Southington Public Library
🏢 Library Connection, Inc. · Southington, Connecticut
Southington Public Library
Southington Public Library opened a landmark $16.9 million, 24,000-square-foot facility in December 2024 — 125 years after its founding — featuring a drive-through book return, a children's room nicknamed the 'Dinosaur Containment Unit,' and free access to Connecticut's statewide research databases.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 255 Main Street, Southington, CT 06489
Phone: (860) 628-0947
Website: southingtonlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87H9H4WC+8W (Southington, CT)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Southington Public Library
Southington Public Library has served Hartford County since 1900, when a temporary reading room opened in Town Hall with 1,300 volumes donated by local organizations including the Hannah Woodruff Chapter of the DAR. Library service in the town traces back even further — to 1777, when the Robinson family established an early lending collection, followed by a Union Library in 1779. A purpose-built library building was erected in 1902 and served the community for decades; the library moved to a new facility in 1974. In December 2024, Southington opened a brand-new $16.9 million, 24,000-square-foot two-story building at 255 Main Street, replacing the 1974 structure — the most significant investment in the library's 125-year history. Features include a drive-through book return at the rear, a brick patio, a community room, and dedicated zones for children and teens. As a member of Library Connection, Inc. (LCI), Southington cardholders can borrow from 57 partner libraries across Central Connecticut and access digital collections statewide.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened December 2, 2024: brand-new $16.9 million, 24,000-square-foot two-story building featuring a central atrium, children's 'Dinosaur Containment Unit,' and Teen Zone with advisory board
- Drive-through book return at the rear of the building — patrons return materials year-round without leaving their vehicle
- Local History Room: non-circulating archive of Southington yearbooks (1951–1989 digitized), Civil War letters from Captain Andrew Upson (1864), city directories, maps, and obituaries
- Member of Library Connection, Inc.: shared catalog with 57 libraries; borrowIT CT reciprocal borrowing at all 191 Connecticut public libraries
- AncestryLibrary in-library access plus ResearchIT CT databases including Consumer Reports, EBSCO, Hartford Courant archives, and Transparent Language (110+ languages)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Southington cardholders access Connecticut's statewide research tools and e-collections free:
📚 Services
- Drive-through book return (rear of building, year-round)
- Study room reservations (up to 7 days in advance, online or in person)
- Community room and brick patio available for events
- Museum passes (free or reduced admission to area museums)
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building and parking lot
- Public computers with Windows and Microsoft Office
- Printing (B&W 10¢/side, color 50¢/side), scanning (free), remote printing via email
- Faxing via FaxScan24 kiosk ($1.75 first page)
- Loanable Wi-Fi hotspots
- National Library Service (NLS) braille and talking books for eligible patrons
- Book group sets for adults
- Interlibrary loan via requestIT CT statewide ILL
- Local History Room (non-circulating; staff-retrieved; scan/photocopy permitted)
🎸 Programs
- Children's programming in the 'Dinosaur Containment Unit' children's room
- Teen Zone with advisory board, Dungeons & Dragons drop-in, and seasonal craft events ('Teen Crafternoon')
- Summer reading programs for all ages
- Adult events and author talks
- Genealogy research assistance (in-library, AncestryLibrary)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Hartford County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Southington · Browse all Connecticut libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Southington get its new library building, and what is different about it?
The new Southington Public Library opened on December 2, 2024 at 255 Main Street after construction began in July 2023. The $16.9 million, 24,000-square-foot two-story building replaced a facility that had stood since 1974. Standout features include a drive-through book return at the rear, a brick patio, a community room, and dedicated spaces for children (the 'Dinosaur Containment Unit') and teens.
Can I use my Southington library card at other Connecticut libraries?
Yes. Southington is a member of Library Connection, Inc. (LCI), a consortium of 57 Central Connecticut libraries, so you can borrow from any LCI partner library and have items delivered to Southington for pickup. The library also participates in borrowIT CT, giving you reciprocal borrowing privileges at all 191 public libraries across Connecticut.
Does the library have genealogy and local history resources?
Yes. The Local History Room holds a non-circulating collection including digitized Southington high school yearbooks (1951–1989), Civil War letters from Captain Andrew Upson (1864), city directories, maps, photographs, and obituaries. AncestryLibrary — covering census, vital records, immigration, and military records — is also available on library computers with a Southington card. The town's original 1902 library building at 239 Main Street is now home to the Southington Historical Society.
What free digital resources can I access with a Southington library card from home?
With a Southington Public Library card you can access the eGO CT statewide eBook and audiobook platform (free Palace app), Connecticut's researchIT CT portal (EBSCO, Consumer Reports, Transparent Language, LearningExpress, and the Hartford Courant back to 1764), Kanopy streaming films, and Transparent Language for 110+ language courses — all free and available remotely 24/7.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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