New exhibition opens Friday, October 14
Fiber Alchemy: Two Viewpoints

Opening reception: October 14, 6 pm
On view through November 27, 2016

Sandra Bender Fromson is a fiber artist whose work incorporates quilting, embroidery, beading, dyeing and painting, weaving, and felting, and she takes her inspiration for materials, colors, and textures, from nature. Her textile pieces are presented in the context of their creation; her floor loom, shuttles and garment patterns will be part of the display.

Ellen Schiffman, a fiber artist working sculpturally, spent a year filling a shadow box per week with explorations of methods and materials. The resulting 52-box visual diary, presented as a cohesive whole and employing both traditional and experimental techniques, questions the boundaries of what fiber art can be.

Programs

Hip Hop Dance with Studio 860

Ropkins Branch
Mondays/Wednesdays, Oct. 10, 12, 17, & 19, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Goodwin Branch
Tuesdays/Thursdays, Oct. 11, 13, 18, & 20, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Albany Branch
Fridays, Oct. 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Spoken Word with Iron Poets

Ropkins Branch
Mondays/Wednesdays, Oct. 10, 12, 17, & 19, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Blue Hills
Friday, Oct. 7, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Dr. Reinaldo Rojas: A Dissertation on Frog Hollow

Tuesday, October 11
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Center for Contemporary Culture

Dr. Rojas will be sharing with us the findings of his study, which analyzed the impact of urban revitalization projects in the Frog Hollow neighborhood.
Acoustic Open Mic

Wednesday, October 12
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Hartford History Center

Bring your guitar and join us on the second Wednesday of the month for our acoustic open mic. Sign-up starts at 5:45 pm.
Annual Meeting

Thursday, October 13
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Hartford History Center

Please join us for our Annual Meeting. RSVP to Andrea Figueroa at
860.695.6348 or [email protected]

Chief Teale's
Tools of Learning

Mondays & Wednesdays, 8 weeks
beginning Mon. Oct. 24, 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm
Hartford History Center

Focusing on reading, writing & algebra learning strategies. Registration is required; call 860.695.6320

A Celebration of Textiles: A Reception with the Hartford Artisan Weavers and Simply Crazy Quilters

Wednesday, October 26, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

The Hartford Artisans Weaving Center is a non-profit organization that teaches and promotes the craft of handweaving to the community, especially committed to persons with low or no vision and those 55 years of age and older. Their exhibition at Hartford Public Library runs until October 31.

The Simply Crazy Quilting Classes met for eight weeks each under the instruction of teaching artist Irma Nelson. The energetic and enthusiastic classes worked hard to learn the basics of quilting, and their final projects showcase their dedication and creativity. Their crazy quilts have been exhibited throughout the city of Hartford.

Reception is free and open to the public.


Exhibits
Stretching the Limits of  Plain Weave:
Hartford Artisans Weaving Center Exhibit

On view through October 31

The Hartford Artisans Weaving Center is a non-profit organization that teaches and promotes the craft of handweaving to the community, especially committed to persons with low or no vision and those 55 years of age and older.

This exhibit features works created with the “plain weave” technique.

Puerto Rican Pride in Hartford:
Parade, Pageant, and Flag 1967 - 1996

On view in the Hartford History Center
through October 20

Join us in celebrating Hartford's Puerto Rican community through archival images and video of Puerto Rican parades and the coinciding Miss Puerto Rico Connecticut pageant housed in the Hartford History Center. Images, spanning 1967 - 1996, were selected from the Hartford Times collection and Tony Debonee photograph collections. Video on view is from the 1969 Butch Lewis video collection, which is also available online in Hartford History Center's digital repository.

Image: 

Willimantic group marches in the parade. Ten additional Connecticut towns were represented in the September 28, 1969 parade. Hartford Times photograph by David Ploss, published September 29, 1969. Hartford History Center Collection.

Youth & Family Services

Leap Into Learning Storytimes for our youngest patrons and their caregivers


Downtown Library, Monday and Friday, Oct. 10 & 14, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Goodwin Branch, Tuesday and Friday Oct. 11 & 14, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Park Branch, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Dwight Branch, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 11:00 am to 11:45 am
Barbour Branch, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Campfield Branch, Thursday, Oct. 13, 10:00 am to 11:00 am

The World at Your Fingertips—World Book Kids Online

Based on World Book's award-winning encyclopedia, World Book Kids includes thousands of easy-to-read articles, engaging images and illustrations, interactive games and activities, and teacher resources. Click here to start exploring!  

Teen Services

Hartford Public Library is happy to house a makerspace just for teens in YOUmedia on the second floor. However, a makerspace is nothing without great crafting materials! To learn how you can help stoke teens' creativity, click here for a flyer.

Makerspace Challenge

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd Floor

Come to YOUmedia for the twice-weekly Makerspace challenge, following the theme of "It's An Art Thing" in October. Make personalized buttons, swag, phone cases and more. See Makerspace Queen Angelica for each week's project.

Anime Character Creation

Tuesdays 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd Floor

Want to know some principles of creating anime-styled characters? Come to YOUmedia to get in the basics! Talk to mentors Danielle or Issac for more.

2nd Annual YOUmedia Halloween Costume Party

October 27, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd Floor

Hang out with your friends at YOUmedia. Compare costumes, eat candy, have a blast.

Teen Read Week

October 9-15 - Nationwide!

Read for the fun of it! Join the fun at any of the branches of Hartford Public Library for Teen Read Week. Get book recommendations or talk about the inspired books you've read.

Adult Learning

So, You've Decided to Build a Nonprofit. Now What?

Wednesday, October 19, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3rd Floor Youth Program Room

Presenter: Martey Rhine, Management Solutions & Resources

This workshop will cover the basics of building a board, budgeting, operational planning, marketing, and fundraising –all the building blocks your nonprofit organization needs. It will also provide you with the tools, templates, and references for taking the action steps to effectively structure your nonprofit organization and enhance your ability to achieve the mission.

To register: Email your name and email address to [email protected]

U.S. Citizenship Classes

Cycles are between 12 to 14 weeks and repeat. Legal assistance with application completion and submission included.

Online Learning

Accessible through the library website in the Online Education & Research Section. All free with your library card! Simply log in with your card number and create a user name and password.

  • Learn a New Language: Learn or practice more than 100+ languages using the online learning program Transparent Language.
  • LearningExpress Library™: Build your academic skills in reading, writing, math, and science; prepare for standardized tests, college admissions tests, and professional licensing and certification.
  • Universal Class: Select from over 500 courses in a wide variety of subjects through a program called Universal Class. Learn a new hobby, improve your computer skills, or expand your job or career options. 
  • Career Online High School (COHS)Earn your high school diploma online, must be 24 or older.
 

American Job Center

Monday-Thursday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Fridays 10:00 am to 5:00 pm  

Looking for a job? Feeling a bit rusty on your interview skills or bewildered by all the new technology a successful job search demands? We can help! CTWorks Capital Workforce Partners and HPL Library have partnered to bring a CTWorks "American Job Center" to the Downtown Library!

Going Somewhere this Fall?

Stop by the Library for your passport to adventure!

Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

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