Darien Library
🏢 Connecticut Library Consortium · Darien, Connecticut
Darien Library
Darien Library has served this Fairfield County town since 1894 and, in 2009, opened a 54,000-square-foot building at 1441 Post Road that became the first LEED Gold-certified library in New England. It stays open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 11am–5pm |
| Sunday | 11am–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1441 Post Road, DARIEN, CT 06820
Phone: (203) 655-1234
Website: darienlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87H83G9C+CR (DARIEN, CT)
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📖 About Darien Library
Darien Library is the public library of Darien, Connecticut, a shoreline town in Fairfield County between Norwalk and Stamford. It was founded in May 1894 by George Platt Brett, Sr. and Annis Brady — the town chose to build and fund its own library rather than accept an earlier offer of Andrew Carnegie money — with Lucretia Cullen as its first librarian. For roughly five decades the library stood at 35 Leroy Avenue before a 2002 strategic plan showed the building had been outgrown. The community undertook what the library calls the largest private fundraising effort in Darien's history, with about 1,800 families contributing, and the current 54,000-square-foot building designed by architect Peter Gisolfi opened on January 10, 2009, welcoming 7,200 visitors on its first day. It is New England's first LEED Gold library, with geothermal heating and cooling, and today handles more than 350,000 visits a year.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1894 — the town built its own library rather than accept an offer of Carnegie funding
- Current 54,000-square-foot building opened January 10, 2009, designed by architect Peter Gisolfi
- First LEED Gold-certified library in New England, with geothermal heating and cooling
- Open late — until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday — plus weekend hours
- Serves more than 350,000 visits a year on Darien's Post Road
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Darien cardholders can stream, download and research free through the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- Welles Book Shop and the Café at Darien Library on site
- Interlibrary loan and statewide borrowIT CT delivery
- Dedicated Children's Library (closes 8 p.m. Mon–Thu)
- Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks and streaming media
- Reference, research and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Author talks and adult lectures
- Teen programs and homework support
- Summer reading
- Book discussion groups and community events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Fairfield County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in DARIEN · Browse all Connecticut libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Darien Library LEED Gold certified, and what does that mean here?
When the current building opened in 2009 it became the first library in New England to earn LEED Gold, the U.S. Green Building Council's standard for sustainable design. In practice that means features like geothermal heating and cooling, abundant natural light and on-site storm-water management, which hold down the building's energy use and running costs.
Is it true Darien turned down Andrew Carnegie's money?
Yes. When the library was being established in the 1890s there was an offer tied to Carnegie funding, but the town decided to build and pay for its own library instead. Darien Library was founded in May 1894 and has been locally supported ever since.
How late is Darien Library open, and does the Children's Library keep different hours?
The main library is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Children's Library closes a bit earlier, at 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Is there anywhere to eat or shop inside the library?
Yes. The building houses the Café at Darien Library and the Welles Book Shop, both operated in support of the library, so visitors can grab a coffee or browse books for sale during a visit.
🖨 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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