The top-10 e-books checked out from Hartford Public Library in September are a nice mix of children's and teen books, books that explore our complex relationship with race, and award-winning novels.


  • The Dirt Diary by Anna Stanizewski
  • The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
  • Bicycle/Race by Adania Lugo
  • Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkinson
  • The New Kid by Jerry Craft
  • Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
  • How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sherma
  • Redhead by the Side of The Road by Anne Tyler
  • The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
The HPL Monsters
George Sweetland
There were two things artist George Sweetland was sure about when he was growing up – that he wanted to work with kids and that drawing was a huge part of his life.

Sweetland is sharing his artistic gifts with the Hartford Public Library community. He has created a set of cuddly monsters, which have taken up residence in the children’s room. The monsters made their first appearance last year as part of a HPL/Boundless science curriculum, serving as the amusing sidekicks to the lessons. 
The final lineup of panelists and performers has been set for HPL's Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration, taking place on Monday, October 12 at 6 pm.

The program, called "Indigenous Futures," will be shown live on HPL’s Facebook Page.

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day join HPL and the Greater Hartford Arts Council to hear local Indigenous peoples’ visions for tomorrow. How do we continue decolonizing the land, our communities, as well as our minds and hearts? What does a pro-Indigenous future look like? Hear perspectives from Indigenous artists, academics, and community leaders.
Families Learn Together With The Children's Museum
  • All ages.
  • Saturday , Oct 10, 17, & 24, 1:00 - 3:00pm.

We invite your whole family to attend a virtual program with The Children's Museum! A different activity will happen EVERY 20 MINUTES including STEM experiments, LIVE animal visits, special guest readings by HPL librarians, and more!

Please register for each date separately, but feel free to attend all three. Each family who registers will receive three children's books and a Science Kit through the library's Contact-Free Pickup service. Registration and supplies are limited, and will be on a first come basis.
The Awakening Book Club
The Awakening Book Club will continue October 15 at 6 pm with Ijeoma Oluo's book "So You Want To Talk About Race."

The club is targeted for young adults ages 13 to 25. Click here to sign up: bit.ly/TheAwakeningBookClub

The club hopes to create a safe and open space for young adults to connect around a good book. The biweekly discussion series will center on a book of the month that prompts much needed conversation about past and present racial injustices.
Food service safety class registration now open
Registration now open!

FREE ServSafe Food Handler, Food Manager, and Alcohol classes. 
Some sessions are remote via Zoom, others in person following strict Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Learn more at Hartford Public Library The American Place  http://tap.hplct.org/certificate-training  Tel: (860) 695-6292 Email: [email protected]
October Adult and Youth Program Calendars
“The library is inhabited by spirits that come out of the pages at night.” - Isabel Allende