Bloomfield Public Library

09/05/2026

We’ve been trying for years to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Bloomfield, because we know what a difference it could make for early literacy. 📚

At BPL, we believe every child should have a collection of books that belongs to them, in addition to a rotating collection from the library. The Imagination Library would help make that possible, putting books into the hands of young children and giving parents another tool to build the habit of reading together every single day, from birth.

That’s also the heart of our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which encourages families to start reading together from birth and build a lifelong love of books and reading.

Books at home + books from the library = an even stronger foundation for lifelong reading. ❤️

Fingers crossed that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library makes its way to Bloomfield and beyond! 🤞

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — It’s been a week since Dolly Parton died, and her legacy may only be growing here in Connecticut. There has been a renewed call to expand her Imagination Library at …

09/04/2026

🎶 A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes! 🎶

This September, celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month with Bloomfield Public Library! 📚 Getting a library card is free, easy, and empowering! Just bring an ID with your Bloomfield address or a piece of mail to get your BPL card that can be used at any public library in CT. Every community member is entitled to a free library card from birth.

With a library card, you can unlock so much more than books, from free programs and workshops to streaming media, museum passes, job resources, and more.

And our library community is growing! 💙 7,552 Bloomfield residents had active library cards as of September 1, 2026.

Know someone with a new baby? Have a new neighbor? Tell them to “B sharp” and stop by the library to get a card today! 🎵📖

This year’s theme, “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes,” is a reminder that libraries offer something for everyone—no matter your age, background, or goals.

09/03/2026

Based on feedback from you, the community, we are starting two different discussion groups at BPL.

Conversations and Camaradarie: A Conversation Group for Men meets the 2nd Friday of the month at 10:30 AM at Prosser Library. C & C is a men’s group that provides a structured opportunity for men to connect with others. Facilitators work to create a welcoming environment, foster personal connections between individuals, and build a powerful sense of community. This group has been very successful at other libraries in the area. First meeting is September 11.

Brewed Awakenings Discussion Club meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3 pm. Over coffee or tea, we'll chat about a different topic each month, listen to each other's thoughts and ideas, and attempt to strengthen our community by coming together. Think book club without the book. First meeting is September 16.

Register at bplct.org Event Calendar or call the library to register. We hope to see you!

09/03/2026

📚 The Atlantic Magazine Discussion Group at BPL talks about so many interesting things, but this month’s discussion really hit home for our library staff.

Rose Horowitch’s article, “The Age of Reading Is Over,” in the August issue of The Atlantic was so interesting and brought up SO many things we need to talk about. But one thing really stood out to us in the quote above: "In the study of 236,000 American adults, only 2 percent read to a child on a given day."

If there is one thing we hope you take away from this article (and from your friends at BPL), it is this: READ TO YOUR KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, FROM BIRTH. 📖❤️

And while we’re talking about reading, here’s another important reminder: library cards are FREE for everyone, from birth!

It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month, so be like the coolest 7,500+ residents in town with an active library card and sign up (or renew) yours today! 📚🎉

Read. Read together. Read every day. And come see us at the library! 💙



Next Month's Atlantic Magazine Discussion Group meets on Oct. 6 at 11:30 AM at Prosser Library. More info here: https://bplct.librarycalendar.com/event/atlantic-magazine-discussion-group-prosser-17448

09/02/2026

You never know who is going to pop into our libraries! 📚⚽️ Today it was Dillon, the Hartford Athletic mascot! 💙

This cutie came to McMahon Wintonbury Library’s Storytime, and let’s just say he was a BIG hit with the kiddos, and our staff, too! 😉

And if Dillon’s visit left one message with our community, we hope it is this: Read to your kids every single day! ❤️📖

When he’s not cheering on Hartford Athletic, Dillon enjoys:
⚽️ Playing soccer
📚 Reading books (he read a dictionary the last time he was here!)
✨ Grooming his eyebrows (obviously!)
📚 Visiting libraries

Thanks for bringing the fun to Storytime, Dillon! We hope you’ll come back soon!

09/02/2026

Looking for gently used books at a great price? Friends of the Library have opened two spaces for ongoing book sales – The Booksellers’ Cellar at Prosser Library and The Annex at McMahon Wintonbury Library.

The Booksellers’ Cellar, our new dedicated space at Prosser, sells gently used books and media. Take the stairs or elevator to the ground floor (parking level) and turn left. All proceeds support special library programming such as Summer Reading.

SEPTEMBER DEAL OF THE MONTH
Summer ending too soon for you?
Get Fall Prevention with our September Special!
Health & Self Help
Buy One Get One FREE

Hours of Operation
Tuesday: 11am – 1pm AND 3 pm – 5pm
Wednesday: 11am – 3pm
Thursday: 11am – 1pm AND 5pm – 7pm
Friday: 11am – 3pm
Saturday: 11am – 1pm
Questions? Contact the Friends at the Booksellers’ Cellar during open hours: 860-769-3560.

As we build our volunteer teams, we plan to be open more days and hours in the coming months. Check back here for updates.

https://bplct.org/friends-of-the-library/book-sales-2/

09/02/2026

If you're reading this on social media you may ask yourself "Are there really people who have never been on Zoom?" The answer is yes! If you know of one of these people who want to try it out, send them to our Zoom 101 session. Librarian Sara Ray met with dozens of folks 1:1 during the pandemic to try out this resource that offers you access to BPL virtual programs and more. We'll meet at the Prosser Technology Classroom on Friday, September 4 at 2PM. Each experience will be customized - whether you've never been on Zoom or you want to learn how to set up your own meetings - but having access to your email while on site is a requirement (unless you only want to attend Zoom while using a library desktop - which you can do from either location). Call the library or sign up at bplct.org Event Calendar.

09/02/2026

📚 BPL Word of the Day: Ensh*ttification

We hope to constantly improve BPL Online, and we keep a close watch on all of the digital resources we provide, including our social media platforms.

So, what does ensh*ttification mean? (Courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Ensh*ttification is an informal word used to criticize the degradation in the quality and experience of online platforms over time, due to an increase in advertisements, costs, or features. It can also refer more generally to any state of deterioration, especially in politics or society.

As libraries continue to navigate an increasingly digital world, we're always thinking about how online spaces can remain useful, accessible, and welcoming for our communities.

That's also why digital literacy is an important part of what we hope to teach and foster in our community. Understanding how digital platforms work, how they change over time, and how they influence our experiences as users is an important part of being an informed digital citizen.

This connects directly to Goal 4 of our Strategic Plan: Strengthen Literacy and Learning Through Empathy and Access. Literacy today goes beyond books and traditional reading, it also includes having the skills and confidence to navigate, evaluate, and participate in the digital world.

And as a consumer outside of the library, you should be mindful of the platforms you use as well, especially the ones you pay to use or that make money from your attention and activity. It never hurts to ask: Is this platform still working for me, or is it working primarily for itself?

08/31/2026

Thanks to Attorney Jeff Rivard for returning to Bloomfield to educate us about Trusts! Join us on Thursday, September 3 at 2PM at Prosser Library. Sign up at bplct.org Event Calendar.

Is having a trust in your estate plan the best option for you? In this session, Attorney Jeff Rivard will demystify trusts and explain why a trust may – or may not - be suitable for you and why. First, you’ll learn about some of the most common types of trusts and the purpose and benefits of each, such as protecting assets, avoiding probate, minimizing taxes, and keeping public benefits for a loved one with special needs. Whether you are new to trusts or even understand them well, you’ll walk away understanding how and when to use these powerful planning tools to your advantage.

Can't make it? Be sure to check out BPL Online @ Youtube. Our Legal Literacy Playlist has a collection of Estate Planning videos recorded from previous Zoom sessions. Also, did you know we subscribe to Gale Legal Forms?

08/31/2026

Upcoming Voting Information Programs 🗳️

September is National Voter Registration Month, and BPL wants to ensure that you are prepared for the midterm elections. On Tuesday, September 1, from 6:00-7:30 PM, educator Donna Cohen will present a timely workshop, Beyond Voting: What You Need to Know Before the Midterms. Get the latest information on new and potential election practices and specific ideas for bipartisan civic/political engagement. You may attend in person at Prosser or on Zoom.

On Tuesday, September 15, from 4:00-7:00 PM, the Greater Hartford League of Women Voters will be at Prosser to get every eligible community member registered and ready to vote! If you have moved, changed your name, become a U.S. citizen, or turned 18, you will need to register. Beyond registering voters, National Voter Registration Day also works to make sure Americans are by raising awareness of state-specific voter registration deadlines and policies, educating voters on election information and their options for casting a ballot, and building enthusiasm for voting and democracy. Stop by and get your questions answered!