‘Pasadena Monthly With Justin Chapman’ Welcomes Pasadena Librarian Tim McDonald on Friday’s Episode

Pasadena Media’s award-winning local TV talk show continues this Friday with guest Tim McDonald, director of the City of Pasadena’s Department of Libraries and Information Services. McDonald has been with the City of Pasadena since 2016. He was  appointed Director in June, 2023. He oversees a department that includes the Central Library (currently closed pending a major retrofit project) and 10 branch locations, which collectively circulate over 1.2 million library books and other resources annually to the community.

The 100-year-old Central Library, designed by Myron Hunt, closed in May 2021 due to earthquake safety issues and has since gone through a design phase for the retrofit project.

Voters will decide on the November 5 election ballot whether to support Measure PL, a bond measure that will fund the project.

“The project will enable the library to continue its vital role as a beacon of knowledge, culture and democratic engagement, ensuring that generations to come will benefit from the transformative power of education and diverse voices,” McDonald said.

McDonald held numerous positions prior to joining the City of Pasadena. He previously worked in the National Medal-winning Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Various roles in Las Vegas included literacy manager, children’s department head, and branch manager of Sunrise Library, with its service area population of 230,000 people. Before becoming a librarian, McDonald lived in Chicago and worked as a public school teacher. He earned an undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College, a master’s degree in teaching and learning from DePaul University, and a master’s degree in information science from the University of North Texas.

Earlier this year, “Pasadena Monthly” won a 1st place award in the Talk Show category at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE (Western Access Video Excellence) Awards. Chapman also won a 3rd place journalism award in the Talk/Public Affairs category of the LA Press Club’s 66th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards, for hosting “Pasadena Monthly.” He has won a dozen LA Press Club journalism awards, including three 1st place awards.

“Pasadena Monthly” airs at 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written, hosted and produced by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill, supervised by producer Jasiri Jenkins-Glenn, executive produced by Chris Miller and chief executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

“‘Pasadena Monthly’ is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Guests on “Pasadena Monthly” (and its previous iteration, “NewsRap Local”) have included Congressmember Judy Chu; Congressmember Adam Schiff; Assemblymember Chris Holden; Mayor Victor Gordo; City Manager Miguel Márquez; County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; JPL Director Laurie Leshin, Ph.D.; and many others.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in Los Angeles County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local Boards and written hundreds of articles for dozens of print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Irish Post, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Now and many others. He is the author of Saturnalia and Paradise Springs.

He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials and plays. He previously served as Communications Officer for USC Annenberg’s Pacific Council on International Policy think tank and currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Vice Mayor Steve Madison.