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Bloomfield Public Library (BPL) is doing great things. We have a healthy, thriving library system. Our staff works to improve the quality of life for all of our residents and strives to be the heart of our town. The number of Bloomfield residents with a library card continues to grow, from 6,488 in 2019 to over 8,000 today. We have done a lot of work to identify and dismantle barriers to our residents using the library, but one barrier remains. We do not have the physical footprint that allows us to best serve our residents and the schools. Together with the Library Board of Trustees, the Town Council, BPL and Town staff, TSKP STUDIO, Downes Construction Company, and countless other consultants, we have been working to fix that problem.
CT State Library statistics show that libraries see a surge in usage following a major building improvement. This was true for all of our neighboring towns when they opened new libraries. This coincides with findings from a 2021 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: “We use an event study methodology to show that library capital spending has at least two effects. First, capital library investments cause patrons to use the library more. More residents visit the library, the stock of library materials increases, and more children attend library events. Second, library capital investments cause students to perform better on standardized tests. In particular, we observe persistent improvement in reading test scores in the years after library capital spending.” We continue to see an uptick in use across many metrics, and we know that if we build it, even more people will come. The benefits to residents of all ages will be multifold and we know that Bloomfield Public Library will improve the quality of life for all residents, including our students and seniors. We’re here for you!
You can learn more about what has been going on about the library buildings project by watching the most recent Library Board and Library Building Committee meetings or by listening to the upcoming Town Council meeting this Monday night.
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