Books, records, videos, CDs and DVDs may be donated to Monrovia Public Library. Due to space restrictions at the library’s temporary facility, only five boxes of items may be donated at a time per week. All items must be clean, dusted and donated in clean, pest-free boxes, bags or containers. Items and containers that are not clean, dusted and pest-free can contaminate the library’s collection. The library does not accept magazines, encyclopedias more than 5 years old, textbooks more than 10 years old, paperbacks without the manufacturer’s cover and items that are dusty, pest infested, damaged, falling apart, moldy.
The Monrovia Public LIbrary provides free one-on-one tutoring for adults with literacy challenges. All program participants are provided with instructional materials such as books, software and activties, as well as training, on-going support, and evaluation. Being a literacy tutor requires patience and compassion and less than 2 hours per week. If you would like to become a literacy tutor or know someone who needs help reading, please contact (626) 256-8272 or literacyservices@ci.monrovia.ca.us.
Monrovia Public Library offers an outreach service, providing books for individuals who are homebound. To request the service or if you wish to volunteer to deliver books to homebound patrons, please call Carol at (626) 256-8264.
Never be stumped by a tough homework assignment again! Students from kindergarten through 12th grade, in introductory-level college coureses, and adult learners can simply visit the Monrovia Public Library or the library's Web site (www.monroviapubliclibrary.org) to connect to live tutors. For remote access you just need your library card number. Contact Adult Reference, 626-256-2874, if you have any additional questions.
The Monrovia Public Library has 34 public access computers for use at no charge. 22 computers are located in the Hoffman Adult Services Technology Center for adult use and 12 computers are located in the Youth Services Technology Center for use by children only.
The computers are loaded with Microsoft Word for word processing, Microsoft Excel for spreadsheet applications and Microsoft PowerPoint for slide presentations. All the computers also have Internet access.
The computers are available at all times that the library is open on a first-come first-served basis. Advance reservations are not accepted. Use of all computers is restricted to one hour when there are other patrons waiting to use them.
All computers are connected to a network printer. The cost of printing is 15 cents per page.
To renew library materials online:
Click on 'Catalog Monrovia Library' (on left side of web site) Click on 'My Account' tab
Type your library card number in the field (no spaces), Type your pin number in the field (pin#= last 4 digits of phone# given to library), Click on Login and following instructions.
Book Drop Locations:
RETURN MATERIALS to the book drop located at LIME AVENUE (curbside) at Myrtle Avenue and in front of the Library.
Monrovia's Public Library came into being due to the efforts of the women who belonged to the Saturday Afternoon Club, the forerunner of the Women's Club of Monrovia. In 1891, just 5 years after the City of Monrovia was founded, the Saturday Afternoon Club was organized and almost immediately, the members started working towards the establishment of a public library.
Through a variety of fundraisers, including a tea in which the guests were asked to bring books as their means of entry instead of purchasing tickets, the women were ready to open the first Monrovia Public Library in 1895. It was located in a room in the Granite Bank building, at Palm and Myrtle Avenues. The room was rented for $2.50 a month and a librarian was hired at $1 per day. The library collection grew quickly and it soon became apparent that a separate building was needed. In 1905, the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who was funding library construction across the United States, agreed to donate $10,000 for a library building if the City of Monrovia would provide the land and furnish the library.
The city purchased what is now Library Park and built its first free-standing library. It opened its doors on January 27, 1908 with a collection of 5,000 books. This library was loved by the community and served the city well for the next 45 years. However, by the late 1940's, the increased use of the library prompted the need for a larger library.
With an initial bequest of $50,000 from Monrovia resident Frederick P. Alvord and city funds, the structure was built in 1956 and officially dedicated in January of 1957. It was constructed to meet the fast-moving needs of a changing post-war society. At mid-century, the world was entrenched in the industrial age and library services and needs had evolved since 1908.
As much as the community loved the Carnegie Library, the facility no longer met the library's space, program and technology needs and so, the city moved forward to provide a facility that would fulfill the needs of its current population and future generations.
1950s
Just as society changed in the first 50 years of the twentieth century, civilization has developed tremendously in the last 50 years. The computer and information ages have made vast changes in today's society and in library services. Monumental advances in technology have revolutionized the services that libraries provide and how they provide those services.
Modern library buildings must be adaptable to today's new and emerging services and technologies. A library facility now needs to include: public computer centers, literacy service centers, homework centers, business centers, audio-visual centers, quiet study rooms for individuals and groups and specially-designed children's story hour rooms. With the advent of these new services and collections such as videos, CDs, DVDs, books-on-tape, and E-books, traditional library space has been redefined and redesigned.
The 14,000 sq ft. facility was built in the 1950s for a population half the current size of Monrovia. As the population grew it was clear Monrovia had outgrown the small, outdated building.
2009
The opening of the new Monrovia Public Library marks the end of a long journey and the beginning of a new future for Monrovia.
“For more than a decade, Monrovians worked with the State to fund a modern Library. When the State failed to fund the project after three separate attempts, Monrovians, rolled up their sleeves, started over, and did it themselves. Overwhelming voter approval of a bond issue on the ballot in 2007 got the $16 million project funded. Construction began later that same year.”
Built for less than $16 million, the new Library was funded by a bond issue approved by Monrovia voters in March, 2007. The project came in $280,000 under budget, with that amount being returned to taxpayers by way of a lower tax bill later this year.
Green Library
Just two years after that historic vote, Monrovia opens the doors to its new Public Library—a 28,000-square-foot environmentally-friendly and sustainable building with adult, child and teen areas; a community room; a heritage room; and new, improved and expanded technology, all housed in ... “A true information center to serve Monrovia for this generation and generations to come.”
