All Meriden residents are eligible for a library card. Bring the following to the Visitor Services Desk:
You can print from either your phone or from a desktop computer in the library.
A staff person will be happy to assist you with scanning or faxing your document(s). The Scan EZ Center, located in the front of the library, consists of a touch screen monitor and flatbed scanner. Follow the instructions on the monitor.
Costs:
You can register for any of our programs through our library calendar. Navigate to our website, hover over “Programs,” then click on "All Programs," or select an age by clicking on "Children," "Teens," or "Adults." Once on the calendar page, click on the event you want to register for, then scroll down to “Registration” under the event details, input your personal information, and click "Register." You can also call and register with a library staff member.
We now have printable, in addition to physical, passes available through Museum Key! You can navigate to passes by museum or by date. You will need your valid Meriden Public Library card in order to make a reservation and print a pass. If reserving a pass by date, you will choose your date and then see a list of museum passes available that day and click “Reserve Now.” If reserving a pass by museum, you will choose your museum and then click “Check Dates” to see a list of dates available for that pass. To check out the pass on your chosen day, click “Reserve Now.”
Printable passes will specify “date of use'' and “valid until,” and send you a confirmation email where you can print the pass.
Physical passes will specify a pickup date and a due date. You must go to the Information Desk to check out a physical pass and bring the pass back by the due date. Please note the museum pass policies:
Meriden Public Library lends WiFi Hotspots to adults, ages 18 and above, with a valid library card from anywhere in Connecticut. The Visitor Services Desk will enter Connecticut residents with cards from non-LION libraries into the system. Holds will not be placed on hotspots and are circulated on a first come, first served basis. A hotspot can be held for pickup for 2 hours if the patron calls and indicates that they can meet this deadline. In addition, only one hotspot can be checked out per household for three weeks at a time, with no renewals. After a patron has returned a hotspot, they must wait 2 days before checking out another. This will allow for wider circulation of our hotspots. A fee of $5 per day will be charged for those who return the hotspot late. Unreturned hotspots will have service cut off, resulting in the hotspot no longer providing WiFi access. In addition, a replacement fee of $85.00 will be charged for lost or stolen hotspots. Please note: the hotspot must be returned during library business hours; DO NOT place the hotspot in the bookdrop or return to a different library.
A specific item (book, audiobook, DVD, etc.) can be requested via one of the following:
The Meriden Public Library offers free notary services. Please call the Information Desk ahead of time at (203) 630-4734 to ensure the notary public is available OR to make an appointment.
The Meriden Public Library notary public DOES NOT notarize the following:
The notary public will notarize select court documents. Notary services are free, but fees may be charged for any documents that need to be printed via our printing services.
Other notary resources:
Please check with each resource on notary service fees.
Go to the app store on your smart device (phone or tablet), and download the Hoopla and/or Libby app. You will need to use your library card to create an account for either app. Alternatively, from your personal computer, navigate to Libby and Hoopla and use your valid Meriden library card to create an account for each resource. You may download a total of 10 titles per month on Hoopla, and a total of 10 titles per month on Libby.
We have a great resource called AtoZ Databases that you can access in-house only with your valid Meriden library card. Look up businesses, executives, mailing lists and sales leads, jobs or internships, and people. To access AtoZ, visit our Online Resources page on the library website and click on "View Resource (in library only" under AtoZ Databases.
We have several resources that you can use:
A fun and free way to learn languages. Personalized courses are available in 110+ languages, and speakers of 30+ languages can learn English in their own language. To access Transparent, visit our Online Resources page on the library website, then click on "View Resource" under Transparent.
Yes; children under the age of 18 require parent or legal guardian information and one form of identification showing child’s name on it such as: social security card, birth certificate, or insurance card; OR one of the following: student report card, school schedule, or school ID.
The Meriden Public Library offers 8 Meeting Rooms, 2 Study Rooms, and 3 Study Pods available for public use.
There is a fee to use our Meeting Rooms. Visit our Reserve a Room page for a full listing of fees. Please note that Meeting Room fees are waived for Meriden Not-for-Profit organizations.
Usage or our Study Rooms and pods are free.
Our resource Creativebug offers unlimited access to thousands of online video art & craft classes. To access Creativebug, visit our Online Resources page on the library website, then click on "View Resource" under Creativebug. You will need to create an account.
On the CT State Library website, with your Meriden Public Library card, you have free access to popular magazines such as Consumer Reports; newspapers such as the Hartford Courant; eBooks and eAudiobooks; journals with ResearchITCT OneSearch; CT digital collections; Ancestry.com; and more.
In-house only, you can navigate to NewsBank to access newspapers including the Record-Journal, at least 30 days back. This resource is only available on library computers. Alternatively, you can ask a librarian at the Information Desk to search the Record-Journal - 30 days back - on Newspapers.com.
We have a wonderful online resource called Learning Express, which can be accessed by visiting our Online Resources page on the library website and clicking on "View Resource" under Learning Express. Once on the site, you will need to create an account. In addition to preparing for the GED, you can improve your reading, writing, and math skills; prepare for college admissions tests such as the SAT; prepare for career exams such as nursing and military; take computer tutorials for Windows and Mac; and more.
The Meriden Public Library may have free tax forms or instruction packets on hand during tax season. Please call the library to verify which forms are available. Additionally, we can print any tax forms you need at the cost of 15 cents a page.
Visit our Reading Recommendations page! Included are book displays and other resources sure to provide you with your next great read.