Featured Library:  Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library

About the Library

The Old Lyme–Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library was dedicated on June 23, 1898. The original building was made possible by the gifts of long-time summer resident Charles H. Ludington in honor of his mother-in-law, Phoebe Griffin Noyes (née Lord). This handsome red brick Colonial Revival building, trimmed with white stone and capped with a slate roof, was designed by Stephenson & Greene of New York and erected on the original Lord family homestead; it still stands and serves as the historic heart of today’s library.

The new, free Library proved so popular that by the early 1920’s it had outgrown its halls. In response to a bequest from Evelyn MacCurdy Salisbury, the trustees re-engaged one of the original architects to design an addition on the northwest corner; it opened in 1925. Less than a decade later the Library was again looking to expand. A new Children’s Wing, designed by architect Ernest Sibley of Litchfield and dedicated to Ethel Saltus Ludington, was erected on the east side of the 1898 building in 1937.

Over the next 50 years, the Library continued to grow. Multiple renovations were completed and improvements were made, but it was not until 1995 that the Library again significantly expanded its footprint. On October 2, 1995, a new 6,500 square foot addition was opened to the public, more than doubling the existing Library space. The new addition, designed by architect Kenneth C. Best, featured an expanded Children’s Room, a new Young Adult area, a Community Room to seat 70, handicap accessible collections and restrooms, a Tutoring Room, and expanded collections and additional study space.

To address mechanical repairs and an ever-changing environment, the Library was again renovated in 2019. While the building footprint remained unchanged, the interior was reimagined to better meet the needs of today’s patrons. Two new study rooms were added and have proven to be very popular; they were booked over 2,000 times in FY2024-2025. The Children’s Room was expanded to include an in-room story time space, and a new Teen Room was added to better serve the town’s youth. Outdoors, a new patio was installed to provide space for people to read, connect to the wifi, and socialize. It, along with a new native garden, have provided great programming space when the weather allows.

The day-to-day operations of the Library were originally managed by the Ladies’ Library Association. The Library’s endowment, its general finances, and the building and grounds were managed by the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Trust (incorporated circa 1911). The Library began receiving limited funding from the Town of Old Lyme in 1913. In 1968, the Connecticut State Library designated the Old Lyme–Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library as the public library for the Town of Old Lyme. In 1971, the Ladies’ Library Association and the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Trust formally merged and established the Old Lyme–Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Association, Inc.

Today, the Old Lyme–Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is a private, independent 501(c) charitable organization. It is owned by the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Association, Inc., and governed by its Board of Trustees. The day-to-day operations of the Library are managed by the Library Director and 11 staff (total FTE 7.7). As the Town of Old Lyme’s designated Public Library, it receives some funding fromthe municipality (46% in FY24-25). This municipal funding combines with income from the Association’s Endowment, the proceeds of the Library’s annual fund drive and fundraising events, income from the Friends of the Library, and various grants to fund the Library’s annual operating budget. The Library is a long-standing member of the Libraries Online, Inc. consortium.

From providing interactive story times for babies and toddlers to hand-delivering books to homebound patrons, the Library provides opportunities for residents of all ages to learn and grow. Core services include access to a variety of print and digital books, media, and research tools; assistance with technology and the development of information literacy; support for the public school curriculum; early literacy training; the fostering of life-long interest in learning and reading; and access to programming designed to inform and engage the community.

The Library is open six days per week for a total of 53 hours. On average, more than 4,300 patrons visit the Library each month, and more than 3,400 Old Lyme residentsare active library users. In the fiscal year ending 2025, circulation topped 72,000. The Library currently offers approximately 37,000 print and media items. In addition, patrons have access to more than 31,000 ebooks, digital audiobooks, and downloadable magazines, and 40 research databases through our partnerships with LION and the State Library.

To learn more about the Library’s history, watch this special 125^th Anniversary video commissioned by the Library Board of Trustees.