The Hagaman Memorial Library has been closed for 6 months due to flooding and the library is being restored now. The Hagaman staff plans to re-open in January of 2026. For now, the library offers free access to e-books with a library card through Hoopla Digital, a digital reading app. You can still get an EH library card at the James Blackstone Library in Branford, visit the pop-up libraries and programs around town, and access any library in CT using your EH library card.
On April 15th, a water pipe, which was installed by a company unknown to the public, burst in the library causing serious water damage. The repairs took a while to begin because of the complexity of insurance companies. Mayor Carfora wrote a newsletter saying “While working with insurance companies can take time, it was a necessary step to ensure this project could move forward without placing any financial burden on the taxpayers of East Haven.”
The library is currently being repaired. The first thing that they did was collect all the books and store them, no books were harmed by the flooding. The first repair was the electrical systems, as they were destroyed by the water. Now, they are repairing the teen and historic front rooms, and the adult reading area; these sections of the library are almost complete. The downstairs area is next to be repaired. This includes the children’s room, the DeMayo room, and the community room.
Throughout all of the repairs, the library will be receiving updates such as new flooring, new wallpaper, and new technology. Library Director Sarah Mallory notes that “We’re coming back to a space that will look and feel familiar, but also refreshed and more modern.” Something important to note is the historic value of the building. Hagaman was constructed in 1928, so they have to make sure to preserve the historical value and architecture of the building.
The library’s staff has still been hard at work since the closing. They are providing online assistance to people who need help, setting up pop-up libraries, hosting events in different locations, and appearing during community events. Emily Kalotai, the teen services librarian, is running the Teen Advisory Group (TAG), previously held at Hagaman, in the EHHS LMC on Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30. TAG is where EH students can go to get their voices heard, and you can help come up with ideas for teen services at the library and give feedback. Ms. Emily says that “This is especially important as we update our space. My aim is to make sure that our teen room is properly serving your needs and provides you all with a comfortable and welcoming environment.”
For now, make sure to make use of the library programs, and participate in the feedback of the library.
