On Wednesday and Thursday, Hamden Public Libraries will join  libraries all over Connecticut in taking a ‘snapshot’ – collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities on a typical day. This is the second Snapshot Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library, and the Connecticut Library Consortium. Last year, 136 libraries participated.

Last year, on Connecticut’s first Snapshot Day more than 80,600 people visited Connecticut libraries, people borrowed nearly 100,000 books, DVDs and other materials; close to 13,000 people used computers at their library; nearly 10,000 people attended a program or class at a library and 113,000 people visited Connecticut library websites.                                   

In these difficult economic times, Connecticut’s libraries are busier than ever, with people coming not only to check out books, but use computers, look for a job or attend the many programs our libraries offer.  All across the state, libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, places were people come together to visit, learn and share ideas.

On April 13, 2011 we hope once again to capture a slice of life of Connecticut’s libraries.  There will be a chance for patrons to comment on what their library means to them, and pictures from libraries all over the state will be available on the Snapshot Flickr page.  Please visit the Snapshot website, http://snapshotctlib.wordpress.com/ to find out more about this exciting project. Better yet, visit your local library on April 13 (at Miller Library, 2901 Dixwell Avenue) or April 14 (at Whitneyville 125 Carleton Street and Bundage-Community 91 Circular Avenue branch libraries) and become a part of Snapshot Day 2011.  Call 203 287-2680 for more information about Hamden Libraries’ participation in Snapshot Day 2011.