A library for angels…read more When we first found the Eastford Library the first reaction was, "that's the library?" It certainly doesn't look like a typical library, even in this area of untypical libraries. It kind of looks like a church, which does make sense considering it started off life as a church. Many small libraries started off life as other things. Old school houses are common as well as small stores, post offices, storage sheds and in one case even an old roller rink. Nice to recycle old buildings and I love the idiosyncratic feel of places that once were something else. This library is definitely unique and even once inside you stop and look around to make sure you are indeed in a public library. The top floor has the offices and some cool historic pics and displays and even some books. Look up and you will see a high ceiling and even an old balcony. Pretty cool. After life as a church the building became the town hall for a while before finally settling down as the permanent library. The bottom floor are where most of the books but the total amount is of course quite small compared to much newer and larger libraries. Old churches are cool but they don't exactly use space in the most efficient manner. A lot of the total volume of the old church/library is just sort of air, accessible by angels but not by books or people. The librarians were very nice and helpful and gave us lots of info about not only the library but the town and surrounding area. This is a beautiful part of the state that I suspect not too many people stop to see. That's too bad because this is definitely one library worth going out of your way to visit.

The Tolland library is part of a larger complex of town offices, located off their green. The…read morelibrary shares a lot with the police department. The library itself has plenty of parking, and is divided in two with the desk in the middle. It's well decorated with art completed by patrons on the desk. It also has later hours which make it easier to visit!

The library staff are all very nice and helpful. Since I have broad literary tastes, they…read morefrequently help me find (and order) less usual books through two inter-library networks they are part of. The library is also an attractive space where there are always people reading and sometimes doing picture puzzles. Oh, and the staff are always ready to help those of us less skilled in using the search system on the computers. All in all, a great place and a great staff.

There's a book sale downstairs throughout the month of September. I like this library. It is…read moremodernized and it is very pretty.

Great library! I enjoy visiting a few times a year when going to UCONN. The book sale fundraiser…read moreis always nice. I only wish that during business hours a live person would answer the phone (the few times I've called, I've always had to leave a message in the voice mailbox).

Nice, renovated library in a really historic building. Built in 1905 (I think)…read more This library has some really cool selections of books, magazines and movies and other things too.

I find it rather problematic that most of the libraries in this state have never been reviewed on…read moreYelp. I mean, it doesn't get more public than a public library, right? So this is the second time I've ever been to the Booth & Dimock library, thanks to the Connecticut Authors Trail, and I've got to tell you, it's a hidden gem as far as libraries go. Very clean, well lit, fully stocked, pretty up to date as far as technology goes, I was immediately struck with how this historical little library is everything that a library should be and then some. The staff were incredibly nice and pleasant, very helpful, and the bathrooms were both very clean (go downstairs to the children's restroom, they have a Harry Potter switchplate on the light switch). Very cool little library with a history, if you're in the area you should go. You know, pick up a book and read it instead of being on FaceBook or Instagram. Or instead of just an eBook. Thumb through some actual pages. I've never seen a more interactive and interesting looking children's section in a library.

A modern library! It's located across from a sporting field (couldn't tell the sport but I could…read moreheard the cheers) and next to a school, the Stafford Library looks like a solid investment from the town. There is parking on either side of the building, and a drop off circle in front. There are some nice benches around the circle as well. There is a garden on the left (although not so much at the beginning of April). Inside there's a community area with books to purchase from the friends of the library, and books to check out. Many books. Books on both wings with checkout in the middle, and plastic shopping baskets are available for use. There is a genealogy research room, and lots of computers for the public. The atmosphere is quiet but not oppressive. The librarians were very friendly and kind.

Libraries are dying because of Amazon. Right?…read more Or are libraries dying because we have to resort to Amazon to make up for the shortcomings of the library? I'm a student, and I'm cheap. So I called my library looking for a $30 book that I didn't feel like buying. I was told that they didn't have it, but that they could order it for me from a nearby library and they would have it "by the end of the week". This was 10/23. The end of the week was 10/26, and no book came in. I received no phone call at any point. I called again on the 31st to make sure that they had in fact ordered the book (because the woman I spoke to the first time barely collected any information from me). I was told they had ordered the book, but that it didn't say it was shipped yet. I was told it usually takes two weeks to get a book. I called back today, 11/8, and the book is still not only NOT there, it still hasn't even been shipped. I'm on a fairly tight deadline, and I called EARLY to request the book. I told the woman I spoke with to cancel my order. I told her I was a student and on a deadline and had been waiting, and had been told I would have it sooner. She was not apologetic in the slightest. Nor did she even ask me if there was anything else she could help me with...she didn't even say goodbye or anything, she just hung up. (And don't get me wrong--I wasn't giving her an attitude or anything. Although I'm pissed off now, I was very personable on the phone.) I'm buying the book from Amazon, and guess what? It's going to be shipped to my door TOMORROW. THIS is why libraries are dying.

This library has a lot to offer and beautiful open facilities. I live to take my grandson there.read more

my 4yo loves the guinea pig, the train area, and the playground next door while my 1yo enjoys the…read moretoy animals and dinosaurs. picked up a pass to the Roger Williams Zoo for $3 off up to 4 admissions the day we went there for my 4yo's birthday.

That library underwent a year-long multi-million renovation / expansion project that were in the…read moreworks for several years. The library reopened on August 20, 2022 after relocation in temporary setting for over a year amid renovation. The remodel project included the facelift of the building, new foyer, new layouts for adult and children's departments, and new Teen / Young Adult room. In addition, Children's Department went from plain boring room (pre-Covid) to that sparkling enlarged room for kids. The meeting / program room relocated from downstairs to the foyer area past the front entrance. Approx. 85% of all library occupation is different from my first trip to Lebanon in 2019. Just imagine what this library looked like pre-remodel. I can't believe that literally everything has changed in the library since the early days of COVID. Stepping foot in that library today isn't the same as old glory when bookshelves were crammed, carpets were outdated, boring paint and an outdated building that was in dire need of expansion for many years. In present times, you're going to see almost everything anew here: Sienna marble building, carpets, bookshelves, paint, Teen room, more portraits, you name it. Gone are the old wall mural of the John Trumbull dynasty and an older exterior layout that once reflected the origins of that building when it was originally occupied as a schoolhouse (?). I don't believe that library was in that same building a century ago. I heard about that history some years ago. I don't have any further details to tell you about it. P.S. I visited that library on Saturday afternoon (10/29/22). I originally visited that property back in July 2019 (pre-remodel) and things were mostly different in and out.

A historic library in the community with lots of possibilities and endless selection of books,…read moremovies, music and Library Of Things. They offer cake pans, board games, Binge Boxes, Activity Kits and Puzzles for circulation.

This library is huge, and it has so many interesting things (including books, of course). There's…read morean old graveyard outside with graves of various legibility, but appear to be at least 1800s. Currently on the interior walls are community quilts, and they lead to the older library built in 1902 (I'm pretty sure I remember that date correctly). This portion has the Library of Things and pillars! The newer portion has many, many books. It's very historical and very cool.

Libraries and lawyers…read more The very first West Woodstock library was started was back in 1806. As usual the books moved around to different places over the years and decades but eventually found a home in small building that was originally used as a law office. Not a very large building but the law office served its purpose well. The books ended up moving into their permanent home in the present library but a wise person decided that the cool little law building should move along with the books. So now the cool little library has another cool little building attached to it. Not a whole lot of room inside the library, kind of reminds me of a big hallway, but it has to be one of the coolest little libraries anywhere. The library and law building serves the community well and all kinds of events and programs take place here. No, it doesn't have a whole lot of books inside but it does have a very cool librarian, some great history and a whole lot of uniqueness.

We take our two kids (almost 3 and 1 1/2) here to Storytime regularly and to other events too and…read moreit is always wonderful. Sue, the librarian is amazing! She always has wonderful themes and activities for the kids and they LOVE it. Storytime is well attended by other kids and parents and it and the library itself are such a wonderful resource for the community. It's the kind of place you dream of taking you kids too. Great books, wonderful environment and dedicated and talented staff - all for free!!! We love our wonderful little library!

Books graveyards…read more and mysteries The Chaplin Town Library is a small library but that's all right because Chaplin is a small town. Only about 12,000 volumes in the library and only about 2,200 people in the town. So the ratio of books to book lovers is actually very high. The library was built in 1948 and then renovated in the year 2000 so it's actually one of the newer libraries in the state. It still has that cool small town feel with lots of colorful flowers, old benches and an ancient graveyard right next door. Even though it has all the modern amenities of a newer library, it never lets you forget that you are in a small new England town. The people I met there were as friendly and congenial as I would expect in a small town and the librarian went out of her way to make us feel welcome. Told us to sit down and relax and everyone that came in the library seemed to want to talk to us and socialize. These small town libraries are a lot more than just places for books, at one time they were the way people stayed in touch and they still serve that purpose. E-mail is great but there is nothing like talking to a person face to face. The new library is very pleasant and replaced the old William Ross library that was built way back in 1911. The previous library is still standing a ways down the street and nobody would tell me what it was used for now. Just shook their heads or laughed like it was a private joke. Hmmm. Most small New England towns have mysteries. That's one of the things that makes visiting these out of the way places so cool. You never know what you are going to find. The new Chaplin Library is pretty cool but I suspect the much older Chapin Library just might be much, much, cooler still.