. Story time is on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Computer Services
Yes, you can use both the library catalog and our electronic resources.
YES!
Click here to go to our wireless printing drivers page.
Click here to view the wireless printing directions.
Printing is still available through the library’s computers and costs 15 cents per page for black and white and 50 cents per page for color copies. To use a library computer, you must sign in with a PPL library card or visitor’s pass.
For further assistance, please see one of our reference librarians.
The library cannot assure the safety of your data when you use either our wired or wireless Internet access. Connecting your computer to the Internet via our wireless network exposes it to the same viruses and security risks that any Internet connection presents. You are responsible for ensuring that your computer is protected. You use the library’s wireless network at your own risk.
No, you are responsible for your own equipment. The library does not take responsibility for any changes you make to your computer’s settings and cannot make any guarantee about the compatibility of your equipment with the library’s network.
No special encryption settings, user names, or passwords are required for wireless access.
Yes. Our Internet service provider has been mandated to block certain ports and protocols over the wireless network. Customers may receive a message that activity is blocked, or, in the case of certain peer-to-peer applications, the application will not work. Normal web browsing should not be affected.
Use of PPL’s network implies that you agree to abide by PPL’s Public Computer Policy, which prohibits abusive or illegal activity while using the library’s Internet service. Failure to comply can lead to loss of network access, suspension of library privileges, and/or prosecution. See the Wireless Internet Access Terms of Use.
Wireless access uses the Wi-Fi standard (also known as IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g). Your laptop may have wireless built-in, or you can add a Wi-Fi compatible network card to it. Most customers can simply bring their wireless-enabled laptop computer or other wireless device to the library and turn it on. The computer should automatically recognize the wireless network. You will need to select the access point name ending with “lib” or “Library.” You may see multiple access points with different names. Only the access point name ending with “lib” or “Library” will work for public WI-FI access.
Wi-Fi is available at both Central and Fairmont locations.
Click here for Windows XP instructions
Click here for Windows 98, 2000, & NT
or check out the bottom of our website to find information about our WIFI.
No. Copying is available only through the library’s copy machines located in front of the Business Center.
Our WIFI is completely free of charge.
Yes, we have WIFI available at both Central and Fairmont locations.
The Youth department computers are for children ages 11 and under and the Teen department computers are for Teens ages 12-17.
You can log into a computer with your library card, or you may purchase a visitors pass for $1.00.
No. You are only allowed one computer session per card.
Computer classes are offered on a variety of topics. Basic and Advanced classes are available on the on the following topics: Computer Skills, Microsoft Word, Excel, Creating a Resume. Spanish-language classes also provided once a month. Please ask at the Customer Service desk for class schedules.
Yes. We offer a faxing service for a fee of $1.00 per outgoing page and .50 per page for an incoming fax.
Scanning is also available for a fee of $1.00 per page. You can have your image sent via email or saved to your personal USB drive.
We have auto manuals available at the Central Library either for checkout or in reference. The most recent auto manual information is available on the Chilton Database. Access to the Chilton database is available through the Research link from the library catalog homepage. (www.ppltx.net)
WIFI
Yes, you can use both the library catalog and our electronic resources.
YES!
Click here to go to our wireless printing drivers page.
Click here to view the wireless printing directions.
Printing is still available through the library’s computers and costs 15 cents per page for black and white and 50 cents per page for color copies. To use a library computer, you must sign in with a PPL library card or visitor’s pass.
For further assistance, please see one of our reference librarians.
The library cannot assure the safety of your data when you use either our wired or wireless Internet access. Connecting your computer to the Internet via our wireless network exposes it to the same viruses and security risks that any Internet connection presents. You are responsible for ensuring that your computer is protected. You use the library’s wireless network at your own risk.
No, you are responsible for your own equipment. The library does not take responsibility for any changes you make to your computer’s settings and cannot make any guarantee about the compatibility of your equipment with the library’s network.
No special encryption settings, user names, or passwords are required for wireless access.
Use of PPL’s network implies that you agree to abide by PPL’s Public Computer Policy, which prohibits abusive or illegal activity while using the library’s Internet service. Failure to comply can lead to loss of network access, suspension of library privileges, and/or prosecution. See the Wireless Internet Access Terms of Use.
Wireless access uses the Wi-Fi standard (also known as IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g). Your laptop may have wireless built-in, or you can add a Wi-Fi compatible network card to it. Most customers can simply bring their wireless-enabled laptop computer or other wireless device to the library and turn it on. The computer should automatically recognize the wireless network. You will need to select the access point name ending with “lib” or “Library.” You may see multiple access points with different names. Only the access point name ending with “lib” or “Library” will work for public WI-FI access.
Wi-Fi is available at both Central and Fairmont locations.
Click here for Windows XP instructions
Click here for Windows 98, 2000, & NT
or check out the bottom of our website to find information about our WIFI.
No. Copying is available only through the library’s copy machines located in front of the Business Center.
Our WIFI is completely free of charge.
Yes, we have WIFI available at both Central and Fairmont locations.
WIFI Info