New Southington Public Library Is Open, Dedication Is Saturday: UPDATE

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A major moment in town history has happened as the new Southington Public Library at 255 Main St. is now, officially, open and it will be officially dedicated on Saturday.

The opening, which took place on Monday, Dec. 2, came after the library was closed for a couple of weeks in mid-November to facilitate the move from the old site nearby.

The new library is now open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Southington Public Library Executive Director Thomas Piezzo said the library will host a special dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Expected to be on hand, he said, are Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and state Rep. Christopher Poulos, D-Southington.

Southington's journey to its new, state-of-the-art library was a long one, but early reviews appear to be very positive of the new building.

In November 2021, voters approved spending $16.9 million for a new 30,000-square-foot library, a project deemed necessary to meet fire and building codes, provide modern services and amenities, and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

But throughout 2022, town and library officials learned cost overruns associated with supply chain and inflation issues meant the $16.9 million could only fund a 24,000-square-foot building.

After much debate about whether to seek more funding from voters for a 30,000-square-foot library, it was decided to build to the amount of cash approved at the polls.

Then, in April 2023, the PZC voted 5-2 to approve a special permit to build the structure, but doing so with a heavy dose of criticism over the building's design.

As a result, the library funded revisions deemed necessary to improve the design via its own budget/fund-raising campaign.

In July 2023, work began on constructing the new library, a process culminating with the move last month and Monday's reopening in the new site.

For more information on the Southington Public Library and the building project, click on this link.

From Oct. 31: 'Southington's Big Library Move Officially Underway: UPDATE'