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Passport To CT Libraries

Passport to Connecticut Libraries

When is Passport to Connecticut Libraries?

Passport to Connecticut Libraries runs every other year. This year it will happen April 1-30, 2026.

How does it work?

Beginning April 1st, stop by your local library and pick up your program passport and a list of participating libraries. Then visit as many of those libraries as you like between April 1 and April 30, get your passport stamped (and maybe pick up some cool library swag), and turn your passport in no later than May 11th to be entered into the prize drawing.

Here are the official Guidelines and Contest Rules for Patrons.

Which libraries are participating?

Here is a PDF with a list of participating libraries.  There is also a map you can use with your family to keep track of libraries you have visited.

Do I have to have a library card to participate?

Nope – but we hope you’ll sign up for one at your local library if you don’t have one already! Remember, library cards are FREE!

Do I have to visit all of the libraries?

No. Anyone who visits at least five different participating libraries will be entered into the random drawing for one of our prizes. (Check the list that comes with your passport to be sure the libraries you visit are participating – only stamps from officially participating libraries count for the prize drawing.)

Tell me more about these prizes!

This year, we have SIX chances to win a $200 Visa gift card! We’ll be holding random drawings from all participants throughout the state in each of six catagories: adult who visited the most libraries, child under 18 who visited the most libraries, adult who visited more than 25 libraries, child under 18 who visited more than 25 libraries, adult who visited more than five libraries, and child under 18 who visited more than five libraries. (Please note that, since every participating library has to get their collected passports to the state coordinator, the drawing will not happen until June 15th.)

If I visit the main library in a participating town and their branches, does that count as separate libraries for the drawing?

Maybe! Since each participating location has to pay a fee to participate in the program (that’s how we raise the money for the prizes), some libraries choose to register each branch, and some don’t. Check that list of participating libraries to find out!

Why is Passport to Connecticut Libraries in the spring and not over the summer?

This program is a lot of work for the libraries that participate! Since summer is also a lot of work (it’s the busiest time of year for public libraries), it’s too much for libraries to manage both at the same time. That’s also why the program runs every other year.
So why do you do this program anyway? Because there are almost 200 public libraries in Connecticut (yes, that’s more libraries than there are towns!), plus school libraries, college libraries, museum libraries, church libraries…and every one is different! This is our way of showcasing the amazing variety of Connecticut libraries and how many awesome things our libraries are doing.