Pasadena Public Library: Central
🏢 City of Pasadena · Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena Public Library: Central
Serving Pasadena since a 100-book Harris County station opened in 1922, the Central Library now occupies a purpose-built civic landmark on Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive — named for a Pasadena police officer killed in the line of duty — and anchors a two-branch system with a Maker Lab, circulating Chromebooks, and 83 research databases.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1201 Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive, Pasadena, TX 77506
Phone: (713) 477-0276
Website: pasadenalibrary.org
Plus Code: 76X6MRQ3+V4 (Pasadena, TX)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Pasadena Public Library: Central
The Pasadena Public Library traces its roots to April 1922, when the Harris County Library System established a station at Pasadena High School with just 100 books. The collection outgrew a string of temporary homes — a post office lobby, a Masonic building, City Hall, and a donated private residence — before Shell Oil Company helped fund the first freestanding building on Tatar Street in 1953, designed by Cowell & Neuhaus. A purpose-built facility at Minerva Street followed in April 1962, designed by Doughtie and Porterfield AIA, with a glassed-in central patio, fireplace, and parking for 100 cars. A major 2007 expansion by Dansby and Miller AIA added 9,300 square feet to the existing 35,000-square-foot building, creating the spacious Central Library that stands today. The library operates independently of Harris County Public Library and maintains a reciprocal borrowing partnership with it, giving Pasadena card holders access to dozens of library locations across the region.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1922 as a Harris County station with 100 books — one of the earliest library services in the Pasadena area, predating the city's incorporation in 1928
- Maker Lab at the Central branch: Prusa 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter/engraver, Cricut vinyl cutter with heat press, and sewing machines — all free with a library card (orientation required)
- Circulating Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots available at both branches — check out for four weeks, pick up or return at either location
- Free notary service for cardholders Monday–Friday 10am–5pm at both the Central and Fairmont branches
- Named for Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive — honoring Pasadena Police Patrolman Jeffery Dean Ginn, an eight-year veteran shot and killed in the line of duty on July 10, 1991
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pasadena cardholders can access books, research databases, and learning tools free online — including resources from the statewide TexShare program:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and word processing
- Printing, copying, scanning, and faxing
- Circulating Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots (4-week checkout)
- Maker Lab with 3D printers, laser cutter, sewing machines, and Cricut heat press (Central branch only; orientation required)
- Free notary service for cardholders, Mon–Fri 10am–5pm
- Free exam proctoring (arrange with staff in advance)
- Microfilm and microfilm reader
- Meeting rooms for community use
- Interlibrary loan and reciprocal borrowing with Harris County Public Library system
🎸 Programs
- Storytime — weekly sessions in English and Spanish (Leéme Un Cuento) for young children
- Summer Reading Program — annual challenge for children, teens, and adults
- Maker Lab workshops — hands-on classes for 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, and sewing
- Adult programs and events — ongoing schedule of crafts, learning, and community events (see pasadenalibrary.org/events)
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Houston–Pasadena Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the library's address called Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive?
Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive honors Pasadena Police Patrolman Jeffery Dean Ginn, an eight-year veteran of the department who was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 10, 1991, after responding to a disturbance call. The City of Pasadena named the street in his memory; both the Central Library and the Pasadena Police Department headquarters are located along this memorial drive.
When was the Pasadena Public Library first established?
Library service in Pasadena began in April 1922 when the Harris County Library System opened a station at Pasadena High School with about 100 books. The library grew through a series of donated and rented spaces before Shell Oil Company helped fund the first freestanding building on Tatar Street in 1953. The current Central Library building opened in April 1962 and was expanded by 9,300 square feet in a 2007 renovation.
What can I make in the Maker Lab at the Central branch?
The Maker Lab at the Central Library offers Prusa 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter and engraver, a Cricut vinyl cutter with heat press, and sewing machines — all free for library cardholders. Each type of equipment has its own orientation session that must be completed before you can reserve time on the machine. Policies and orientations are available in both English and Spanish.
Can I borrow a laptop or hotspot from the library?
Yes — the Pasadena Public Library circulates Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots at both the Central and Fairmont branches. Each device checks out for four weeks with one renewal, and you can pick up or return at either location. You'll need a valid Pasadena Library card to borrow technology items.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.