Enfield Public Library
🏢 Town of Enfield · Library Connection, Inc. · Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield Public Library
Founded in 1874 and dedicated to 'attaining humanity's goal: justice and peace through learning,' the Enfield Public Library has grown from a subscription reading room into a two-location Hartford County system — including an active Carnegie branch from 1914 — offering instrument lending, art kits, 30+ museum passes, and a homebound delivery service.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 104 Middle Road, Enfield, CT 06082
Phone: (860) 763-7510
Website: enfieldpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 87H9XCPW+27 (Enfield, CT)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Enfield Public Library
The Enfield Public Library traces its roots to 1874, when the Enfield Library Association was founded as a subscription library. The first publicly funded branch opened April 11, 1896. In 1910, local resident John Pickens successfully petitioned Andrew Carnegie, who donated $20,000 to build a new public library; the resulting Pearl Street Branch opened May 5, 1914, and remains an active library today. The current Central Library at 104 Middle Road opened in 1968, dedicated to the ideal of 'attaining humanity's goal: justice and peace through learning.' In 2024, the library system celebrated 150 years of continuous service to Hartford County. A member of Library Connection, Inc., the library circulates more than 352,000 items annually to a community of approximately 44,654 residents, and offers one of Connecticut's most distinctive lending programs — musical instruments paired with online lessons, and art kits funded by a state arts grant.
⭐ What makes this library special
- System founded 1874; Pearl Street Branch built with $20,000 Carnegie grant (opened May 5, 1914) remains an active public library — celebrating 150 years of service in 2024
- Member of Library Connection, Inc. — shared Vega Discover catalog gives access to materials from 27 Connecticut public libraries via enfield.lcicatalog.org
- 30+ museum passes available (USS Constitution Museum, Mystic Seaport, CT Science Center, Eric Carle Museum, Basketball Hall of Fame, and more) via MuseumKey printable system
- Instrument lending library: guitars, ukuleles, keyboards, violin, dulcimer, and drums — each with an instructional book and ArtistWorks online lesson access
- Words on Wheels free homebound delivery service brings any library material monthly to Enfield residents with a permanent or temporary disability or illness
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Enfield cardholders access Connecticut's digital collections and research tools for free:
📚 Services
- Words on Wheels homebound delivery — free monthly delivery to Enfield residents with disability or illness; contact Lisa Sprague at (860) 763-7418
- Instrument lending (guitars, ukuleles, keyboards, violin, dulcimer, drums) with ArtistWorks online lessons; 3-week checkout
- Art kit lending (watercolor, calligraphy, printmaking, wood burning sets); funded by CT Office of the Arts grant; 3-week checkout
- Museum pass program — 30+ institutions, physical passes from circulation desk and printable passes via MuseumKey
- Meeting rooms: Central Community Room (cap. 134) and Pearl Street Community Room (cap. 50); free for nonprofits
- Zenbooth modular study pod at Central Library
- Notary public services (call for availability)
- Outdoor Wi-Fi extending coverage beyond building hours
- Wireless printing, computers, and free Wi-Fi
🎸 Programs
- Rhyme Time — Mondays 10:30am, birth–24 months, drop-in; songs and movement for early language development
- Time for Twos — Thursdays 10:30am, age 2, registration required
- Terrific Threes — Tuesdays 10:30am, age 3, registration required
- Evening Storytime — 1st Thursday 6:30pm, ages 3–7, drop-in
- Homeschool Hangout — 1st Friday 10am, school-age children, drop-in
- First Wednesdays Open Mic — 1st Wednesday 6–8pm, all ages; music, poetry, rap, spoken word
- Page Turners Book Club — monthly adult fiction discussions
- Hooked: Fiber Arts Club — Mondays 6pm; knitting, crochet, and fiber crafts
- Drum Circle — select Wednesdays 6pm; all-ages percussion
- Pearl Street Matinee — Wednesdays 12–2pm; film screenings at the Carnegie branch
📍 Nearby Libraries in Hartford & Tolland Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Enfield · Browse all Connecticut libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Enfield has two library locations — what is the difference between the Central Library and the Pearl Street Branch?
The Central Library at 104 Middle Road is the main facility, opened in 1968, with a Community Room for up to 134 people, a Zenbooth study pod, the full collection, and extended hours (Mon–Thu 9am–8pm, Fri–Sat 9am–5pm). The Pearl Street Branch at 159 Pearl Street is the historic Carnegie building, opened May 5, 1914, with a Community Room for up to 50 people (Mon–Thu 10am–8pm, Fri 12–6pm, closed Sat–Sun). Both branches share the Library Connection catalog, so holds placed at either location can be picked up at either branch.
What is the history of the Carnegie library on Pearl Street, and is it still open?
Yes — the Pearl Street Branch is an active public library, not a museum. In 1910, Enfield resident John Pickens successfully petitioned Andrew Carnegie, who donated $20,000 to build a new public library. Construction was completed and the library opened to the public on May 5, 1914. When the current Central Library on Middle Road opened in 1968, Pearl Street transitioned to its branch role. The branch celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014 and continues serving the community today.
Does the Enfield Public Library deliver books to people who cannot visit?
Yes. The library's Words on Wheels program is a free homebound delivery service for Enfield residents unable to visit due to a permanent or temporary disability or illness. Library staff and volunteers deliver and retrieve materials monthly. To enroll, contact Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague at (860) 763-7418 or lsprague@enfield.org. A physician certification is typically required, though this is waived for residents of convalescent homes and assisted living facilities.
Can I use my Enfield library card at other Connecticut libraries?
Yes. Enfield Public Library participates in borrowIT CT, a statewide cooperative that lets any valid Connecticut public library card holder borrow materials from any of the 191 participating libraries in the state. Through the Library Connection consortium, your Enfield card also gives access to items from 27 member libraries via the shared Vega Discover catalog at enfield.lcicatalog.org. For items not available locally, the library can request them statewide through FindItCT.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
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