What a Free Library Card Gets You in 19 CT Towns

A free card from your town's library lends museum passes, Wi-Fi hotspots, tools and games, and it works at 191 public libraries across Connecticut.

borrowIT CT

The program, called Connecticard until recently, lets a Connecticut resident borrow with a hometown card at any of the 191 public libraries that take part. Books and other print items can go back to any public library, which sends them home through the state's delivery service; a library can ask that DVDs and other non-print items come back to it directly. Details are on the Connecticut State Library's page.

researchIT CT

The State Library's free research site is open to every Connecticut resident with a library card number, at researchitct.org. It carries newspapers, among them the Hartford Courant, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, along with magazine and journal databases that include Consumer Reports, genealogy collections and job-skills courses from LearningExpress.

Ebooks from the State Library

The State Library's eGO collection of more than 40,000 ebooks and audiobooks is shared by 178 Connecticut public libraries through the free Palace Project app. Once the app is on a phone or tablet, choose your library from its list and enter your card number.

The state parks pass

Most libraries in this guide lend a day pass from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that waives building and museum fees at three state parks: Gillette Castle (East Haddam), Fort Trumbull (New London) and Dinosaur State Park (Rocky Hill). It covers two adults and up to four children 12 and under. Parking at state parks is free for Connecticut residents in a Connecticut-registered vehicle.

Bethany

Clark Memorial Library is run by a private nonprofit, the Bethany Library Association, rather than the town, and the association's annual drive says donations pay for keeping the building open. The library charges no overdue fines.

Clark Memorial Library

Where: 538 Amity Road
Card: Free for Bethany residents with one form of ID or proof of address, such as a license, a state ID, recent postmarked mail, or a recent bill or bank statement. Residents of other Connecticut towns bring their hometown card and two forms of ID or proof of address. Cards last five years.
Borrow: Museum and park passes for eight places, among them the Beardsley Zoo, the Wadsworth, the New Britain Museum of American Art and the state parks. One pass per household at a time, for up to three days, first come, first served; call or ask at the main desk upstairs to see what is in.
Also: Curbside pickup Tuesday through Saturday during open hours, interlibrary loan, and a 3D printer for cardholders after a first-time orientation, at $1.50 plus 5 cents a gram.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Palace, Kanopy, Creativebug and researchIT CT
Contact: 203-393-2103 · ClarkMain@bethanylibrary.org · bethanylibrary.org

Branford

Branford has two libraries, and where you live decides which card you get: Stony Creek residents get theirs at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, and the rest of town at the James Blackstone Memorial Library. Blackstone is under construction from Tuesday, October 6, through the end of December, and most daytime programs, some storytimes among them, may be canceled or moved to evenings and weekends.

James Blackstone Memorial Library

Where: 758 Main St.
Card: Branford residents outside Stony Creek bring a photo ID with their current street address and a current bill, lease, mortgage or similar document; sign-up can start online. Residents of other Connecticut towns bring their hometown card and a photo ID. Everything is fine-free except museum passes.
Borrow: About 20 museum and park passes, reserved online up to three months ahead, two per household per day, among them Mystic Seaport at half price and the New Britain Museum of American Art, free for four. The Library of Things lends musical equipment, a cordless drill, a metal detector, sewing machines and more for a week, up to twice a month. The Toy Library lends toys and games to children and teens, and the free seed library is stocked from February 1 until the seeds run out. Laptops and iPads can be used on the library grounds.
Also: Limited free notary service by appointment: email npavain@blackstonelibrary.org or call 203-488-1441, ext. 321, and bring two photo IDs and the unsigned documents. Free scanning, paid for by the Friends, and free Wi-Fi with no password. Study rooms booked online. Brochures on citizenship and the naturalization test, and two toolkits on it to borrow. Printing is 25 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby, Palace, Hoopla, Kanopy, Consumer Reports, JobNow, researchIT CT and the New Haven Register archive
Contact: 203-488-1441 · reference@blackstonelibrary.org · blackstonelibrary.org

Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, Stony Creek

Where: 146 Thimble Islands Road, Stony Creek
Card: Stony Creek residents get their cards here; call for what to bring. The library belongs to the LION group, so its patrons can request books from any LION library.
Borrow: 13 museum and park passes, paid for by the Friends, among them the Beardsley Zoo, Mystic Seaport, the Mark Twain House and the state parks pass. Two at a time, for two days, no reservations.
Also: The library's passport agents accept applications for new U.S. passports by appointment, Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; renewals go by mail. The State Department's fees apply, plus a $35 processing fee. Notary service is free for Branford residents during most open hours; call ahead and bring a photo ID. Faxing is free, printing and copies are 10 cents a page, and scanning to your own flash drive is free.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Pronunciator for 87 languages, and researchIT CT
Contact: 203-488-8702 · librarystaff@branford-ct.gov · wwml.org

Bridgeport

Bridgeport Public Library has five open locations, and all five offer free notary service and lend museum passes from their children's desks. Its Digital Navigators work one on one with people at every location on signing up for affordable internet, job applications, résumés and getting online. The East Side Branch is closed for renovations, with no reopening date posted.

Burroughs-Saden Main Library

Where: 925 Broad St.
Card: Bridgeport residents print the application, in English or Spanish, fill it out and bring it with a photo ID and proof of Bridgeport residency. Questions: 203-576-7400, ext. 500.
Borrow: Six passes, first come, first served at the children's desk of each open location, for three days, among them the Beardsley Zoo, free for six people, and the Wadsworth, free for two adults. The Toy Library at the main library and the North Branch lends two items at a time for seven days. The Digital Navigators can say whether you qualify for a long-term laptop loan or a free laptop.
Also: Free notary at all five locations; call ahead and bring a photo ID, a second ID with your signature, and documents in English (main library: 203-576-7400, ext. 402). Passport applications at the main library only, by appointment, for new adult passports and renewals for minors but not adult renewals; the library charges $35 per application, in cash or by postal money order, and does not take photos (203-576-7400, ext. 432, or passportinfo@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org). The Digital Navigators: 203-576-7400, ext. 440. At Literacy Volunteers of Greater Bridgeport, based at the library, trained volunteers teach adults to read, write and speak English (203-576-7012). Meeting rooms at all five locations, pickup lockers and the Bridgeport History Center. Printing from your phone or computer to any location is 15 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy, Freegal Music, Mango Languages, LinkedIn Learning and researchIT CT
Contact: 203-576-7400 · burroughsref@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org · bportlibrary.org

The branches

Beardsley Branch, 2536 East Main St., 203-332-0025. Free podcast studios for Connecticut library cardholders 18 and older, up to 10 hours a month, booked at the same number, which also schedules the notary.
Black Rock Branch, 2705 Fairfield Ave., 475-501-6286. The Black Rock Seed Library, run with the Black Rock Garden Club, lets Bridgeport cardholders take up to four seed packs a visit and 12 a month. Notary: 203-576-7025.
Newfield Branch, 755 Central Ave., 203-576-7828, which also schedules the notary.
North Branch, 3455 Madison Ave., 203-576-7003, with a Toy Library. Notary: 203-576-8113.

Cheshire

Cheshire Public Library lends plenty that does not fit on a shelf: musical instruments, yard games, binoculars, a folding table and a Bluetooth party speaker, each for two weeks on an adult card. Its public computers need no card or guest pass.

Cheshire Public Library

Where: 104 Main St., with parking behind the library
Card: Cheshire residents bring ID that confirms their street address. Non-residents bring a valid card from another Connecticut public library and an ID.
Borrow: About two dozen museum and park passes, two at a time, reservable 30 days ahead and paid for by the Friends, among them the PEZ Visitor Center, the Zoo in Forest Park and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Wi-Fi hotspots for two weeks on an adult card, reservable; return them to the desk rather than the book drop. Board games for two weeks on any card. Up to four packets from the seed library on the lower level, with no checkout. Laptops with webcams for use in the building; without a card, leave a photo ID at the desk.
Also: Four study rooms, up to two hours a day, booked online or at 203-272-2245, ext. 33007. Wallingford Adult Education holds ESL classes at the library for adults 18 and older who are not in high school; students preregister with Wallingford Adult Education and bring a photo ID; ask the library when the next class meets. Printing is 10 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby; Kanopy; EBSCO eBooks; Mango Languages, which includes American Sign Language; Consumer Reports; researchIT CT; and the Cheshire Herald, the Record-Journal and the New Haven Register through NewsBank. Hoopla is not offered.
Contact: 203-272-2245, or the email form on the website · cheshirelibrary.org

Durham

Durham Public Library delivers to residents who cannot get to the building, free, up to 25 items at a time, with no overdue fees. To sign up, use the form on the library's website or call 860-349-9544, ext. 5. The library also lends a telescope and a pair of birding binoculars for a week.

Durham Public Library

Where: 7 Maple Ave.
Card: Any Durham resident or property owner. Adults show proof of residency with an address, such as a driver's license, a utility bill or a town tax statement, and give a phone number. Children 5 to 14 need no ID but come with a parent or responsible adult. Other Connecticut residents borrow with their hometown card; an out-of-state visitor can buy a one-year card, good only in Durham, for $30.
Borrow: 19 museum and park passes from PALS, the library's Friends group, among them Historic New England's 38 sites, the Basketball Hall of Fame and the state parks pass. Many are printed at home; physical passes go out for two days. Cardholders from other towns call 860-349-9544, ext. 1, to borrow one. Wi-Fi hotspots for a week, one per household, for Connecticut cardholders 18 and older. The telescope, the binoculars, lawn games and portable DVD and CD players, each for a week.
Also: Free photo and slide digitizing by appointment; bring a USB drive and call ext. 5. Two study rooms for one to four people. Scanning is free; printing is 25 cents a page, 50 cents in color, cash or check. An electric car charger.
Digital: Libby, with more than 3,000 magazines; Hoopla, four a month; Palace; Transparent Language; JobNow; and researchIT CT
Contact: 860-349-9544 · dpl@durhamlibrary.org · durhamlibrary.org

East Haven

Hagaman Memorial Library reopened on Monday, May 4, 2026, more than a year after an April 2025 flood closed it, and the library says it has more meeting space than before. A card from another Connecticut town gets the same services here as an East Haven card.

Hagaman Memorial Library

Where: 227 Main St.
Card: East Haven residents get a card on the spot with proof of residence, such as a photo ID, a driver's license, or a recent bill or piece of mail with their name and address. Residents 18 and older can also apply online and receive the card by mail in about a week. Other Connecticut residents bring a current card from their hometown library.
Borrow: Four passes on an adult card: the Beardsley Zoo; the Shore Line Trolley Museum, half price for up to four; the Wadsworth, free for two adults; and the Connecticut Science Center, 20 percent off for up to four.
Also: Notary by appointment for $3, which goes to the library; it does not cover wills, mortgages or medical and legal directives. Call 203-468-3890 or email chemingway@hagamanlibrary.org. Test proctoring for written tests when staff are available, free Wi-Fi, and tax forms with links to free tax preparation sites. Call for printing prices.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Palace, researchIT CT, JobNow and LearningExpress
Contact: 203-468-3890 · cgwiazda@hagamanlibrary.org · hagamanlibrary.org

Guilford

Besides its 27 Connecticut passes, Guilford Free Library lends passes to seven museums in New York and Boston — the Guggenheim, the Intrepid and the Museum of Fine Arts among them — to Guilford residents 18 and older, for three days. Its Toy Library is stocked for children with and without special needs.

Guilford Free Library

Where: 67 Park St.
Card: Guilford residents ask at the circulation desk with personal ID and proof of a current Guilford address. Anyone with a card from a LION library can borrow from the Library of Things.
Borrow: Connecticut passes, one at a time, among them the Henry Whitfield State Museum, Mystic Aquarium and the state parks pass; digital passes can be reserved a week ahead, and physical passes go out for one day. The Library of Things holds games, musical instruments, STEM kits and tech devices, from a metal detector and a car code reader to knitting and embroidery kits and video games, picked up and returned in Guilford. The Toy Library and the children's kits go out for three weeks with no renewals.
Also: Book a Librarian, a half-hour session on a harder technical or research problem, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 or 11 a.m.; call 203-453-8282. Study rooms and a sound-insulated booth, reserved in person or by phone up to a week ahead. Notary service at $10 per notarization, booked at 203-453-8282 or reference@guilfordfreelibrary.org; bring two IDs with your signature, one with a photo. The Wi-Fi needs no password and reaches the library's half of the Green. Test proctoring and 3D printing. Printing is 25 cents a sheet, $1 in color; scanning is free.
Digital: Libby; Hoopla, four a month; Palace; Kanopy; The New York Times; The Wall Street Journal; Consumer Reports; and Pronunciator
Contact: 203-453-8282 · refdesk@guilfordfreelibrary.org · guilfordfreelibrary.org

Hamden

Hamden Public Library's Library of Things runs past 50 items, free with a card, from a pressure washer and a pizza oven to a blood pressure monitor and a light therapy lamp. Through the state's Laptop ConneCT program, the library also gives a laptop to keep to adults with a Hamden card who are enrolled in HUSKY Health, Medicare, SNAP, CEAP or LIHEAP.

Miller Memorial Library and two branches

Where: Miller Memorial Library, 2901 Dixwell Ave.; Brundage Community Branch, 91 Circular Ave., 203-287-2675; Whitneyville Branch, 125 Carleton St., 203-287-2677
Card: At the desk, bring a photo ID with your current Hamden address on it; if the address is not on it, add a bill or other official mail, a checkbook, an insurance card or a pay stub. That card lasts three years. Online, Hamden residents whose address can be verified get a three-year card, and others a three-month temporary card.
Borrow: 19 museum passes reserved online and paid for by the Friends, one per family per day and two a week, among them the New Haven Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Wi-Fi hotspots at all three locations for Connecticut residents 18 and older, for three weeks. For a Laptop ConneCT laptop, apply at the Miller information desk and attend one of the orientation sessions; the number is limited, and applications are taken first come, first served. The Library of Things also holds dementia-care items such as an animatronic therapy cat and a fidget blanket, along with board games and a Nintendo Switch. The seed library, behind the mystery shelves on Miller's lower level, is stocked from February to June.
Also: Study rooms booked online, up to three hours a day. The Digital Navigators program, for people who have been incarcerated and their loved ones, sets up appointments for one-on-one help with computers; its grant funding ends in December (959-261-0689, kleak@hamdenlibrary.org). Free Wi-Fi inside and in the Miller parking lot, free phone charging at Miller and Whitneyville, and homebound delivery. For English and citizenship classes, the library sends people to Hamden Adult Education, 2040 Dixwell Ave., 203-407-2028. Printing is 15 cents a page, 50 cents in color, cash only; scanning is free.
Digital: Libby; Hoopla, cut to three a month on September 1 because of budget cuts; Kanopy; Palace; researchIT CT; The New York Times; Consumer Reports; and Khan Academy
Contact: 203-287-2680 · Info@hamdenlibrary.org · hamdenlibrary.org

Meriden

Meriden Public Library opened sign-ups on October 5, 2026, for Laptop ConneCT, the state program that provides laptops to adults who qualify; the devices are handed out at a required digital skills class in December. The library also has a free Digital Media Lab with Mac Pro computers, a green screen and studio microphones for podcasts, video and music.

Meriden Public Library

Where: 105 Miller St.
Card: Meriden residents bring a photo ID listing a Meriden address, such as a license, a state non-driver ID or a passport, or a photo ID plus a Meriden bill, mail delivered to a Meriden home, a lease or mortgage, or a Connecticut car registration. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian brings ID and one item with the child's name, such as a birth certificate, a school ID or a report card; teens 12 to 17 can show PowerSchool enrollment at a Meriden school.
Borrow: Museum passes, among them Old Sturbridge Village, the Mark Twain House and the Basketball Hall of Fame, paid for by the Friends; any Connecticut cardholder can reserve one after registering the card in person at the library. One pass per household per visit, reservable up to 60 days ahead. Wi-Fi hotspots for 14 days, for adults 18 and older. Laptop ConneCT is open to adults 18 and older with a Meriden card in good standing who are enrolled in a program such as HUSKY Health, Medicare, SNAP, CEAP or LIHEAP and have no comparable device at home; adults can apply for minors in their household too. Applicants are called in order of sign-up for an eligibility appointment; questions go to library@meridenct.gov or 203-630-4730.
Also: The Digital Media Lab, for adults 18 and older after an orientation, up to three hours a day and two sessions a week (Kristin Silvia, ksilvia@meridenct.gov). Free notary by appointment through the library's online form; Community Services, 203-630-4757, helps with the form. Free study rooms and study pods. For citizenship exam preparation, the library points to Meriden Adult Education's online class on Thursday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m. Scanning is free; printing is 15 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Palace, researchIT CT, Newspapers.com and Transparent Language
Contact: 203-630-4730 · library@meridenct.gov · meridenlibrary.org

Middletown

Russell Library is fine-free, and a Middletown resident without a permanent address can still get a temporary card. Its Memory Box studio turns VHS tapes, home movies, photos, slides and documents into digital files at no charge for anyone who books an appointment, Middletown resident or not. The files go onto a USB drive, SD card or hard drive that you bring.

Russell Library

Where: 123 Broad St.
Card: Middletown residents can apply online and have the card mailed, or come in with an ID and something showing where they live now; teenagers and children who live in Middletown can apply online on their own. Residents of other Connecticut towns show a valid hometown card. Temporary cards are available for residents without a permanent address, out-of-state visitors, students in Middletown from outside Connecticut, and people living in town for a while.
Borrow: Printable museum passes on an adult Russell card, among them the Mark Twain House, Mystic Seaport and the Florence Griswold Museum, and non-printable passes for any adult Connecticut library card, including the Beardsley Zoo, the state parks pass and KidCity in Middletown. One pass a day and four a month. Middletown residents can also sign up for passes to Wesleyan University performances. Book club kits, themed book bags for children, and Stay on Track Packs on telling time, fractions and other skills. Chromebooks for use in the library. Laptop ConneCT laptops go by drawing to eligible Middletown residents 18 and older with a Russell card who are enrolled in Medicare, HUSKY Health, SNAP, CEAP or LIHEAP; winners attend an eligibility meeting and a training session at the library.
Also: Book a Librarian appointments for research, technology and database help; a notary by appointment through the library's form; free meeting rooms for 2 to 20 people and small study pods; curbside pickup and Doorstep Delivery; free tutoring from WesTutors; and sign-up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Printing is 10 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby; Palace; Hoopla, four a month; Mango Languages; researchIT CT; and The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and the Hartford Courant
Contact: 860-347-2528, or the contact forms on the website · russelllibrary.org

New Haven

The New Haven Free Public Library lends Wi-Fi hotspots and Chromebooks for three weeks to any adult with an active card, and its Ives Squared center at the main library lends camping gear, kitchen tools, accessibility aids and more. Its museum and theater passes, including free tickets to Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre, are for New Haven residents only.

Ives Main Library

Where: 133 Elm St.
Card: New Haven residents of any age, college and K-12 students included. Adults bring a photo ID with their address issued within the past year, or a current photo ID and proof of a New Haven address, such as a bill from the last 30 days. A parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18. Residents of other Connecticut towns bring a photo ID and a hometown card that shows its expiration date. An e-card gives up to 120 minutes a day on the public computers plus the digital collection, and 30-day temporary cards are available. Cards last three years.
Borrow: For New Haven residents, passes to the Connecticut Science Center, the Beardsley Zoo, the Discovery Science Center and Planetarium and the Wadsworth, plus two free tickets per show at Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre; one pass per card, for two days, first come, first served. Hotspots and Chromebooks for three weeks, with a valid ID. The Ives Squared Library of Things, picked up and returned at the Switchboard desk. Book Packs, LaunchPads and early literacy kits in the Ives Children's Room. The Tinker Lab has 3D printers, Cricut machines and sewing and embroidery machines, some of which require staff training first. The New Haven Memory Lab digitizes prints, negatives, slides, albums, scrapbooks and documents by appointment, at 203-946-8130, ext. 140.
Also: Free beginner computer classes in the Ives Technology Center, and one-on-one appointments for technology, résumés and job applications at 203-946-8130, ext. 101. Passport applications at Ives: walk-in on Tuesdays, 4 to 6 p.m., and by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 3:30 to 5 p.m. (203-946-2280). The library charges a $35 processing fee and $15 for photos, on top of the State Department's fees. Free tutor rooms. The library does not offer notary service. For GED, citizenship and English classes, which state law requires every town to offer free, it points to New Haven Adult Education. Printing is 25 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby; Kanopy; Hoopla, five a month; Freading; Palace; Mango Languages; LinkedIn Learning; and five newspapers, among them The New York Times and the Hartford Courant
Contact: 203-946-8130 · refdesk@nhfpl.org · nhfpl.org

The branches and the Readmobile

Fair Haven Branch, 182 Grand Ave., 203-946-8115: a seed library, a free community room and two tutor rooms
Mitchell Branch, 37 Harrison St., 203-946-8117: a seed library, a free community room and a parking lot next door
Stetson Branch, 197 Dixwell Ave., 203-946-8119: a makerspace, with parking at the Q House
Wilson Branch, 303 Washington Ave., 203-946-2228: the Music Library, with instruments to play in the building during open hours on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. or by appointment; a seed library; free rooms; and free parking behind the library off Daggett Street
The Readmobile stops at early learning centers, schools, senior centers and community events, where people can sign up for or renew a card, borrow and return books and pick up holds. Groups can ask for a visit three weeks ahead through the library's website or at 203-946-8130.

North Branford

North Branford's two libraries lend lawn games, from cornhole and bocce to Spikeball and disc golf, to anyone with a valid Connecticut library card, and the same goes for the Library of Things and the seed library. They also lend Memory Care Kits, made for people caring for a family member or friend with memory loss.

Atwater Memorial Library and Edward Smith Library

Where: Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Road, North Branford, 203-315-6020; Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Road, Northford, 203-484-0469
Card: Free for North Branford residents with a current Connecticut driver's license or other proof of residency; there is no minimum age, and children under 14 need a parent's approval. Cards last three years. Residents of other towns get a card where they live, but any valid Connecticut card works for the Library of Things, the lawn games and the seeds.
Borrow: 18 museum passes for borrowers 18 and older, reserved by phone, for two days, among them the USS Constitution Museum, the New Haven Museum and the Regional Water Authority; a pass goes back to the library that lent it. The Library of Things holds a Nintendo Switch, a telescope, a microscope, a sewing machine, a blood pressure monitor, a slide scanner and a T-Mobile hotspot, among others; items and lawn games go out for seven days with no renewals, two at a time. Memory Care Kits for seven days, book discussion kits, early learning backpacks and Tonies. Up to five seed packets a visit at either library.
Also: Free Wi-Fi with no card number or password, and public computers that need no card. Seminar rooms for six and community rooms at both libraries. Homebound delivery. Printing is 10 cents a page, 25 cents in color.
Digital: Libby, with Craftsy and The Great Courses; Hoopla; Palace; researchIT CT; Consumer Reports; JobNow; and Driving-Tests.org
Contact: 203-315-6020 · director@nbranfordlibraries.org · nbranfordlibraries.org

North Haven

North Haven Memorial Library keeps a Self-Care Station stocked with toiletries, hygiene products for all ages, feminine hygiene items and wellness supplies, all free and open to everyone. Faxing is free too, up to 15 pages.

North Haven Memorial Library

Where: 17 Elm St.
Card: Full-time North Haven residents get a card at the desk with a photo ID, such as a driver's license, a passport or a state ID; when the ID carries an old address, bring official mail with your name and North Haven address too. A 90-day temporary card is available online for residents, and people from other Connecticut towns can borrow with the card from home. North Haven businesses and group homes can get free cards. Cards last five years.
Borrow: Print-at-home passes, among them Old Sturbridge Village, the USS Constitution Museum and the New Haven Museum. Physical passes, including the Beardsley Zoo, the state parks pass and the Connecticut Science Center, go to borrowers 18 and older for three days, one per family; call 203-239-5803 to see what is in. iPads and Chromebooks for three weeks, at no charge, for cardholders 18 and older or 14 and older with a parent's permission; non-residents must belong to the LION library group. The Library of Things includes more than 200 cake pans and cookie cutters, garden tools, a ukulele kit, an electronic drum set and a karaoke microphone, and there are sensory kits, memory kits for dementia care, board games, puzzles and sports gear.
Also: Notary service, free for North Haven residents; non-residents should ask about the charge. Schedule at 203-239-5803 and bring the document unsigned, with a photo ID. Five study rooms and homebound delivery. Scanning to a flash drive is free; printing is 25 cents a page, $1 in color.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Palace, Lote4Kids picture books in more than 100 languages, researchIT CT and The New York Times
Contact: 203-239-5803; the library publishes no email address · northhavenlibrary.net

Orange

Case Memorial Library lends its museum passes to any Connecticut library cardholder for two days, first come, first served, and a call to 203-891-2170 will hold an available pass for an hour. The seed library and the jigsaw puzzles run on the honor system.

Case Memorial Library

Where: 176 Tyler City Road
Card: Orange residents bring a valid photo ID with their current home address, or a document dated within the past 60 days that shows it, such as a lease, a utility bill, a pay stub or a property tax bill. There is no age minimum; a child comes along while a parent or guardian shows ID. Cards last three years. Residents of other Connecticut towns register their hometown card.
Borrow: 16 passes, one per family at a time, among them the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange, the Barnes Museum in Southington, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and the state parks pass. The Library of Things lends a cordless drill, a Cricut EasyPress, a heavy-duty sewing machine, a metal detector, a web camera and a Wi-Fi hotspot for seven days; some items are for adults 18 and older and need a signed waiver. Board games and Nintendo Switch games for 14 days, one per household at a time.
Also: Two free study rooms, first come, first served, and meeting rooms free for nonprofit groups and local government. Sixteen public computers and free Wi-Fi with no password. Some help with downloading ebooks during open hours. Printing is 15 cents a page; color, from a flash drive, is 35 cents.
Digital: Libby and Consumer Reports for Orange residents; Kanopy for Case Memorial cardholders; Palace; and researchIT CT
Contact: 203-891-2170 · reference@casememoriallibrary.org · casememoriallibrary.org

Prospect

Prospect Public Library offers free notary service, a seed library open to every gardener, and board games and puzzles that go home without being checked out.

Prospect Public Library

Where: 17 Center St.
Card: Every Prospect resident is eligible; adults show a photo ID with a current Prospect street address, and a parent or guardian applies for a child under 18. Visitors from other towns can borrow with a hometown card that has not expired, and a Prospect card works at any public library in the state under borrowIT CT.
Borrow: 11 passes, for Prospect cardholders and out-of-town patrons who have registered their cards, among them the Mattatuck Museum, the Carousel Museum and the state parks pass. Three days, one per family, returned in person to the circulation desk. Up to five seed packets a visit.
Also: Free notary service, with appointments strongly encouraged, at 203-758-3001 or through the online form; bring two current IDs with matching signatures, and the document must be in English. Wills, trusts, tax returns, I-9 forms, real estate documents and vital records are among those it cannot notarize. A community room for community and nonprofit groups. Help from staff, or an appointment with a librarian. Printing and copies are 10 cents a side, 25 cents in color, and faxing is $1 a page.
Digital: Libby, Palace, researchIT CT, LearningExpress and CT Learning Hub
Contact: 203-758-3001 · assistant.director@prospectlibrary.com · prospectlibrary.com

Southington

Southington Public Library offers notary service free to all patrons, by appointment, when qualified staff are on hand, and a Dementia Friendly card that stretches loans to six weeks. During open hours, the library also serves as the town's warming and cooling center when the Health Department calls for one.

Southington Public Library

Where: 255 Main St.
Card: Adults show a valid ID with their name and an address in Southington, Plantsville, Marion or Milldale; so does a photo ID paired with a document that carries a street address (a post office box does not count). When someone cannot provide proof, the director considers the request case by case. A parent or guardian signs for children under 14. Signing up online gives a three-month temporary card. Residents of other Connecticut towns can use a current hometown card, though many of the library's digital services are for Southington residents only.
Borrow: 18 passes reserved online, among them the Barnes Museum in Southington, Lessard Lanes in Plainville, where one game of bowling or mini golf comes free with another, and Old Sturbridge Village; one pass a day per family and four different passes in 30 days. Wi-Fi hotspots and Chromebooks for adults 18 and older, for three weeks with one renewal. In the children's room, telescopes, microscopes, a ukulele, VR goggles and cake pans, plus early-learning kits, board games, puzzles and toys.
Also: Six study rooms seat one to four people and can be booked as much as a week ahead, for two hours a day at most. Free notary by appointment through the Reference Desk; bring two IDs with signatures, one with a photo. Deeds, mortgages, wills and birth certificates are among the documents it cannot notarize. Scanning is free; printing is 10 cents a side, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby; Kanopy, seven a month; Comics Plus; Palace; researchIT CT; NewsBank; and Consumer Reports
Contact: 860-628-0947 · southingtonreference@gmail.com · southingtonlibrary.org

Wallingford

Wallingford Public Library lends 33 museum passes and about 75 things that are not books, among them an air compressor, a bike repair kit, GoPro cameras and a handheld translator. Its Tech Connect service, staffed by digital navigators, gives free one-on-one help in English and Spanish, including signing up for discounted home internet.

Wallingford Public Library

Where: 200 N. Main St.
Card: Wallingford residents 18 and older bring a photo ID and proof of residency, such as current mail, a utility bill or a rental agreement. Children in fifth grade or younger come with a parent or guardian; from sixth grade up, no ID is needed. Wallingford teachers and Choate Rosemary Hall students have their own cards.
Borrow: 33 passes, among them the Hill-Stead Museum, Wickham Park and the Zoo in Forest Park. Wallingford residents over 18 can reserve up to four in 30 days, online or at 203-265-6754, up to 30 days ahead; non-residents can ask for a pass on the day of the visit. Passes go out for two days. The Library of Things lends for 14 days with no renewals and includes a Wi-Fi hotspot and a Chromebook-and-hotspot kit, which Wallingford residents can reserve. Through Laptop ConneCT, adults 18 and older with a card who take part in SNAP, HUSKY or Medicaid, Medicare, CEAP or LIHEAP and have no comparable device at home can borrow a laptop for up to five years; apply by form or through Tech Connect, and call to confirm laptops are available. Kits for parents and early readers, video games, board and lawn games, and up to 10 packets from the seed library, one of each kind.
Also: Tech Connect, at 203-626-4774, and one-on-one career counseling. Study rooms for up to six people, up to three hours a day, signed up for at the Information Desk up to 48 hours ahead. Free meeting rooms for groups in or serving Wallingford. Free home delivery for residents who cannot leave home. Scanning is free; printing is 20 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby; Hoopla, four a month; Kanopy; Comics Plus; BookFlix; Palace; and researchIT CT
Contact: 203-265-6754 · wallingfordlibrary.org

West Haven

West Haven Public Library gives a three-month card to someone with no current residence in West Haven and renews it every three months until that person finds a place to live in the city. The Main Library and the Ora Mason Branch are open; the Louis Piantino Branch is closed, and the library says it is establishing a new location for Allingtown.

Main Library and Ora Mason Branch

Where: Main Library, 300 Elm St., 203-937-4233; Ora Mason Branch, 260 Benham Hill Road, 203-933-9381
Card: Adults 18 and older show a Connecticut license or non-driver ID listing their West Haven address. Another photo ID works too, if it comes with a utility bill, a mortgage or lease, or a postmarked letter sent to a West Haven address; a post office box will not do. A parent or guardian comes with anyone 17 or younger. University of New Haven students can get a semester card by showing their student ID and their list of courses. Residents of other Connecticut towns bring their hometown card and a Connecticut license or non-driver ID; New Haven residents can show a current Elm City Residency Card instead. Visitors without a card can get a guest pass for the computers at the Reference Desk.
Borrow: Museum passes booked through the library's online calendar and paid for by the Friends, among them the Beardsley Zoo, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, free for up to six, and the state parks pass; one at a time, for three days. Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots for two weeks. Laptop ConneCT long-term loans for adults 18 and older with a card from the same town who are enrolled in Medicare, SNAP, HUSKY Health, CEAP or LIHEAP and do not already have a similar device; sign up on the library's website or by phone at 203-937-4233, option 3.
Also: Hour-long Tech Help appointments with a staff member, booked ahead. Study rooms at both locations. Computers free for up to three hours a day per card. A bookmobile and homebound delivery for residents over 80 or unable to get to a branch, at 203-937-4233, ext. 4533. Scanning is free; printing is 20 cents a page, 50 cents in color.
Digital: Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Palace, researchIT CT, Ancestry Library, The New York Times, and JobNow, HelpNow and VetNow
Contact: 203-937-4233 · reference@westhavenlibrary.org · westhavenlibrary.org

Woodbridge

Woodbridge Town Library runs three swaps, for seeds, jigsaw puzzles and art and craft supplies, and none of them requires a library card. Its Library of Things includes a thermal camera, an eyeglasses repair kit and a knife sharpener.

Woodbridge Town Library

Where: 10 Newton Road
Card: Free for Woodbridge residents, who can prove where they live with a current Connecticut driver's license, a utility bill, personal checks printed with their name and address, or a receipt from the Registrar of Voters. Children of any age can have one; a replacement card is $2; cards last five years. Residents of other Connecticut towns register their hometown card. People who live out of state but own taxable property in Woodbridge qualify too, by showing a tax bill or receipt.
Borrow: 16 passes, many printable at home, among them the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Stamford Museum and Nature Center and the PEZ Visitor Center; digital passes carry no late fines. The Library of Things lends a GoPro camera, a telescope, a metal detector, a sewing machine, a guitar, a toolset and Wi-Fi hotspots, among others, for a week, renewable twice. Up to three free seed packets a day from the Seed Exchange, after filling out a membership form.
Also: Notary service, free for residents and $5 a document for others, cash or check, for most documents except wills; bring a photo ID and call 203-389-3433 first. Technology help by appointment with the reference librarians, at 203-389-3434 or reference@woodbridgetownlibrary.org. Study and meeting rooms booked online. A Digitization Station for photos, slides and tapes. Homebound service. Printing is 15 cents a side, 25 cents in color, and faxing is $1 a page.
Digital: Libby; Hoopla, five a month; Kanopy, seven a month; Palace; researchIT CT; Consumer Reports; and TeenBookCloud
Contact: 203-389-3433 · askus@woodbridgetownlibrary.org · woodbridgetownlibrary.org

How to help

Friends of the Library groups pay for most of the museum passes in this guide, and many pay for programs as well. Their used-book sales run on donated books, and each library sets its own rules for what it takes.

Bethany: To join the Friends of Clark Memorial Library, pick up a form on the library's lower floor or send it by email to ClarkMain@bethanylibrary.org. Friends volunteers work at events and sort the donated books sold in the foyer. The Bethany Library Association's annual drive takes pledges and checks, PayPal and cards.
Branford, Blackstone: The Friends of the Blackstone Library keep book carts for sale on the bottom floor all year. Donated books can be left at the unattended book drop behind the Volunteer Services Center building's parking lot, 30 Harrison Ave., or at the small drop at the back of the library. The library takes books in good condition, preferably from the past five years, plus textbooks, CDs, DVDs and vinyl, but not worn, moldy or marked items, encyclopedias, magazines or cassettes. Gifts can be made online or with a mailed form; the contact is Rhea Williams, rwilliams@blackstonelibrary.org.
Branford, Willoughby Wallace: The Friends of WWML pay for the museum passes, art shows, author talks and children's programs. Checks made out to Friends of WWML can be mailed or brought to the library at 146 Thimble Islands Road, Branford, CT 06405, and the library's website takes PayPal. To join or volunteer, call 203-488-8702.
Bridgeport: Literacy Volunteers of Greater Bridgeport, at the library, trains volunteers to teach adults to read, write and speak English: 203-576-7012.
Cheshire: The Friends of the Cheshire Public Library pay for every library event; none of it comes from tax dollars, the Friends say. Memberships run from $10 to $200, online or by check, and the Friends run a lobby book sale and an annual sale and take donations of materials (friendsofcplmembership@gmail.com).
Durham: PALS, the library's Friends group, pays for about 90 percent of the library's programs, costs nothing to join and gathers at the library at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. Gifts go through PayPal or by mailed check (PALS, P.O. Box 271, Durham, CT 06422). Anyone 13 or older can apply to volunteer. Call before bringing books, to check whether the library is taking them.
East Haven: The Friends of the Hagaman Memorial Library cost $10 to join, $15 for a family, and meet the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; questions go to Mary Cacace, 203-915-5869. The library takes gifts through PayPal, and checks payable to Hagaman Library can be mailed to 227 Main St., East Haven, CT 06512.
Guilford: The Friends, who number more than 600, prepare donated books for three sales a year, list some for sale online and bake for the fall sale, and they hold their meeting at 11 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. The library resumes taking book donations on Tuesday, October 13, after a pause. Teen volunteers contact Emma at 203-453-8282 or teenlibrarian@guilfordfreelibrary.org; children's room volunteers 12 and older contact Angelina at acarnevale@guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Hamden: Gently used books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs can be dropped off at any of the three locations for the Friends' sales. The Friends of the Hamden Library run Second Hand Prose, a used bookstore staffed entirely by volunteers on Miller's lower level and open five days a week; join with an envelope at the library or online. Gifts can also go through the Community Fund for Greater New Haven.
Meriden: The museum passes and many programs are paid for by the Friends, who sell secondhand books in their own bookstore; frankridley54@gmail.com, 203-630-4763. The library is not taking volunteers right now.
Middletown: On the second floor, the Friends of Russell Library keep the Book Nook, where people pick out and pay for used books on their own all year, and they hold a bigger sale on December 3 and 4; a family membership is $20 a year, and volunteering goes through the Friends. Books for adults and children, audiobooks and DVDs that are in good shape are welcome inside the library, never left outside or in the book drop; cassettes, CDs, records, VHS tapes, encyclopedias and magazines are not. Checks go to Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown, CT 06457, Attn: Lynn Harlow.
New Haven: The library is not taking volunteer applications for now, though Seth Godfrey (sgodfrey@nhfpl.org or 203-946-8130, ext. 212) wants to hear from people interested in helping with technology. Donations go to the NHFPL Foundation online, or by check mailed to 133 Elm St., New Haven, CT 06510; questions go to charitablegiving@nhfpl.org or 203-946-7454, ext. 314.
North Branford: Both libraries take book donations year-round during open hours: new or gently used books of all kinds, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, maps and local-interest items, but not encyclopedias, textbooks, damaged items, magazines, cassettes, VHS tapes or vinyl. A check to "Town of North Branford," with "library gift" on the memo line, goes to Atwater Memorial Library, Attn: Library Director. The volunteer application is on the libraries' website.
North Haven: The Friends of the North Haven Library run the lobby bookstore, which pays for programs, museum passes and equipment. Gently used books, DVDs, CDs and puzzles go to the Adult Service Desk on the first floor during open hours; magazines, dictionaries, encyclopedias and textbooks do not.
Orange: The Friends of the Case Memorial Library hold three book sales a year from donated books, which the library takes any time it is open. Volunteers help at weekly work sessions for the sales; friendsofcase176@gmail.com.
Prospect: Dues for the Friends of the Prospect Public Library run from $5 to $20. Book donations go to the Friends Bookstore in the Prospect Community Center, 12 Center St., during its open hours, two boxes or bags at a time, and never outside the library or in the book drops; encyclopedias, VHS tapes, cassettes, records, magazines and Reader's Digest Condensed Books are not accepted. Teens 12 to 18 can volunteer year-round by emailing assistant.director@prospectlibrary.com.
Southington: Gifts go online to four funds, among them the Friends of the Southington Public Library, whose Friends Bookstore can be reached at sofriendsbookstore@gmail.com or 860-628-0947, ext. 6516. Teens sign up to volunteer through the library's Teen Zone form.
Wallingford: The Book Seller takes donations at the back of the library, under its green awning, during its hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It takes gently used books, textbooks, audiobooks, DVDs, music CDs and jigsaw puzzles, but not worn items, magazines, encyclopedias, manuals, LPs, cassettes, VHS tapes or Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Volunteer applications have been closed since July 6, 2026; the coordinator is Kasey Goggins, 203-284-6458.
West Haven: The library takes gently used books and DVDs for its collection or the Friends' book sale. The Friends of the West Haven Library buy the museum passes and run the Fill-a-Bag sale (friends@westhavenlibrary.org).
Woodbridge: Clean, unstained books go in the donation basket inside the front entrance whenever the library is open. The Friends of the Woodbridge Library suggest an annual gift of $10 to $500 or more, run Bookstore Alley on the mezzanine and hold fall and spring sales; volunteers take a few training sessions and then set their own schedules (woodbridgectfriends@gmail.com, 203-389-3493).

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my library card in another town?

Yes. Under borrowIT CT, a valid card from your hometown library works at 191 public libraries in Connecticut. Bring the card and an ID the first time, and the desk will register you. Some extras stay with residents, such as New Haven's museum passes and Guilford's New York and Boston passes.

Do I need a permanent address to get a card?

Not everywhere. West Haven gives a renewable three-month card to someone without a current West Haven residence, Russell Library in Middletown has temporary cards for residents without a permanent address, and Southington's director considers requests from people who cannot provide proof. Elsewhere, ask at the desk.

Which libraries lend Wi-Fi hotspots?

Cheshire, Durham, Hamden, Meriden, New Haven, North Branford, Orange, Southington, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. Loans run one to three weeks, and most libraries lend them only to adults.

Where can I apply for a passport?

At three libraries in this guide: Bridgeport's main library, by appointment; New Haven's Ives Main Library, walk-in on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. or by appointment; and the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Stony Creek, by appointment. None of it is free: the State Department's fees apply, and each of the three adds a $35 processing fee.

Can I get something notarized for free?

Yes, at Blackstone in Branford, at all five Bridgeport locations, and in Meriden, Prospect and Southington, by appointment or when a notary is available. Willoughby Wallace is free for Branford residents, and North Haven and Woodbridge are free for their own residents. Hagaman in East Haven charges $3 and Guilford $10. Most will not notarize wills.

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