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Simsbury Public Library

4.7 (12 reviews)
Closed 9:30 am - 8:30 pm

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A huge buiding
Brian S.

A new library for an old town The very first library started in Simsbury back in 1874 or so when a few books were just piled on in the second floor of a local school. It stayed that way until 1890 when Amos R. Enos, a very wealthy resident of the town donated money to have a library built. A beautiful building was constructed in the town's center to give the books and other material a more permanent home. Although the old library was a very stunning piece of architecture in the Colonial Revival Style, it was just too small to hold the ever increasing amount of material. So in 1985 and grand new library was constructed. The old building still serves as the Simsbury genealogical and historical research facility. Certainly not as ascetically impressive as the old place but much more functional and useful. The building was renovated again in 2008 and now hold over 163,000 items. Quite a large and well designed library for a relatively small town. The library is very spacious and has lots of room to spread out or find a comfy spot to read. Everything is bright and well organized and the building itself is an impressive if not historic place to do some work or just relax. Certainly not a one of the cool old libraries that inhabit the state of Connecticut but definitely a very modern, efficient and friendly member of the town of Simsbury. A very pleasant place to find information or just read a book.

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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14 years ago

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13 years ago

Where else can you get entertainment for free surrounded by immaculate facilities and incredibly helpful staff? LOVE this place!

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9 years ago

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14 years ago

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Simsbury Free Library

Simsbury Free Library

5.0(1 review)
0.1 mi

I took a trip to the Simsbury Free Library (SFL) the other day, and it was a super interesting and…read moreunique place! Here's the scoop: SFL is located on Hopmeadow St. right in the heart of Simsbury. It's just down the street from the Simsbury Public Library, which is NOT affiliated with SFL. While the public library is run by the town, SFL is a non-profit that is not funded by the town. Parking is available nearby on the street, or there is a small lot on the right side of the building. One inside, you'll be greeted by the extremely friendly and helpful staff, who will take the time to show you around and tell you all about the history of the library. SFL is noted for its genealogical research resources, housing a robust collection of family surnames, histories, and genealogies, as well as CT town, county, and other New England state histories. They also have DAR lineage books and other hereditary journals. The employees and volunteers have created marriage, death, and obituary indexes for Simsbury. Ancestry.com Library edition is also available for use by patrons. On the Saturday's that they are open (2nd and 4th Saturday) they have a professional genealogist on site who will help you trace down your family history! Besides the genealogy resources, the SFL has a beautiful glass panel memorial dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. out in front of the building. I learned that MLK actually lived and worked in Simsbury for two summers when he was a teenager. A group of Simsbury High School students researched MLK's life while in Simsbury, and this later became the inspiration for the memorial. Lastly, there is a cool exhibit on William Phelps Eno, who was the original architect of traffic regulations and transportation engineering. He developed regulations like right-hand driving, one way streets, traffic lights, driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, and more! These are just a few of the cool and educational things you'll find at SFL. Make sure to check it out for yourself!

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Simsbury Free Library
Simsbury Free Library
Simsbury Free Library

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Town of Simsbury - Memorial Day Parade 5-26-25

Town of Simsbury

5.0(2 reviews)
0.5 mi

One of the top 5 towns we were looking to live in for a variety of reasons…read more In May 1670, Town of Simsbury was incorporated; it is Connecticut's 21st town. Currently, there are approximately 24,000 people living there. Simsbury is part of the Farmington Valley. There are three state parks; Penwood, Talcott Mountain, and Stratton Brook. The famous landmark, Heublein Tower can be seen from a distance in various parts of the state. The Pinchot Sycamore is the largest tree in Connecticut, which is located in Simsbury. The International Skating Center is also located there; many well-known ice skaters trained there. The town is very beautiful and nicely maintained; houses are beautiful. There are many things to do. There is a town center, hiking trails, libraries, playgrounds, and restaurants. The school system is highly rated and crime rates are low. I really enjoy exploring the town and I'm there quite often. Overall, an A+ town all around.

1.) Introduction: I get to write a review on this town?!…read moreYessssssssssss! I am kind of giddy about this one! I lived here for almost 10 years and I believe I will be moving back. Simsbury is a place to have a family and raise children. Simsbury is for champions! 2.) Aesthetics: Beautiful Simsbury, beautiful, beautiful Simsbury. Lots of woods. It's kind of rural meets Suburban. High class yet down to earth. 3.) Schools: A town of very nice elementary, middle, high schools and private schools. Your child is going to get a good education here. 4.) Citizens: Contrary to belief, Simsbury is not like that next town over. These people are a generally down to earth bunch. I describe these people as working middle class citizens. Yes, there are people who make money here, but that's just a slight deviation towards lower and upper class. 5.) Residences: Just like I said about Socio-economic status, you can find all types of housing here. From tiny startup homes to apartments to condominiums to McMansions, you can find it all! I recall when I was first looking for apartments I was able to find one on Hopmeadow Road for $700 a month. That was back in 2007! 6.) Town - statistics: To be honest, the statistics are that 90% of the citizens have college degrees and make an annual income of $90,000. That percentage also ties in with the literacy rate, as well as the likelihood that a high school graduate will go onto a 4 year college. 7.) Impressions: After I earn my ultimate degree, settle on a job, finish being young, partying and having fun, I am moving back here!

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Town of Simsbury - Memorial Day Parade 5-26-25

Memorial Day Parade 5-26-25

Town of Simsbury - Getting a seat for the town's Memorial Day parade

Getting a seat for the town's Memorial Day parade

Town of Simsbury - Memorial Day Parade 5-26-25

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Memorial Day Parade 5-26-25

East Granby Public Library - The kid's area

East Granby Public Library

4.8(5 reviews)
6.1 mi

This is a very nice library with a average sized children's section. It is located in the complex…read morewith other town buildings. There was plenty of parking. The Librarian was very friendly and greeted us when we walked in. You can't miss the book tower in front of the librarian desk; my toddler and I were in awe looking at it. The children's section had a big fake tree that a child can go in. There were computers, Legos, train table, dollhouse, and other toys. There was a tween reading area. Although, this was not the biggest library, it was indeed lovely. I noticed a trail out back and had to check it out. The trail is called Doreen's Nature Trail and it was peaceful and neat. It is in memory of the former Library Director that tragically lost her life. Overall, this was definitely one of my top 10 favorite libraries I've been to. I wish my local library had a trail in the back!

I went to the Library in East Granby for a quiet space to do some work. There is a large blue…read moreturkey right in front of the library. This is in honor of East Granby originally being named Turkey Hills. The inside of this library is very well kept, with a grandfather clock that immediately caught my eye. There are some beautiful plants and a nice amount of sunlight coming through. They have a self serve coffee and tea station. The books are nicely organized and there's a substantial amount under every author. They also have an area for kids and teens. As well as quiet areas where you can work on your computer. The kids area is a lot of fun, with a large "tree", the kids can go inside of to play. The books are also plentiful in this area. They also had a selection of books for sale. Here I found a book that I was very interested in a number of years ago. It probably would have been $1 if I wanted to purchase it. I sat down and read about 20 pages, and decided it's a bit too sad to fully involve my self in it right now, so I put it back. This library is quite a nice one in the small town of East Granby. Be sure, you're going to the library not the town hall, as they're right next to one another.

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East Granby Public Library
East Granby Public Library
East Granby Public Library

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Gifford Pinchot Memorial Plaque - View from the upper level of the library looking down the hill toward the plaque and Hopmeadow Street

Gifford Pinchot Memorial Plaque

3.0(1 review)
0.0 mi

This plaque on the lawn in front of the Simsbury Library marks the birthplace of Simsbury native…read moreGifford Pinchot. Who was he? He dedicated his life to American conservation and forestry, and in 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him as the first Chief of the United States Forest Service. He also served two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania. The plaque's lengthy inscription reads: Gifford Pinchot Birthplace Gifford Pinchot (1865 - 1946) was for more than 50 years a staunch advocate of forestry and conservation in the United States. He was born on this site on August 11, 1865 to James Wallace Pinchot and Mary Jane Eno; his maternal grandparents were natives of Simsbury. Gifford Pinchot was founder and first president of the Society of American Foresters, served President Theodore Roosevelt as the first Chief of the USDA Forest Service, with his family helped establish the Yale School of Forestry, became Pennsylvania's Commissioner of Forestry, was a principal in creating the National association of State Foresters, and was a two-term Governor of Pennsylvania. Dedication August 11, 2000 In the centennial year of the founding of the society of American Foresters, and on the one-hundred and thirty-fifth anniversary of his birth, this monument is dedicated to the memory and legacy of this pioneering forester. This monument was made possible by the Society of American Foresters and its New England Society, Divisions and Chapters, National Association of State Foresters Foundation, Pinchot Institute for Conservation, Connecticut Urban Forest Council, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, USDA Forest Service-Grey Towers Historical Site, Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the Pinchot and Eno families

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Gifford Pinchot Memorial Plaque

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Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

4.0(24 reviews)
5.4 mi
$$

This Barnes & Noble book store is a pretty massive one in Canton. You can enter from the front or…read morethe rear of the store, depending on which way you're coming from. If you're looking for brand new released reading material this is the place to find it. Everything is categorized into fiction, biography, history, romance, cookbooks and more. As long as you know the author, it shouldn't be a problem finding what you're looking for. There are resourceful books for a variety tests or exams one might be taking. At the rear of the store there are records and CDs. This is also where the children's books, toys and games are. There are certain times dedicated to story time for little kids. Should you need a coffee break, there's no need to go far. Starbucks is right here in house. They also have a sale section, usually those are activity books or similar. Be prepared to pay the manufacturer's price for most items.

This a good-sized and clean Barnes and Noble with a pretty good stock of books in all categories…read moreand some magazines as well. There's also a Starbucks inside if that matters to you. It does, however, provide some extra seating which is always a good thing in a book store. That said, we wandered around for quite a while, checking out the history and cooking sections -- everything is pretty clearly organized -- and came away pleased. There's a special section for kids, for tech stuff and for just about any special interest you might have. They have lots of space devoted to gifts, which has never been our favorite part of a book store (let's use that space for MORE books!). There's an information area in the center of the store, and the employees there are pretty good at helping others find items. In all, a nice store, nicely arranged and worth spending some time in, as we certainly did. It is, we believe, the largest book store in this part of Connecticut.

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Barnes & Noble - What were registers in the back of the store

What were registers in the back of the store

Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble

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Simsbury Public Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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