Waterbury Public Library

The Library is located at 28 North Main Street in Waterbury Village (phone: 244-7036,) in the historic former home of Civil War surgeon Dr. Henry Janes.  Here you’ll find entertainment, information, friendly staff, and free programs for all ages. Wi-fi connectivity and computers with Internet access are available free to residents and travelers alike. Home delivery is available for Waterbury residents who are unable to visit the Library.

The Library shares its building with the Waterbury Historical Society Museum. The Museum on the second floor may be visited during regular Library hours; however, it is not wheelchair accessible.

The Library offers programs for all ages. Story times introduce babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to the pleasures of reading, while older children enjoy after school and summer activities. Adults participate in book discussions, attend talks and cultural events, and learn new skills through a variety of workshops and presentations.

Click here to visit the Library’s web site or search the catalog. 

E-news
To receive a weekly e-mail newsletter with information about Library programs and upcoming events, send an e-mail to Programs@WaterburyPublicLibrary.com.

Hours
The Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Summer Saturday hours are 9:00 a.m. - noon from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Registering for a Card
Residents of the towns of Waterbury and Duxbury may receive a free library card upon completing an application and showing proof of residence. Adult residents of other towns may receive a library card by following this application process and paying a $10 non-resident fee. Children ages 5 - 18, and students with a valid school ID may obtain library cards free of charge, regardless of their town of residence. Parents must sign agreeing to assume responsibility for materials borrowed by children under age 16.

Governance
The Library is a municipal department of the Town of Waterbury, governed by a five-member Library Commission. Commissioners are elected at Town Meeting to serve staggered five-year terms.

…With a Little Help from Our Friends
The Friends of the Waterbury Public Library is a 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization which was organized in 1966 to promote and enhance the library, to be a liaison between the library and the community, to strengthen library services through financial contributions, and to provide volunteers for special projects and activities. Recently the Friends amended their Bylaws and Articles of Association to allow the organization to raise money for a library building fund.

From the beginning, the Friends have been involved in library improvements. One of the group’s earliest projects was bringing telephone service to the Waterbury Village Library in 1968. The Friends raised money to have the phone installed and continued to pay the Library’s phone bill for the next fifteen years!

The Friends bought the Library’s first computer, and more recently, helped purchase shelving and a new library sign. Ongoing projects include sponsoring Read for Life, the Library’s quarterly newsletter; the Books for Babies program, which gives a book to each child born to a Waterbury or Duxbury family; the annual landscaping of the Library grounds; and a summer book sale. In the fall of 2005, the Friends published a community cookbook. Copies of Good Food Among Friends are available for $14 at the Library and at Stowe Street Emporium.

Believing that many hands really do make light work, the Friends always welcome new members. Please contact the Library (244-7036) for information about how you can become involved.