The best of the old…read moreand the new The Plainville Public Library is actually two libraries in one. The original part was built back in 1931 and is a very impressive looking stone building. Of course as the town expanded the need for a larger library quicker became apparent. However it wasn't until 2004 that the new, much larger section was opened. The great part is that instead of just constructing a whole new building or moving to a new location the people in town showed great wisdom and sense of aesthetics in keeping the original part and just adding on a new addition. The results are stunning. The old part still has fireplaces and great woodwork that makes you feel like you are in an old house rather than a public place. Comfy chairs and huge windows gives a sense of relaxation and serenity. A great place to do research or read a novel. Of course the new part is more prosaic and utilitarian. Not big on aesthetics but extremely efficient and useful. Almost 100,000 books and a huge variety of tapes, CD's and computer stations. A place to get things done. Lots of space, the whole area is intelligently designed and very easy to navigate. So at this library you can have a choice. Go to the new part and get something done in a modern environment or just step through doors of the old part, relax and slow down time. Plainville Library truly has the best of both worlds .

Plainville Public Library came into fruition in 1894. The building it's currently housed in opened…read morein 1931; after many renovations, it has expanded to fit more books for the growing population. There are meeting rooms, children's room, fireplaces, and many seating areas. There were plenty of parking in the large parking lot; there were two electric vehicle charging spots as well. The building was large and inside was spacious. It's a very nice library but I noticed the hours are more limited compared to other libraries I've been to. I went on Friday at 3:45 and they were closing at 4. I went downstairs to the children's room. There were many books, computers, and toys. The area was spacious and a great spot for the kids. There was a train table, play kitchen, and coloring table. The librarian downstairs was friendly and I checked out a few books. I was able to drop off a few books upstairs the front desk. Overall, it's a nice library!

What a beautiful Greek revival style building! It was built in 1917 and was the main library in…read moreFarmington until 1983. There is a playground and ample parking. Like other libraries, this place is a great resource for the community. The children's area was nice. There were plenty of books and some computers for them to use. There was a separate room with toys, magnetic tiles, dollhouse, and more. Overall, a beautiful library and the kids and I enjoyed our time there.

A lot more than…read more just books There are lots of libraries in the state of Connecticut. Huge efficient ones, small quaint ones and cool historical ones. But there are few libraries anywhere than can match the resplendence, elegance and comfort of the Barney Library. Built back in 1919 and called the Village Library until 1999, the Barney Library was the main library in the town of Farmington until 1983 when a much more modern and larger library was completed. Fortunately the Barney Library was kept open and given three million dollars in renovations. Walking into this library is an experience. You immediately notice such niceties like fireplaces, wooden floors, antiques, spiral staircases and artwork. One of the cool librarians that works here told me that many people ask if the building was once someones private mansion or residence but no, it was built as a library from the very start. Of course the Barney Library has books, computers, and all the other mundane things found in typical libraries. It also has plenty of programs for kids and various lectures and demonstrations. However if you go up the grand spiral staircase you will find something not so typical. Several beautiful rooms that hold art sales and concerts, complete with a kitchen and stunning antiques. The Barney Library is a very special place. Perhaps not the most efficient library around because of all the open spaces and gorgeous paintings and antiques that prevent certain areas from being packed with books. That doesn't matter, it is a library that takes you back in time, when libraries were much more than just a place to find a book.

It's a great place to not only check out books but also free museum passes or discounted passes!…read moreI've been to two museums for free already!

Today I stopped by The New Britain Public Library to look for some cook books and for some fun new…read morebooks to read to my class. I haven't been to this library in a long time, since I was in college and avoided paying the extravagant prices the school bookstore charged for the classic literature books. The large windows and the construction of the library make it obvious, it has been here for a long time. The library first opened in 1853. I first went to the children's department. This area of the library was filled with kids playing with wooden blocks and legos, as well as a plethora of books categorized by interest. I selected around five brand new books for my class. They also have computers and movies in the kid's department. The adult section was much quieter and I couldn't hear any of the noise coming through from the adjacent children's area. I took the third floor on the elevator to find the area with the books that interested me. This was a super quiet space with shelves and shelves of organized books. I found two. They also have a selection of magazines, puzzles, CDs and DVDs available to borrow. I was very pleased with my experience at this library today.

Bristol library first opened in 1892; it moved to another location in 1896. Then, in 1907, a…read morecolonial revival style building was built for the growing library. Renovations were done throughout the years and even an addition in 2006. The library is architecturally beautiful. There were plenty of parking. It was large, organized, and quiet. We went to the children's section and it was massive. There was a class going on for the kids. I noticed it's more catered to elementary/middle school kids. There was a small preschool section, but there was only a play kitchen with no accessories for it; toy pots and pans, toy food etc. They had a sensory board wall and some play costumes. They had a fish tank and so many fun decorations. The library is a great resource; they offer free and discounted museum passes and more. This is a great asset to Bristol for sure, but wish there were more entertainment for kids 4 and under.

Some of the front end staff are just smugly alienating. Others lurk, ogle, and creep around…read moreintensly scutinizing patrons. Nice library but come on, I don't need to be treated like a circus sideshow by someone with a bad purple-hair dyed job and guy who glares at you like you stole land from his ancestors.

This place is amazing for educational literature mostly related to addiction, mental health…read moreillness, bullying etc. You have to be a member in order to get multiple free copies of the pamphlets and brochures. The membership fee is $10. The place has useful resource for those people who work in the human service arena. Teachers, health professionals, parents, and consumers who know someone who might have mental health issues should utilize the resources available here. The literature you find here are the mini books many of us might have been given when we were in grade school. I've recently read a few of them and the content is amazing. It's great for parents who want to educate themselves prior to sitting down and talking to their children about drugs, bullying, anxiety or suicide. Whatever the issue there seem to be resources available you can take with you and read in the comfort of your own home. They have books and audiovisuals that you can borrow for 21 days. Great for school projects or a confused parent seeking information. They also offer tons of information on seminars for health professionals. Seriously Yelpers if you have children who are being bullied or wet the bed there will be material you can find to help your child get through it all!! I think this place is great and wish more people knew it existed. I know this is the age of computers but some of the printer material here can't be found on the internet. I like having the resources here available for patients because it makes life easy and it is a nice review. Reading material is available in both English and Spanish for most topics.

great for training and learning about substance abuseread more

This library is so involved! It's a good size for children and adult, with a book sale (apparently)…read morein the basement. In addition to the regular services of books, movies, and computers, they've gone above and beyond to catch your eye. There are binge movie boxes, a seed library, a "guess the character" end cap... There is art on the wall, and plants in the desk. The whole building is just so alive and bright (although since it is a library, it's quietly alive and bright).

Clean pleasant and…read more friendly Southington Public Library is one of those strange places that looks rather small on the outside but once you get through the doors just seems to go on forever. It's not one of the beautiful, quaint, old and historic buildings that many of the New England libraries have taken residence in but it certainly does have a unique charm and style all it's own. Bright, spacious and extremely comfortable, the Southington Library is a very cool place to grab a book or magazine, stretch out and relax. Lots of very comfy chairs and places to ruminate, thaw out or unwind. One of the things that really stands out is how clean everything is. No nasty stains on the carpets or dust on the shelves, everything is spotless and fresh in a very casual and informal way. Of course it has the usual books, magazines, CD' s, programs and computers that are now ubiquitous in modern libraries but it also retains the pleasant feel and inviting atmosphere usually reserved in older and smaller libraries. A nice juxtaposition of the charming old and the convenient new. The staff working at the library are especially friendly and pleasant, none of the stern, strict and severe attitude found in some urban libraries. This is a library that welcomes exploration and inquisitiveness. Even though the building doesn't stand out with any charismatic or historic characteristics, the extremely pleasant, comfortable and friendly atmosphere makes the Southington Library one of my very favorites in all of Connecticut.

My friend and I stopped by the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library because we saw some signs indicating a…read morebook sale. This book sale was much later in the day, then when we arrived. This library has a very cute children's department, it appeared to have a jungle theme. There were some kids having a good time. The books are well organized, anything I tried to find, it was there. The library is spacious for quiet, independent work at a computer or with your own materials. I noticed they have magazines and periodicals, some of which I thought were no longer being printed. In addition to books, you may also find games, movies, CDs, and even seeds. Yes, seeds to plant your own tomatoes or cucumbers. I have never seen this at another library. We found a small section of books for sale. Kid's books are $1, adult hard cover for $2. The librarians were pleasant during checkout.

Berlin library has a history that started in 1829. This particular library opened in 1989. It's…read morelocated in a lovely campus across the street from the town hall. There were plenty of parking and the library was spacious and had an open layout. When you first walk in, the children section is to the right. They had a large children section which was nicely decorated with fake trees and a variety of kids decor. They also had so many toys for the kids; from a toy train table, kitchen sets, cash register, dollhouse, and more. They had a wide array of books too. My family and I spent about an hour in there and loved it. It was pretty busy since it's a weekend and cold out; other families had the same plans as us. Overall, it's definitely a nice library. I didn't talk to the librarians so I can't comment on if they're nice or not.

This Little Free Library is located in Norton Park, in Plainville, CT. It's right near the…read moreplayground. Another pleasant surprise to stumble upon one. This was is so pretty and well painted. There was even a little bench connected to it. There is a plaque that says: "Plainville High School National English Honor Society with the Banned. Est. 2023." It was built by the Plainville High School Advanced Construction Technology class and the Environmental Club. It was painted by the classes of 2034 and 2035 at Linden Street School. The only minor issue was, it didn't have any books in it. I will make note to bring some books here next time.

I did not come to tour the museum, but did get to see part of it as part of a hearth cooking class…read more The Stanley-Whitman is part original house arranged how it may have been with the original owners, and part new structure with a gift shop and modern restrooms. There is also an herb garden outside, and an apple tree grown based on the teachings of Benjamin Franklin. Apparently having fruit took more than a grocery store way back when. The house is very interesting to experience. Everything was smaller back then, and cooking was a task and a half. The employees/docents are obviously learned about their subjects, and you'll learn a lot. Definitely check out their special programs - parking may be a challenge (so carpool!) but if they're food related they'll be delicious.

Stopped in for a short tour during the day. The docent was very knowledgeable. It's a small place…read morebut tons of information. Great way to spend an hour.