Cromwell Belden Public Library
🏢 FindIT CT · Cromwell, Connecticut
Cromwell Belden Public Library
The Cromwell Belden Public Library serves this Middlesex County town on the Connecticut River, tracing its roots to an 1888 library association funded by a $1,000 gift from Josiah Belden. It stays open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday in its purpose-built home on West Street.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 39 WEST ST., CROMWELL, CT 06416
Phone: (860) 632-3460
Website: cromwellct.gov
Plus Code: 87H9H8XX+8F (CROMWELL, CT)
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📖 About Cromwell Belden Public Library
The Cromwell Belden Public Library is the public library of Cromwell, Connecticut, a town on the west bank of the Connecticut River in Middlesex County. Its history goes back to February 1888, when residents met to found a town library; weeks later Josiah Belden wrote a check for $1,000 — worth roughly $28,000 today — and the grateful founders renamed their effort the Belden Library Association. For almost a century the collection was housed in the old Academy building on Main Street, and in December 1985 the renamed Cromwell Belden Public Library opened in a new facility as a full town department. Today it is part of FindIT CT, a shared Connecticut catalog, and offers evening hours four nights a week along with the usual collections, computers and programs for all ages.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded from an 1888 town library association seeded by a $1,000 gift from Josiah Belden
- Housed for nearly 100 years in the old Academy building on Main Street before a 1985 move
- Opened its current facility and became a full town department in December 1985
- Part of the FindIT CT shared catalog, extending borrowing beyond Cromwell's own shelves
- Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday for after-work and after-school visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Cromwell card plus a Connecticut residency unlock statewide and local digital collections:
📚 Services
- FindIT CT shared catalog and interlibrary loan
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Children's and young-adult collections and programming
- Meeting and study space
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks and statewide research databases
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and early-literacy programs
- Teen programs and events
- Adult programs, book discussions and author talks
- Summer reading
- Community events with the Friends of the Cromwell Belden Public Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Connecticut
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in CROMWELL · Browse all Connecticut libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Cromwell Belden Public Library?
The 'Belden' honors Josiah Belden, who in April 1888 gave $1,000 — about $28,000 in today's money — to the fledgling town library effort. In thanks, the founders renamed their group the Belden Library Association, and the name carried over when the library became a full town department.
Where was the library before its current building?
For almost a hundred years the collection lived in the old Academy building on Main Street in Cromwell. In December 1985 the renamed Cromwell Belden Public Library opened in a new facility and became a dedicated town department.
Which evenings is the library open late, and is it open Sundays?
The library stays open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday run 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and it is closed on Sunday.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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