Join us Thursday for a special evening celebrating the library’s diverse and transformative programs and services for our community with a special focus on how Hartford Public Library fosters creativity.

Get your tickets and learn more HERE.

Titles to add to your end-of-year reading list

The Marriage Portrait

Maggie O'Farrell

New York Times Bestseller

An unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici.

"You may know the history, and you may think you know what’s coming, but don’t be so sure." — Washington Post

"The final twist is so unexpected and so gorgeously executed that it brought this reader to tears." — Boston Globe

In Love

Amy Bloom

Best Books of the Year: New York Times Book Review

A powerful memoir about love, loss and end of life decisions by one of Connecticut's best writers.

"Rarely has a memoir about death been so full of life.” — USA Today

"This shimmering love story and road map is a must-read testimony ... you will never forget this book." — Kirkus Review

Computer basics training

Computer first steps • Internet basics • Using email • Creating a resume • Google • Microsoft Office and more!

Do you or someone in your life want to brush up on basic computer skills? Hartford Public Library is offering this important training at all of its branches. Registration is recommended but walk-ins are welcome.

This week's class:

Wednesday, December 7th

4:30 pm

Park Street Library @ the Lyric

603 Park St.

Visit our beautiful new ArtWalk exhibit

“There would be no life without water. It is the essence of everything.” — Barbara Hocker

Thank you to everyone who visited the library last week for the opening of our new ArtWalk exhibition. Stop by the Downtown Library and visit if you haven't had a chance yet!

Ebb & Flow

Barbara Hocker

ArtWalk Gallery, 3rd Floor, Downtown Library

500 Main St.

On display through January 22nd

Learn more about this exhibition and Barbara HERE.

Register for Barbara's Zen yoga & qi gong workshop HERE.

Holiday craft classes

Create crafts and memories together

Make A Holiday Village

Wednesday, December 7th, 2 pm

Downtown Library, Children's Department, Youth Program Room

500 Main St.

Create a holiday village to celebrate holidays around the world.

Holiday Gnome Ornament Workshop

Thursday, December 8th, 11 am

Camp Field Library

30 Campfield Ave.

Create a whimsical gnome holiday ornament made of yarn. Register HERE.

Gingerbread Engineers

Wednesday, December 14th, 4 pm

Downtown Library, Children's Department, Youth Program Room

500 Main St.

Build and decorate your own gingerbread house.

With your HPL card you have access to thousands of online craft classes through Creativebug. Check it out today!

Save the date: Holiday programming coming your way

Holiday Concert

Wednesday, December 14th

11 am-noon

Downtown Library

500 Main St.

Come feel the magic of the holiday season with the Sam Pasco Band.

Kwanzaa Festival

Thursday, December 29th

1-5 pm

Downtown Library

Music. Art. Food. A unique celebration of family, community and culture.

Holiday movies just for you

Stream movies for free with your library card!

Take advantage of the shorter days and spend your evenings with a good movie or two. Kanopy has expanded their holiday movie offerings. Rewatch a classic or check out something new.

Check out this library service today!

Leap into Learning at Festival of Trees

Participants in HPL's Leap into Learning program visited The Wadsworth Atheneum's 48th Annual Festival of Trees last week. The children and families were excited to see the ornaments they decorated and enjoyed many festive Christmas trees, story time with Ms. Lina, decorating snowflakes and the Lego room. Thank you to everyone who attended, wore their holiday best and made our Winter Field Trip a success!

You can learn more about Leap into Learning HERE.

Charmaine Craig: HPL Ambassador of the Year!

Photo by Chion Wolf

Congratulations to Charmaine Craig, Hartford’s Tree Lady, who was recently named Hartford Public Library’s Ambassador of the Year for 2022 for her tireless advocacy and support of the City of Hartford and the library. Thank you Charmaine!

Thank you Hartford Stage

A group of 20 students from our English Learner Success program recently attended It’s a Wonderful Life at Hartford Stage. Free tickets to this community performance were provided by Hartford Stage. It was a fantastic experience for our students to attend a live theater performance and to learn about an American holiday tradition.

Interested in seeing It's A Wonderful Life? We have free tickets for HPL cardholders thought our museum pass program. Get your tickets HERE.

We're hiring

We've got job openings in public service, facilities, security, adult education and more.

Check out our many opportunities for all backgrounds HERE.

Come make a difference in your community!

“(What is the body? Endurance. What is love? Gratitude. What is hidden in our chests? Laughter. What else? Compassion).”

― Amy Bloom, In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss