by John McNamara
Sponsors and attendees at the New Britain Public Library’s (NBPL) 10th Annual Fundraiser on Friday, April 10th will enjoy food, music and camaraderie with NBPL patrons, staff and volunteers right next to the book stacks and reading areas this year.
The event will be held at the High Street main library to showcase recent changes in the way librarians provide services and to give the public a say in what happens next. “We are throwing a party at the library to celebrate!” reads the invitation. “We will also show how your support can help shape the vision for the New Britain Public Library of the future.”
The party goers will not only get a firsthand tour of the 20 High Street main branch. Floor plans will be on display in each department where attendees will have an opportunity to offer feedback on what they would like to see in a future library. It is part of an outreach campaign and expanded community engagement to serve more residents.
Last year the main floor of the library was transformed. The circulation and reference desks were merged into a “one desk” model. The new configuration opens more space for visitors to read, research or obtain information on computers. Five study rooms, named “The Vance Forum”, are “multi-functional spaces” for quiet study one-on-one meetings or group study and conferencing.
Library Director Viktor Sjoberg describes the redesigned gateway to the rest of the library as space that is “more intuitive. People understand where to go.” At the one-stop service desk librarians can respond to whatever visitors are seeking, instead of unconnected circulation and reference services.
Since he joined the NBPL in early 2024 Sjoberg’s quest has been to “build an infrastructure for reading” in the city that involves residents of all ages. The library experienced a 5% increase in visitors in 2025 as the interior renovations were occurring. There were 158,250 visits compared to 2024’s 150,963, a 24% increase over the previous year, according to Sjoberg. “Considering our continuous work to make our spaces more welcoming, usable, we anticipate that use of our facilities will continue to grow.”
At the NBPL’s Jefferson Elementary School branch led by Adriana Pulit visitors increased by almost 3% in 2025. With its location in a K-5 school, the branch loans a collection of “toonie boxes” and figurines of popular characters from books, movies and shows. In addition to book borrowing children and families use the boxes for non-screen play and learning at home. The 400-pupil school on Horseplain Road is slated for a major renovation after 2028 that will presumably include new space for the NBPL’s only other location in the city.
Library programs and outreach are continuing to grow with full calendars of book clubs, presentations and activities every month. Presentations went up 40% from 921 to 1,286 in 2025. There was a 49% increase in adult program attendance last year and a 106% jump in attendance at programs for children ages 6-11, according to the 2025 annual report. The higher number for young people has been helped by the resumption of field trips to the library by public school third graders.
In keeping with a “New Britain Reads” campaign the NBPL rolled out its new Bookmobile last year that regularly shows up at community events and reaches into neighborhoods. The vehicle was made possible with a bequest from Margaret Plocharczyk, a literacy volunteer and retiree of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). “Little free libraries” have been established at Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) and the YWCA’s House of Teens. Sjoberg says more are being set up at five schools this year.
The library’s main branch consists of the historic Erwin (1901) and Hawley (1931) buildings connected by the newer Cooper building (1976) that were made possible through the philanthropy of the New Britain Institute’s leaders in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Erwin building roof has been replaced, and replacement of the Hawley building roof is the next major facilities project. The Hawley building houses the first stand-alone children’s library in the U.S. Director Sjoberg says HVAC improvements and upgrading the back entrance are also on the deferred maintenance list and await funding.
For Sjoberg and his staff the immediate challenge remains to increase the number of residents who have a library card, He says 16% of the city’s population has a library card, participation that is only half as much as the statewide percentage of 33%. Along with overcoming socio-economic barriers or distrust of public institutions’ policies, the challenge involves creating more awareness that today’s library is a welcoming place with a range of free services that can benefit residents no matter what their literacy and digital skills are. Sjoberg points to the addition of “free little libraries” for sharing and giving books and the bookmobile as “disrupters” to the status quo that can encourage more card users and as ways to bring NBPL services to the community “rather than have them to come to us.”
The 10th Annual Fundraiser for the New Britain Public Library will be held Friday, April 10, 2026, at the main libraris more vital than ever. More people are coming through our doors, the number of library card holders is going up, and New Britain residents of all ages are swarming to our programs like never before. Because of our strong community support, we are able to do remarkable things.
In recognition of this, we are throwing a party at the library to celebrate! We will also show how your support can help shape the vision for the New Britain Public Library of the future.
The 10th Annual NBPL fundraiser will be held at the main library on April 10th featuring a buffet, desserts, live music from the NBHS Jazz Band, raffle, tours and a cash bar. Interested persons are encouraged to purchase tickets at the library or online but tickets will be available at the door.
Where: New Britain Public Library, 20 High Street, New Britain, CT 06051
When: Friday, April 10, 2026 from 5:30PM – 8:30PM.
New Britain Public Library’s 10th Annual Fundraiser | NEW BRITAIN INSTITUTE (Powered by Donorbox)
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