A modern library! It's located across from a sporting field (couldn't tell the sport but I could…read moreheard the cheers) and next to a school, the Stafford Library looks like a solid investment from the town. There is parking on either side of the building, and a drop off circle in front. There are some nice benches around the circle as well. There is a garden on the left (although not so much at the beginning of April). Inside there's a community area with books to purchase from the friends of the library, and books to check out. Many books. Books on both wings with checkout in the middle, and plastic shopping baskets are available for use. There is a genealogy research room, and lots of computers for the public. The atmosphere is quiet but not oppressive. The librarians were very friendly and kind.

Libraries are dying because of Amazon. Right?…read more Or are libraries dying because we have to resort to Amazon to make up for the shortcomings of the library? I'm a student, and I'm cheap. So I called my library looking for a $30 book that I didn't feel like buying. I was told that they didn't have it, but that they could order it for me from a nearby library and they would have it "by the end of the week". This was 10/23. The end of the week was 10/26, and no book came in. I received no phone call at any point. I called again on the 31st to make sure that they had in fact ordered the book (because the woman I spoke to the first time barely collected any information from me). I was told they had ordered the book, but that it didn't say it was shipped yet. I was told it usually takes two weeks to get a book. I called back today, 11/8, and the book is still not only NOT there, it still hasn't even been shipped. I'm on a fairly tight deadline, and I called EARLY to request the book. I told the woman I spoke with to cancel my order. I told her I was a student and on a deadline and had been waiting, and had been told I would have it sooner. She was not apologetic in the slightest. Nor did she even ask me if there was anything else she could help me with...she didn't even say goodbye or anything, she just hung up. (And don't get me wrong--I wasn't giving her an attitude or anything. Although I'm pissed off now, I was very personable on the phone.) I'm buying the book from Amazon, and guess what? It's going to be shipped to my door TOMORROW. THIS is why libraries are dying.

The Tolland library is part of a larger complex of town offices, located off their green. The…read morelibrary shares a lot with the police department. The library itself has plenty of parking, and is divided in two with the desk in the middle. It's well decorated with art completed by patrons on the desk. It also has later hours which make it easier to visit!

The library staff are all very nice and helpful. Since I have broad literary tastes, they…read morefrequently help me find (and order) less usual books through two inter-library networks they are part of. The library is also an attractive space where there are always people reading and sometimes doing picture puzzles. Oh, and the staff are always ready to help those of us less skilled in using the search system on the computers. All in all, a great place and a great staff.

There's a book sale downstairs throughout the month of September. I like this library. It is…read moremodernized and it is very pretty.

Great library! I enjoy visiting a few times a year when going to UCONN. The book sale fundraiser…read moreis always nice. I only wish that during business hours a live person would answer the phone (the few times I've called, I've always had to leave a message in the voice mailbox).

A lot more than books…read more The very first idea for a library in North Library Woodstock started back in 1854. However they was really no place to put the books so the idea of a library came and went. Finally in 1944 a room in a local church was designated as the official library and the books were unceremoniously shoved in it. That served for a few years until in 1950 an old school house that was built 1843 was handed over to the library association. The old school house was cool and quaint and still serves as the library today. Forgot about the books, this is a cool place to visit just to check out the building. You can still see the old blackboard hanging on the wall, the scorched marks on the floor from the old wood stove, the coat room where the kids hung their coats and even an old desk. Of course the old school didn't have indoor plumbing so the old out house is still in the back. In fact the library didn't get indoor facilities until the 1970's so that old crapper was in use until fairly recently. The very nice librarian was friendly and funny and gave us a grand tour of her library. Another one of these small town librarians that knows she works in a unique and amazing library so she can be real cool about it. A building that does indeed serve as a library but also as a window to the past. Old, quaint, historic and with a very, very cool librarian. This is a library that is difficult to find but worth the effort. You even get to see an old out house.

A library for angels…read more When we first found the Eastford Library the first reaction was, "that's the library?" It certainly doesn't look like a typical library, even in this area of untypical libraries. It kind of looks like a church, which does make sense considering it started off life as a church. Many small libraries started off life as other things. Old school houses are common as well as small stores, post offices, storage sheds and in one case even an old roller rink. Nice to recycle old buildings and I love the idiosyncratic feel of places that once were something else. This library is definitely unique and even once inside you stop and look around to make sure you are indeed in a public library. The top floor has the offices and some cool historic pics and displays and even some books. Look up and you will see a high ceiling and even an old balcony. Pretty cool. After life as a church the building became the town hall for a while before finally settling down as the permanent library. The bottom floor are where most of the books but the total amount is of course quite small compared to much newer and larger libraries. Old churches are cool but they don't exactly use space in the most efficient manner. A lot of the total volume of the old church/library is just sort of air, accessible by angels but not by books or people. The librarians were very nice and helpful and gave us lots of info about not only the library but the town and surrounding area. This is a beautiful part of the state that I suspect not too many people stop to see. That's too bad because this is definitely one library worth going out of your way to visit.

Libraries and lawyers…read more The very first West Woodstock library was started was back in 1806. As usual the books moved around to different places over the years and decades but eventually found a home in small building that was originally used as a law office. Not a very large building but the law office served its purpose well. The books ended up moving into their permanent home in the present library but a wise person decided that the cool little law building should move along with the books. So now the cool little library has another cool little building attached to it. Not a whole lot of room inside the library, kind of reminds me of a big hallway, but it has to be one of the coolest little libraries anywhere. The library and law building serves the community well and all kinds of events and programs take place here. No, it doesn't have a whole lot of books inside but it does have a very cool librarian, some great history and a whole lot of uniqueness.

We take our two kids (almost 3 and 1 1/2) here to Storytime regularly and to other events too and…read moreit is always wonderful. Sue, the librarian is amazing! She always has wonderful themes and activities for the kids and they LOVE it. Storytime is well attended by other kids and parents and it and the library itself are such a wonderful resource for the community. It's the kind of place you dream of taking you kids too. Great books, wonderful environment and dedicated and talented staff - all for free!!! We love our wonderful little library!

A very versatile…read morelibrary The Bracken Memorial Library actually is two libraries in one. It serves as the high school library for the Woodstock Academy but also functions as one of the four public libraries for the town of Woodstock. It's a modern and very pleasant library with a cool balcony and lots of room to spread out. A rather unusual floor plan makes finding stuff easy and there are little nooks and corners that allows you to find a place to study or relax. Some cool old pictures of rather stoic looking fellows grace the walls. The librarian there was exceptional friendly and seemed to enjoy telling us about the history of the town and academy. The old, original field stone library is just around the corner and can still be observed. This is a library that will continue to serve the academy and people of the town for many decades to come.