Opportunities at Bridgeport Public Library

 

Working for Bridgeport Public Library

As an urban library, the Bridgeport Public Library system has an essential role to play in improving the quality of life for city residents and contributing to the core revitalization of the city.

The Bridgeport Public Library has responded to community needs by expanding the hours of operation system-wide with respect to downtown revitalization and increased demand for the Library as a safe haven after school. With both the Urban Libraries Council report "Making Cities Stronger," and the Bridgeport Master Plan as a blueprint, the Bridgeport Public Library has engaged Princeton, New Jersey based Library Development Solutions to develop the Library's next Long Range Strategic Plan.

The Library’s Board of Directors is in the process of establishing a library foundation to raise major gifts on behalf of the Library. The new Library foundation will make an attempt to tap into both longstanding regional resources and new players in the economic development engine.

The renovation of the Library’s Black Rock Branch, which will double the size of the existing 1927’s facility, is well underway and slated for completion by June of 2008. Further, City Librarian Scott A. Hughes worked in concert with immediate past Mayor John M. Fabrizi to purchase a relatively new “green” bookmobile from the Seattle Public Library which is expected to begin service by February 15, 2008. The mobile services unit of BPL will be used to build the Library’s capacity to forecast the library service needs of the entire Bridgeport Community neighborhood by neighborhood.

About the Library:

Bridgeport Public Library is comprised of a main library and four branch libraries: Black Rock Branch currently under renovation; Newfield Branch Library serving Bridgeport’s East End; North Branch serving the North End; and Old Mill Green Library serving the East Side.  A newly acquired Bookmobile will be on the road soon.

Burroughs & Saden Memorial Library in the heart of downtown Bridgeport is the main library, and houses the superb Historical Collections which attracts visitors and researchers from all over the world; Information Services includes reference, business, Fine Arts and general materials as well as a computer lab for adults; Popular Library which provides leisure reading, non-fiction, and language materials, YA literature, music and movies; Children’s Department which provides for children from birth to age 14 including books, videos, music, Play and Learn Kits and Discovery boxes as well as a homework center with computers.

About the City:

As the largest municipality in Connecticut, Bridgeport is one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S. The city covers 16 sq. miles on the shore of Long Island Sound, approximately 60 miles northeast of New York City. The population of 140,000 is quite diverse with more that 60 different languages spoken at home.

Bridgeport is enjoying a  strong renaissance with major developments in the implementation stage including but not limited to the Steel Point mixed use development ($1.3 billion), Urban Green Builders ($62 million), 333 State Street ($9.2 million), Magic Johnson’s mixed-use Bridgeport Sound Developments ($222 million), the Remington luxury high-rise complex ($600 million), the Bijou Square ($28 million), and an unprecedented $25 million dollar investment from General Electric Co.  New Mayor Bill Finch is star-studded and expected to bring even more prowess to Connecticut’s largest city with many other projects in the ballast.

Downtown Bridgeport:

The City of Bridgeport’s economic renaissance includes new living spaces and Artist lofts situated in renovated historic buildings, (bportliving, urbangreenbuilders), diverse restaurants, Housatonic Community College, a new Bridgeport Transportation Center within walking distance to Bridgeport Public Library.

For Art lovers Bridgeport is home to the Housatonic Museum of Art, the Barnum Museum, the Discovery Museum, and the City Lights Gallery, For Theater lovers the City offers Playhouse on the Green, the Downtown Cabaret Theater and the Klein Memorial Auditorium. With a short drive you can also enjoy the Shubert or the Yale Repertory Theater. Located only 12 miles from the famous Westport County Playhouse and 19 miles from Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, theater lovers are never very far away from the stage!


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