The Westport Library is incredible. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the building itself is beautiful, comfortable, and a great place to work, read, or study. Beyond an excellent selection of books and other printed material, they have a lending library of all sorts of unexpected things, including games, metal detectors, coffee makers, and more. There's also a terrific lineup of talks, symposiums, classes, and community events, plus their own music and podcast studio and even a 3D-printing lab. And I have a feeling I'm only scratching the surface of what they offer. This is what a public library should be. read more

I love me some libraries, and even though I live in Norwalk, and our librarians are phenomenal, A+ librarians, the selection on the shelves is nothing like Westport's, which is vast, in depth, and delves far more deeply into subject matters. Their librarians area also A+ phenomenal, though I do find the ones in Norwalk are a little more loose - as in they have a bit more of a sense of humor. That might just be me, and my type of humor - and also that I don't look like I fit in (really in CT in general, but especially in Westport.) That said, I actually like Westport. It is a rich town, but they are a generous town with their resources, and one of those ways in which they are is they allow reciprocity with Norwalk residents so we can utilize their library. This huge, two floor structure is so much more thana mere library - it has a state-of-the-art recording studio that far surpasses ones I have used or recorded in (and I have released three CDs and been on three compilations), a large stage for performances and lectures (including the epic Verso Fest, which happens annually -- and is affordable, even for people who do not have a lot of disposable income), a band shell on the property with free shows - and not wildly expensive larger name shows, a summer farmer's market (which is out of my budget by far too much, but that is not the library's doing), free parking, a gorgeous outdoor space to eat (from their fairly priced and delicious -- fresh -- cafe) overlooking the water, gorgeous grounds, and it is a wonderful escape -- all but from reality. I love their selection of law books. I love they have a wait list with your name waiting on the side of the book where you can just pick it up after they email you. They also have a section where you can borrow anything from a cake pan to a record player to a ukulele to a projector. They really care, and it shows. The fact that they allow the neighboring town that does not have these extensive resources to use them is just so amazing and I am so thankful for that. I love this library. Thank you, Westport, for knowing you are lucky to be where you are and for being so generous and welcoming to the have-nots in this world. read more

Best library in CT! They have a cafe and all proceeds go to the library. I got two yummy chocolate chip cookies. Many different areas to get your work done. Right on the water and outdoor seating for nice days. read more

The Westport Library is a great public library. It's huge and beautiful. There's a beautiful path along the Saugatuck River that goes around the back. It's really beautiful inside. Lots of free parking even though it's in the busy downtown part of Westport. There's even a gift store inside! They also have a great cafe where hey have sandwiches from Gruel Brittania in Fairfield. read more

The Westport Library - Libraries Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

The library reviewer is BACK! Beautiful, fun library in downtown Westport. From the super quiet space to the production suite and even the library of things there is something for everyone. read more

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My mother always says how the Connecticut libraries are the best and I wholeheartedly agree. The Westport library is beautiful, well stocked and has some awesome book sales. Plus, they have a little sale annex across the street. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful facility such as this. I'm happy to direct funds to support such a wonderful community hub! read more

Google tells me the average income in Westport, CT is $151,000 per year. The average income in the town I reside in is $60,000 lower and our library doesn't even have a coffee machine for the public. Westport's library has an actual store, with products that you would find in pricey art museums. They have a cafe, with products well above the rank of Coca-Cola. They have an auditorium with a display screen, private study rooms, a space to rent out to practice drums, and a machine to rent a laptop. It is an eye-opener to what it really means to have a difference in your tax base. On the negative, several of their clerks were a little dismissive once it became apparent I was from out of town and not a resident/regular patron. By the time I got to the third with a simple question (involving a project to see many of the libraries in our state I have never gotten such a cold reception on) I was ready to scream. Lucky, the librarian staffing the reference desk on the lower floor was amazing and kind! TLDR; With the exception of perhaps their library store, it is a great example of what a gift above and beyond movies and literature a library can be to their community. read more

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MOVE TO/STAY IN WESTPORT, CT FOR THE LIBRARY No kidding. If the local public library is a barometer for the cultural health, values, and intelligence of a community, then the current state of the centrally-located, always busy Westport Public Library suggests the community it serves is vital, open, intellectually curious, and economically advantaged. While I wish the facility was larger, had a larger collection, and was more ambitious about bringing in speakers and hosting local special interest groups, this gem of a public trust is leaps and bounds ahead of all other local public libraries, except tax base-rich Greenwich, and the vast majority of other public libraries in this country and throughout the world. In an era when the creation, use, and popularity of non-social media written words and longer form exposition is in decline, the WPL stands out as a beacon of both an earlier period of great creativity and accomplishment and a current hope for the future. Of significance about this particular library, please consider relative to its community size the WPL's: operating hours(long and proudly open even during horrible weather conditions), large acquisition budget, deep and wide collection, staff strength, quantity and depth of volunteers, in-library cafe, constant flow of interesting, accomplished speakers(all free), convenient and picturesque location, outstanding book sales, and exceptional Board-led, professionally managed governance. I have lived in this community three different times over a span of five decades. I assure you this is one institution that has gotten better and realized greater utilization as it has aged. Wish I could say that about more Yelp-measured establishments. read more

BEST LIBRARY EVER. (I will start with the fact that when they remodeled the place, many critics around town accused the new design to look strangely "holocaust prison camp-esque." but that has long since past.) NOW this library is HUGE filled with tons of materials. Tons of DVDs, newspapers, magazines, an amazing children's section. It's kind of uncanny. I've been coming to this library for over 20 years and it never gets old. The elevator still has the same weird plastic smells as it did back then. As does the only remaining part of the "old" library - The rear staircase. That's weird I know, but this place has HISTORY, man. It's great for kids. It's great for the elderly. It's great for students looking to do work. I spent my last two years of college writing terms papers holed up in a back corner of the building. It does wonders for creativity. It has great lecture series and strong donor support from around town. And it directly across from the Levitt Pavilion and next to the water. Possibly one of the most beautiful locals in the town. read more

The Westport Library is a great place to borrow films and books, or sit to study, read the paper, or get work done. They are in a convenient location- across the street from Starbucks & Crumbs, and restaurant Matsu Sushi. Also located along the Westport River for a great view of the water and the occasional rower or flock of birds. Staff is friendly and helpful, and the resources here are fantastic. They have 2 reading rooms that are lined with current magazines and newspapers. Reading rooms have big windows (facing the river) that flood with sunlight and plenty of those comfy leather chairs that are so hard to nab at Borders/ B&N. The computers are flat screen Dells, and have a few scanners that are free to use. Computer sessions are an hour and can extend if you need more time. To fax, copy or print, you have to pay per page. And if you have a library card at another CT library, it takes a few mins to be added into their system. I studied here for two months and am still coming back. Tends to be chilly so I suggest layers :) read more

Pleasant library with an interesting book collection. Staff is helpful and polite. My only criticism is they talk too loudly amongst themselves as though no on near them is reading. read more

A wonderful library with green space along the Saugatuck River in Westport. It's located right by the Main Street shopping district too. Their yearly book sale is truly impressive with big white tents on Jesup Green filled with so many great books for dirt cheap! Also check out- They have a really nice cafe on the second floor with large windows serving local sandwiches / snacks and a selection from Arogya Teas! read more

Great views, children and multi-media resources and has wonderful outdoor seating by the river for those who seek some privacy in the mid-day hub bub downtown. read more

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You would think that the Westport Library would be a great, quiet place to study, but no. There are ALWAYS concerts going on, guest speakers, or TV playing in the main lobby, which is literally connected to every other aspect of the library except for the dungeon downstairs. When you try to confront the workers at the front desk about where to go for "silent study", who by the way half the time are extremely disrespectful and uncongeal, they tell you either the upstairs or to book a private room, but good luck even trying to book one considering that they're run by back-to-back tutors and there's absolutely no sense of an established system. Being in Westport and having a newly renovated library that everyone wouldn't stop bosting about, you would think that it would fit the typical reputation of respectful quiet spaces and shelves of books, but in reality, it's an indoor concert hall run by selfish librarians. P.S: During the midterm week for the local high school, they had 2 concerts going on while students were trying to study and banging on drums for 3 hours DOESN'T help us study and is extremely disrespectful. read more

Excellent library! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. "Library of Things" addition with new media studios coming later this June.

This is a nice (fancy) library, with great facilities and nice work spaces. The meeting rooms are a special feature! Minor downside: Staff at the patron service can be random -- some are nice and knowledgeable but some are just cold and clumsy. read more

I agree... this is the nicest library in the area for sure.

My sole purpose for going to the library is to study. That said, not sure of the selection. The "silent" rooms are by no means silent; cell phone use, eating, & snoring. The main library seems to have a photo studio and an activity center...there's even a pinball machine. Needless to say, it is not quiet. The upstairs seems isolated but echo's from below actually make it worse. Most of the librarians are friendly but a few are on what seem like a power-trip. Regardless of the staff, if you're serious about studying and are looking for quiet, go elsewhere. I gave two stars based on my personal use. If you're looking for family activities, great views, or are just renting books this might be a better fit. read more

This is not a library. They have installed a massive television in the middle of the library. Fantastic for distracting you from your work. Which in the reason I am at the library in the first place ... to not be distracted by anything. But most importantly there are kids here all the time. Which is great, getting kids interested in reading is wonderful. Getting kids interested in singing for an hour while I'm studying for the CPA exam is excruciating. I could not think of a worse idea then having kids singing time in the library. The sound proofing is inexistent. There is also a drum set in one of the rooms. No one has been playing the drums yet but whoever had this idea is really having a laugh. Am I wrong or should the library be a quiet place? read more

never go here for proctoring, 25 dollar payment and 3 days notice of exam date... I'm coming here to finish school work is it too much to ask for you to just sign a paper? Pretty much screwed me! quiet rooms are also very far from quiet. read more

I love this library. It is centrally located, and my daughter walks to it from her school almost every week. Great selection, but more heavy on YA novels that real literary books read more

I am so impressed with the Westport library. I recently moved from a town that taxed its residents more than twice that Westport does and yet can't seem to make the library a place people would want to go. This library attracts all ages...great programs and space for the little ones, great study space for students and lovely places to sit and read or do a puzzle for older people. The outdoor space on the Saugatuck is beautiful. Checking out books is a breeze. The maker space is UNREAL. And the programming the library offers is out of this world. Of course, and most importantly, the book selection is excellent. And where else can you go to a library and play ping pong? read more

Wonderful staff. Exciting program development for adults and children.. Great tech tutors and computers programming available to public Only concern is some space being taken away from book stacks to facillitate popularity of ebooks and multimedia center. Speakers are wonderful and the library is very accommodating to new ideas. Every book I have ever requested has been purchased by the library. Also hope the library does not do away with CD collection and hope they expand the music collection. The gift shop is a little pricey, but has an array of unique gifts. read more

I love the Westport library, it's beautiful with well lit rooms overlooking the saugatuck. It's one of my favorite places to study BUT I am extremely disappointed by the lack of selection in world history/world affairs. The section on Africa is dismal, and quite frankly offensive. Why are there only 4 shelves in the entire library dedicated to Africa?! The entire continent! The second largest, the origin of humanity with 54 countries and innumerable stories to tell. Outside of general history there is a spattering of books on the Egyptian revolution, Darfur, Rwanda, the Congo/East Africa, Somalia (black hawk down) and South Africa so pretty much the major topics. I forgot to mention the memoirs of Europeans and their perspectives of African issues. When I asked if there was more somewhere else in the library I was told it's based on the current interests of the community. I understand and respect that logic, but isn't the library the place to grow and learn and explore the unknown through books? Why would people be interested, when Africa is represented like it has no history or relevance. There is more to Africa than Nelson Mandela and the Rwandan genocide. read more