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!

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.

It's a free-for-all institution for the whole entire community of Newington…read more They have a lot of non fiction volumes plus they have a beautiful Children's room. They also have an ongoing book sale. The Library hosts a book sale twice a year at the Senior Center P S. They changed the address from Cedar St. to Garfield St. in 2020 several years after the Cedar Street driveway was blocked by concrete.

Love this library! Plenty of parking. Great selection of books. The staff is so nice and…read morepersonable! I also love the online system- for hold requests and renewals especially. It is so easy to request books and you get a week to pick it up. I love the rapid read section as well if I really don't want to wait for a high demand book. The only thing I would suggest is to modernize this library as it definitely is in need of a sprucing up to make it more inviting- kind of hard though with all the renovations going on at the town hall next to it (construction city). All in all it's a great perk of this town. Very happy to have this library close by.

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.

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.

A beautiful building filled with friendly and helpful staff. Also a quiet place to just read and…read morerelax.

I love this library - it's located in a quiet, grassy area surrounded by a school, historical…read morebuildings, a church, and I believe a fire department. There's a lot of open space and on a Saturday, an excellent place to let a dog stretch his paws and sniff. The library itself is beautifully designed - you walk into a little book nook and stare into a stained glass window. The interior has dark wood accents with a decorated children's space enclosed from the adult's, and a small reading area with a huge ceiling adorned by a quilt. The vibe of the building was very studious, and definitely encouraged reading.

The new library is spectacular! The opened of the rooms and the open with Dow lighting is amazing…read moreand beautiful! There is plenty of space between stacks of books for accessibility on all levels! The community room is large and the acoustics are great for musical performances and speakers! Many great daily weekly and monthly events are planned!

As of 2024, the Bloomfield Public Library has temporarily relocated combined Prosser and Wintonbury…read morelibrary buildings to MetLife building because both of these buildings will be undergoing new construction and that these new buildings should be set to completion by next year or so. It's a very nice library portion of an office building. In order to get to the library at MetLife, you can take an escalator from the lobby next to a huge water fountain. Nice staff, some good selections of books, media and many more. There's a lot to offer at this library -- children's room, printing and scanning, museum passes and more.

Meriden Library is a lovely place. There is always a very warm welcome. The staff are very caring…read moreand go above and beyond to encourage children to love books and to listen to and read stories. They encourage the children to borrow books and to be involved in the scanning and stamping process. This is wonderful for the children, who are invariably very happy and excited. We take our granddaughters to "Story time" on Mondays at 2.15. Kerry is a very skilled storyteller and she is so good with all the children. After the story, the children do some painting, which they all love. We are very grateful for this lovely facility. Thank you for all you do to support the children, parents and grandparents (especially grandparents!)

Note -- the building was under construction…read more Looks like the grand re-opening is in a couple weeks. There were renovators all over the place & that should've been my cue... or that the parking lot was COMPLETELY EMPTY. Parking lot was large in size and could accommodate quite a few people. (Maybe 40-50 cars?) Will be back when I'm passing through the area. This seemed to be the best reviewed library around and I will update my review when I've had the chance to experience the place a bit more.