‘The Hippest Damn Library in the Country’

A library in Connecticut has become one of the most rockin’ places in the United States.

Dubbed “the hippest damn library in the country” by Talking Heads drummer Chris Franz and “the coolest damn library, ever” by The Doors drummer John Densmore, Westport Library has embraced rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, and contemporary music to create vibrant programming.

The library’s annual Versofest exemplifies this perfectly.

VersoFest is a music and media conference and festival where knowledge is shared and inspiration is discovered—a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. It includes panels where experts share their perspective and vision and intimate workshops that provide creators the opportunity to deconstruct, improve, and hone their craft. And, of course, there are performances galore.

Past Versofest guests have included hip hop legend Chuck D, ‘90s hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, producers Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, The Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, hip hop originators Tony Crush and Grand Wizzard Theodore, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.

The 2025 VersoFest is happening right now, with guests like Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, The Roots’ Black Thought, Gang of Four, Paul Shaffer, and The Wallflowers engaging in Q&As, performances, and more. There’s even a panel exploring Bruce Springsteen’s legendary album, “Born to Run,” as it reaches 50 years old.

And last month, Westport Library hosted a rock legend, who was on-hand to receive one of the state’s most prestigious honors—and a library card.

On March 5, Rolling Stones guitarist and author Keith Richards—who moved with his family to the nearby town of Weston in the early ‘90s—became the inaugural recipient of Connecticut’s Governor’s Award of Excellence. He was recognized for his contributions enriching the state’s cultural and civic life in a ceremony at the library. Connecticut First Lady Ann Lamont presented Richards with the award, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont offered Richards the “Key to the State,” as well as a newly minted Westport Library card.

“This is a great building, a wonderful library, which even I didn’t know the full extent of,” said Richards. “Without our books, without knowing things, without knowing their special meaning—this isn’t movies, this is not someone drawing you images. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. It’s very important that we keep our books unburnt.”