How Do I?

All Harwinton residents can apply for a free library card. Stop into the library with any document showing residency and fill out a simple application. Children under 18 will need a parent or guardian’s permission and signature. Harwinton Library cards will be due for renewal every 5 years.

Stop into the library with your expiring or expired card. We will make sure your contact information is still accurate, then renew your card for another 5 years. There is no charge to renew your library card. If you have lost your library card there is a $.50 charge for a replacement card.

Select the link MY ACCOUNT at the top of the page to open the login screen. Enter your library card number; it’s the number printed beneath the bar code on your library card. Don’t type the spaces! Your PIN is the last 4 digits of your card number. You can also create an EZ LOGIN using your choice of name and password.

Library meeting rooms can be reserved up to 3 months in advance.

The library’s Conference Room seats 12 and has WiFi available. The Conference Room must be used during the library’s hours of operation.

The library’s Activity Room seats 49 and has WiFi and a projector available. The projector system plays BluRay, DVD, or projects from a laptop. The Activity Room can be used both during and outside of the library’s hours of operation.

Check availability of our meeting rooms on our Facilities Calendar. If the time you want is open, submit a reservation request. You can also reserve rooms by phone, or in person when you visit the library.

***If this is the first time your organization will be using our meeting rooms you must visit the library in person to sign a Room Use Agreement form.***

Meeting Room Policy
Download the Conference Room Agreement (pdf)
Download the Activity Room Agreement (pdf)

If you see a program you would like to attend on our calendar you can register by clicking on the Register button. We will contact you to confirm your registration. You can also register by calling us at 860-485-9113 or register in person at the front desk when you visit the library.

To request a book or other item in our catalog, use the Place Hold button below the item. You’ll be asked to log in to your library account to complete the request. We will pull the requested book and hold it for you at the front desk. If the book is currently checked out, you will be put on a waiting list and we will notify you when it is available. You can also call us at 860-485-9113 to request an item by phone.

Log in to your library account on our homepage. Under Account Summary select View Loans to see all items currently checked out to you. Use the Renew Loan button to renew an item for an additional 2 weeks. You can renew twice. If you get a message saying Unable to Renew, other patrons are waiting for the item and the loan cannot be extended.

The library offers downloadable books and audiobooks on a variety of platforms. These items can be downloaded to a computer, cellphone or mobile device. You will need a valid Harwinton Library card to borrow downloadable titles. Visit our Stream & Download page for direct links to our downloadable collections.

The Library has 6 WiFi Hotspots available for lending. Our Hotspots operate on the Sprint cellular network and can support up to 10 devices. In order to borrow a Hotspot you must be 18 or older and a patron in good standing in our system for at least 30 days. Your signature on our User Agreement and a $20 deposit are required. HotSpots circulate for 2 weeks. They do not appear on our shelves; please ask at the front desk for a HotSpot or place a request through our catalog. Search “hotspot” in the catalog.

View the HotSpot User Agreement

Request the pass in person at the Circulation Desk
Call us at 860-485-9113 and place the request with a staff member
Search our online catalog for the museum pass you want and click the PLACE HOLD button to reserve it.
Museum passes can be reserved up to 2 days in advance.

If an item you want is not in our collection you can request an Interlibrary Loan by
– emailing a request to interlibraryloan@harwintonlibrary.org
– filling out an Interlibrary Loan Request form at the Circulation Desk
– making a request by telephone during our normal business hours, 860-485-9113
The Harwinton Public Library can only process Interlibrary Loans for Harwinton residents.
Non-residents must make ILL requests through their local library.

Our Book Discussion groups are informal and new members are always welcome. Copies of each month’s books are available to borrow at the front desk. The Afternoon Book Club meets the 3rd Thursday at 1:30 pm. The Evening Book Club meets the third Monday at 7 pm. Check our home page to see our upcoming books and meeting dates.

We will consider all purchase requests by our registered patrons. Purchase request forms are available at the front desk, or you can email us a purchase request.
Access Purchase Request Form

The library welcomes your suggestions for possible programs, speakers or classes. Whether you have a specific program in mind or just a topic you would like to learn more about, we would like to hear from you. Stop in and speak to a staff member or submit your suggestions here: staff@harwintonlibrary.org

The library can print and copy documents in letter or legal size. You can print from a library PC or directly from your thumb drive or mobile device. You may make your own copies or ask a staff member for assistance.
Prices:
Black & White: $.15/page
Color: $.50/page
The library cannot accept electronic payments. Please provide cash or check.

The library’s fax machine may be used to send or receive faxes. We charge $1.00/page, including cover sheet. The library has blank cover sheets if needed. Please bring fax requests to the front desk and a staff member will assist you.

The library’s Activity Room serves as our gallery space. Art shows are exhibited for two months at a time. Artists who are interested in exhibiting their work in the library should contact the Director to discuss a possible show.
The library also has two display cases where artists and collectors can share small works, memorabilia, curiosities and collections. If you would like to share a display here at the library, please contact the Director.

The Library subscribes to Ancestry.com Library Edition. Here you can find census, military, court, land, probate, vital and church records and much more. Ancestry Library Edition can only be used within the library, on our public computers or your laptop or mobile device. There is no remote access. If you would like help getting started, Harwinton’s Town Historian, Susan Fenn McClen, offers one-on-one help with genealogical research. Ask a staff member about scheduling a help session.
You can use your Harwinton Library card to access many online genealogy resources from the Connecticut State Library.
https://researchitct.org/genealogy
The Library also has print materials that may help you in your research, including copies of the Lewis S. Mills classbooks for the years 1962 – 1995.

There are lots of ways to support your library!
Volunteer
Donate
Become a Friend
The very best way to support your library is by using it. Plan a library visit soon!