Old glass floors still visible at this historic library. Stained glass windows are probably…read moreleftover from one of the older portions of the library that actually was originally a church. I love this institution which is a beautiful place for any patron / citizen / visitor to explore what's all about in and around the library.

We're very lucky to have the Russell Library in Middletown. They offer a ton of free programs to…read morethe community. Check the Middletown Press for current programs for adults and youth. Before my son came along, I used the library primarily for books, movies and music. Since having my son, there has been a whole other world opened up to me. There is a whole wing devoted to kids of all ages. There is an activity room, toddler play room, computer area and a music & video area. We enrolled our son in the Twos Are Terrific program. This program is free for Middletown residents. It is an one hour class for 2 year olds and their parents/caretakers. The children have story time, sing songs, create crafts and have free time. During free time they learn to play with other children. They are allowed to explore the instruments, play with the toys or play dough and read books. Be sure to speak with the librarians about the museum passes. These passes will get you into local museums and attractions at a discounted price or free. All you need is a library card. There is on street parking and there is also a parking lot across the street. Both options are meter parking. The meters accept coins or cards. Don't miss the book sales here. They have great deals!

This is an interesting library - it looks deceptively small. The upstairs has a front desk and two…read moresmall rooms with books and chairs. But there is a downstairs, so more library delightfulness is to be had! They also have the coolest book drop in the form of an old mailbox, and (dun dun dun) their symbol is squirrels! They're adorable, and for $1 you can get it on a magnet! The squirrels are reading in support of the library! It's amazing, and the best symbol/mascot I've ever seen.

I frequent this library more than any other due to its proximity to my house. It's a pretty small…read morelibrary. But for the size it has an impressive DVD and music collection. You can find a lot of foreign and Criterion films and they are in good condition because they are hardly ever checked out. The CDs are an eclectic mix with indie as well as mainstream selections. The drawback to this library is that well, it's just hard to explain. Here's a list of some things that have happened to me recently: 1) A lady yelled obscenities at me for parking. Granted, she pulled in behind me but she was really unhappy that I parked in what she must have decided was "her" parking spot. 2) I held the door for a guy who then slowed down, didn't make any effort to take the door, and then stopped halfway through the doorway. 3.) The circulation clerk asked me if the classic movie I was checking out was a DVD or an audiobook. That's just shocking for a few different reasons. The building itself is attractive from the outside. It's probably one of the most visually interesting libraries I've seen in the state. Parking is ample but inconvenient. There is a small parking lot in front of the building that is usually filled. There are now a few spots on the street but you'll have a short walk, and a large parking lot in the back that is also a bit of a walk. There is also no reference librarian here. So if you want to put something on hold you'll just be directed to the catalog and told to do it yourself. But the DVD and music collections are awesome! That's reason enough to keep me going back.

Great Library, friendly, helpful staff, well organize. I don't live in E. Hmptn. But stop in from…read moretime to time anyway. Nice selection of DVD's. Generous computer time policy. Plenty to like here.

The new Henry on Main is amazing! Great use of space, wonderful selection of books to purchase, and…read moreyou can read and drink a coffee from cafe Nola in the back. Exactly what Clinton has needed for a long time. We are so glad to be residents who can walk over.

I love libraries. HCH is modern, light, clean and spacious. Librarians are helpful and considerate,…read morebut then I love librarians as well. I can't imagine anyone looking at Yelp to choose a library but I was here and they asked. BTW- I have seen a few weak libraries in my time- HCH IS NOT THAT.

Wonderful Library! The collaboratory is one of a kind. The staff is friendly and helpful. I'm so…read moreglad we found this Library and it certainly is well worth the drive from Northford!!

As a self proclaimed library connoisseur, this is definitely on my top 3 libraries I've been to…read more The place was huge, like a campus. I've only explored the children's section which is where I spend most of my time because of my toddler. They had clean family bathrooms. There was a book case shaped like a train and a little play train station. There was a baby section for them to crawl in; toys, play kitchen, and train table. I loved that there were little reading nooks built into the walls. In front of the librarian desk, there's a huge play tree where kids can go in it. On the side, a big craft room with blocks and magnetic tiles. They had a fish tank, a tank with worms/isopods, computers, and so much stimulation for the little ones. I'm sure they have great activities, events, and resources as with other libraries. The librarians were friendly; it was a busy Saturday afternoon because it was kind of rainy out. The little kids were being rowdy at one point and the librarian shushed them in a stern but friendly way. All of us parents were trying our best, but things got out of hand when you mix a bunch of little kids together lol. Overall, I wish this library was closer to me, I would be there often!

Great library - really like how they provide print outs of crosswords from newspapers. Staff was…read morereally friendly and was giving away free books and flowers that had been donated. Had many computers available for public use and tables to sit at. Only complaint was there were not lots of outlets near the tables making it difficult for people going to study with laptops/personal computers. Nothing an extension cord can't fix. Overall a wonderful place.

In honor of…read morePhoebe The great era of library building in New England was in the late part of the 19th century. Very wealthy individuals would donate vast sums of money to build libraries in honor of deceased loved ones. The Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is a classic example. Charles Ludington gave money to the town of Old Lyme to build a library to memorialize his mother in law, Phoebe Griffin Noyes. The library was opened in 1898 and was very pleasant and lovely but rather modest by the standards of some of the more grand and opulent libraries being built. It served well for decades and was renovated and expanded over the years. The largest building project was in 1955 and the size of the library was great expanded. The library today is a very pleasant place, especially the old, original section. Unfortunately the new addition is rather incongruent with the original part and it is obvious when you go from one part to the other. Even parts of the original wall is exposed as you go from one part to another. The inside of the library is very colorful with all kinds of cool displays and art and plenty of computers and modern conveniences. An interesting and comfy library that is a nice memorial to a person long gone but not forgotten.

I followed my GPS and parked in an empty parking lot. The hours said they were open, so I went in…read more Apparently there's parking on the ground floor where the conference rooms are. There's an elevator to the main floor that the actual library. They have a good selection of books, friendly librarians, and a free self-care station with personal hygiene products, which is a great idea that I had never seen before.

This library is tucked a bit off the road - first my GPS brought me to some school, which means…read moreyou've gone too far. There is a less obvious road to the left (if you're coming from the main road), and a moderate sized parking lot in front. The interior is very bright with a well defined space for adults and children. There are also bits of art all over, even outside. My guess on the plant outside - elephant!

Great location. Excellent WiFi6 coverage with 5G access…read more Parking lot is small. I visit the library regularly as a beta tester to download software updates

Great library. Many good memories. I especially liked…read morewriting workshop and annual book sales.

A lovely library in a town with a suspicious amount of fencing around it's green. The library is a…read morebit darkly lit, but the books are clearly visible and so are the personal touches. The shopping baskets for browsing are genius!

We've lived in town close to 9 years and we use the library regularly. I was particularly impressed…read morewith the programs and services during the pandemic. Although the library was closed to the public for a few weeks, they continued to find ways to serve the community with online holds and curve side picks up. Programming had to be moved to Zoom, but they still delivered high quality programs.