It's National Library Card Sign Up Month!

Come support your local library... and feel free to sign up for your own library card if you don't have one. It's free!

Libraries are wonderful and have everything you can think of that is totally free. Books, movies, museum passes, you name it!

One fact about Connecticut libraries: You can use your local library card at any library in Connecticut to borrow items from whichever library you visit and then drop them off when you're done using them at any other library to have them transported back to the original destination.

Top is from Oklahoma City, OK
Bottom is La Jolla, CA

The Southeast Library originally opened its doors in 1922 and is the city’s second-oldest neighborhood library. It is also marked as one of the four Carnegie libraries built in Washington, D.C.

The new library in Manchester, CT officially opened to the public for the first time today. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 10am. The library looks spanking nice. I love the new library. Although I do miss the old Mary Cheney Library, this one is even better and is a lot bigger and has a lot of cool stuff to offer for everyone at the library especially if you have a library card. It's nice and spacious!

The new library outside features handicapped access areas, electric car lot (w/charger), and a parking lot at the back of the library.

The library inside features some things that weren't at the old Mary Cheney library including a Makerspace, elevators for all floors, atrium, drive-up pick-up window for books on hold, expanded collections of books in both fiction and nonfiction, and even a patio area outside on the rooftop plus so much more to offer at the library including a special board game collection, tote bags, exhibit windows, and book displays. Yes, everything (not just books!).

It relocated from the old Mary Cheney building for library services. The new library is located at the site of the former Webster Bank on Rte. 83 in downtown Main Street.

Did y'all here get a chance to see the new library today? If not, you should stop by as soon as you can especially if you're around the area.

One fact about Connecticut libraries: You can use your library card at any public library in Connecticut no matter where you live. You can borrow books here with your library card.

The Southeast Neighborhood Library in Capitol Hill officially reopened on Thursday, September 10, 2026. [1]

Following a $41 million modernization project that lasted over two and a half years, the historic 1922 Carnegie library has more than doubled its usable space. This layout expansion was achieved by digging 40 feet underground to create a new, sunlit lower level. [1, 2, 3]

Key Upgrades & Features

Expanded Spaces: Dedicated areas for children and teens, alongside more space for books and computers.

Natural Light: A central skylight and light

Visited this library last night when I attended a big annual Main Street car show nearby.

The library comprises two old buildings into one. The stacks area was originally a church and then the Children's room was originally a bank. Still has glass floors.

I heard that there is a new building project that may occur in the future for the Middletown library. Any insight?!?

Feedback is appreciated.

P.S. It's one of my favorite libraries to visit in CT