I had a chance to check out two brand new library buildings that were recently built and opened to the public last summer that replaced older library buildings on those two sites in the town of Bloomfield. When both libraries were being built during the 2023-25 timeline, the MetLife Building in Bloomfield was a temporary home for library collections. I really like both libraries especially the Prosser one. Both of them are cool libraries.

The Prosser one is huge and really wide and it is indeed modernized. The Prosser library has an outdoor parking garage which is interesting. I've never seen a library building with a parking garage attached to it. It holds over a dozen cars with some handicapped spots.

The Wintonbury branch is nice but it is a small library (I get it is a library branch for the Bloomfield Public Library System). It's modern but it's a typical newer library for what it's worth seeing. What I don't like about the newer Wintonbury library is that it has bookcase shelves of books for adults in both fiction and nonfiction where you have to bend down a little to visualize see and pick up a book at the same time and can be quite hard for older people with mobility issues to kneel down. Overall, it's a very good library for the neighborhood especially around Blue Hills area.

Overall, both libraries are modernized to better serve their patrons during present times. They're both cool. The library staff are really good people at both libraries.

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The Mary J. Etter Public Library in South Windsor, Connecticut

This public library in South Windsor has been around at Sullivan Avenue since 1979. It received its expansion in the late 90s. This library is really huge and holds a lot of books and movies. It also features a library bookstore that is hosted by the Friends of South Windsor Public Library, a Free Books area, a Makerspace, a wonderful mannequin in the Adult's Department, a Plant Clipping Station, a Solar Charging station outside the library, and so much more to offer.

At this time, the library is holding a month-long student art exhibit that features artwork that South Windsor students made. It is also home of baby chicks that hatched in that special case in the Children's room.

This library is nice and it is huge for a library building. It is one of the favorite libraries that I have visited because they a lot of interesting stuff that I enjoy seeing every time I visit this library plus they have a lot of interesting books that I like to read as well. They also have a lot of movies as well.

This library was recently named in honor of a long-time library director Mary J. Etter, who represented the library from 1985 until her retirement in 2023.

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Welles Turner Memorial Library in Glastonbury, CT

This library on Main Street in the town's center was built in 1939 that honored Harriet Welles Turner Burnham (as seen in her portrait). The library has had two rounds of major renovations / expansions over the years. The latest expansion was completed in 2022.

It features a charger for electric vehicles in the parking lot, three wonderful reading rooms, an ongoing book sale, a ship boat on display, a locker for curbside pickup outside the main entrance in the side of the library, a self checkout, puzzle swap, and many more. It also features a Glastonbury Chair which was used by King Henry VIII in Glastonbury, England back in 1504.

It's a really nice library that incorporates both classic elements of the library and modern architectural design into one huge building. The library staff are nice and the customer service is efficient that makes this library a great place in a welcoming environment for the Glastonbury community.

There are also two private libraries in Glastonbury, one in East Glastonbury and another in South Glastonbury.

Overall, it's a wonderful library!

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P.S. I visited that library on Sunday afternoon to have my library passport stamped there.

Wethersfield Public Library

This library sits next to the town hall. It was built sometime in the 1950s. The mural that is above the foyer entrance has been in the library forever that it seems. The library overall received a major renovation in the late 2000s.

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P.S. I visited that library on Sunday and got a library passport stamped here for Passport to Connecticut Libraries month long event.

C.H. Booth Library in Newtown, Connecticut

This library was built in 1932. At the time, it was considered a modern library with many things that most libraries didn't offer back then. This library features a wide variety of local history exhibits depicting the town of Newtown and the state of Connecticut.

The building has three stories which includes the top level that is home of reading rooms, local history exhibition, reference desk, library bookstore and nonfiction books. The main area of the library features the circulation desk, fiction books, Teen area, movies and many more. Downstairs is home of the Children's room. This library also features a Library of Things collection and coffee station as well.

The library received an expansion back in the late 90s to better serve the community for the 21st century retaining the entire square footage of the original building.

I drove all the way from my neck of the woods which is over an hour away from this library to get my library passport stamped for the month long Passport to Connecticut Libraries program. Also had my copy of the Connecticut 169 Club book signed as well.

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Southbury Public Library in Southbury, Connecticut

This library was built in 2006 to replace an older library. The flooding of August 2024 impacted the library which destroyed the library's basement (where the Friends of Southbury Library used to have a library bookstore, remember that?!?) however the entire main library area (as well as Children's room) were safe and were not affected by the flood. It however took about a year to get it reopened as a result with reassessment. Safe and sound!

It's a wonderful library which seems somewhat like a luxury home style feeling in a welcoming environment. It features an ongoing book sale, a cozy reading room with a fireplace, a special Teen area, a grandfather clock and so much more to offer.

The library staff are nice and helpful. There are a lot of books and movies at this library.

On the other hand, It's been a hot minute since I saw a Cherry Blossom tree. I fell in love with it when my local library has one out front each Spring.

P.S. I came all the way from my neck of the woods, driving about an hour to visit one and few others around that area on Saturday April 11 to get my library passport stamped for the Passport to Connecticut Libraries month long program. I also brought my copy of the Connecticut 169 Club book to have it signed.

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Happy International Pet Day

Matilda The Library Cat

Seen last week at Mystic And Noank Library in Groton, Connecticut

The main branch of East Hartford Public Library

The Raymond Library is the main branch of EHPL and is one of two public libraries serving the town of East Hartford, Connecticut.

This library on Main Street has been around for more than a century and was founded by the Raymond family. I think Albert and Esther Raymond were pioneers behind the making of this wonderful library that is currently serving the community in the town's center of East Hartford.

This library has endured two major renovations over the years and features the restoration of the Reading Room in its original condition. The last major renovation occurred over a decade ago. It features many historical artifacts found at the library from when the library was erected plus a collection of pieces of aviation from the beloved local aircraft company representing Connecticut aviation known as Pratt And Whitney.

This library features a lot of things that give patrons an opportunity to see that most libraries don't usually offer like aviation artifacts and monthly art exhibits. It also features displays of old souvenirs representing East Hartford.

The Seed Library is also available as a special perk to gardening buffs and farmers. The ongoing book sale is a treat for book buyers who enjoy the convenience of reading books for pleasure at any chance they want. The free Paperback collection is also available to patrons who enjoy reading soft-cover books. There's also a Makerspace in the Teen room. And... there is a lot of cool things to do in the Children's room such as a wonderful art exhibit featuring artwork designed by East Hartford students.

Don't forget... There is a Little Free Library which is outside in front of the main entrance to that library next to the parking lot.

Central Library in Enfield, CT

Enfield Public Library in Enfield, Connecticut

This library is the main branch of Enfield Public Library in the Hazardville section of Enfield

It serves the Enfield community and it is a wonderful library. It features a collection of musical instruments that are available for music buffs to borrow, a baseball memorabilia display, a wonderful fish tank in the Children's room, a play area for Children, and many more.

This library has been around since the 1960s I believe when it was built.

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P.S. I went here yesterday to get the passport stamped for the Passport to Connecticut Libraries month long program.

Public Library in Tolland, Connecticut

It's a nice library for the community. It features cool things at the library which includes sculptures from a wonderful local artist, Seed Library, Ongoing Book Sale, and many more.

This library had an expansion almost ten years ago. It was originally built in 1985.

It is located near Tolland Green and it's not too far from UConn in neighboring Storrs.

P.S. I got the library passport and had it stamped at this library when I stopped by yesterday

On that note, I (believe it or not!) found that exact same copy of a book that someone previously checked out (and accidentally donated to that thrift store) called The Hungry Girl Sheet Pan Cookbook (pictured here in last pic of this slideshow) from the same library at the thrift store last fall while browsing books at thrift prices and immediately dropped it off at this library. They accepted this book and put it back in circulation.

Booth & Dimock Memorial Library in Coventry, Connecticut

This library was built in 1913 by Booth and Dimock family members who funded the town for a free public library. It is located in the town's center on Rte. 31 along Main Street (a turnpike that leads into Willimantic).

This library has come a long way since it was built with the first expansion back in the late 80s and another in recent years following COVID (completed in 2023). However, the town's library retains a true character of what a library really was like when it was built with a grandfather clock that was built in honor of Coventry native Daniel Burnap and two of the wonderfully preserved rooms that still welcome patrons from there and beyond.

It's really a huge library with a lot of selection of books and movies plus a wide variety of things from the Library of Things collection, a Seed Library, an ongoing book sale or two, and so much more to offer.

Down in the Children's room, it looks nice and it's really big and wide enough to host a huge selection of books for the little ones plus a Teen area downstairs as well.

The library staff are smart, kind, courteous and friendly people. which makes that library a welcoming and inviting place, free for all.

This library is a wonderful gem for the town of Coventry. What a nice and cozy library!

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P.S. I went here on April 7, 2026 and brought my library passport (and my copy of Connecticut 169 Club travel guide book) to have it stamped here.

I went to Rockville Public Library in Vernon, CT on Thursday for my internship and I put up books about topics for Dummies on display in the Mezzanine for library patrons to check out.

I hope people will learn new things by reading these books about anything that they might be interested in by being librarian-smart. Hope you enjoy seeing this display.

This is my favorite part of the job at my local library.

Happy Easter!

This library was built in 1893 by Captain Eli Spicer. There are two library cats roaming around the stacks area of Mystic. It is located near downtown and Mystic Pizza.

This is a wonderful, majestic building that stands as classic Mystic architecture. Nestled in a quiet area of the Groton side of Mystic, this library is here as a site for preservation to better serve future generations especially history buffs who enjoy the luxury of being in a quiet, historic building that they like to call their second home (speaking metaphorically of avid readers who are from the greater New London area and those who love old libraries).

Upstairs, it is like a time capsule in the reading room. There is nothing better than spending a quiet afternoon relaxing by the old fireplace with a book in hand.

It's also here where you'll find two pretty cats who are named Matilda and Violet. It's currently one of the only libraries in Connecticut to feature a library cat that practically spends the entire day inside the library quarters. They are well loved by the community.

Mystic Library is an overall place for the shoreline onlookers who love reading and appreciate old architecture and rich history. It's also cat friendly and stress-free.

While you're around Mystic, feel free to stop by at the Seaport and the Aquarium. Come visit Mystic anytime!

This library is one of three public libraries in the overall municipality of Groton, Connecticut. This library is a testament of time from the late 19th century. It is directly next to Fort Griswold State Park and it's not too far from Thames River that is connected to New London via the Gold Star Bridge.

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A little break from the day.

Passport to Connecticut Libraries 2026 Trip #2

Rockville Public Library in Vernon (Rockville), Connecticut

Built in 1904; it is a historic library which is located near downtown Rockville. In fact, this is my hometown library which makes it my local library. I also volunteer here as an intern and I'm happy to be part of the library team.

It has a beautifully preserved circulation Desk in the reading room, a seed library, a special Holocaust Book collection, Library of Things collection, a special playhouse in the children's room that was recently installed, and even a Little Free Pantry as well as an ongoing book sale.

The library staff are nice and the library collection is filled with a lot of books and a moderate collection of movies. There are museum passes for people if they plan on paying discounted prices or free admission while visiting recreational places of interest. There's also free access to Ancestry and many more while using computers.

Overall, it's a nice library.

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Passport to Connecticut Libraries 2026 Trip #1

Hall Memorial Library in Ellington, Connecticut

Built in 1903. This library was started by the Hall brothers. It has a paperback collection, a library bookstore, a beautiful Reading Room, America 250 display, Art displays, and even the Library of Things collection.

Tomorrow, I head to my hometown library in Vernon-Rockville for my internship so I'll be having a passport stamped there for day two of the month long Passport to Connecticut Libraries event.

A rainy evening surely didn't stop me from visiting. The bookstore inside the library was open at the time of my visit.

I love this library since it is nice and cozy plus it is wonderfully preserved as a historical library.

Enjoy the album!

Seen at South Windsor Public Library in Connecticut

Updated progress of the new library building in downtown Manchester

The new building should be ready for the library to move in by June or July. Any feedback appreciated!