Happening Tonight!

Celebrate Black History Month with Say It Loud: A Strings Celebration of Soul, a free concert featuring the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy an evening of soulful music and community spirit.

Light refreshments will be served. Arrive early to receive a beautiful single-stem flower.

Tuesday, February 18 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

February Finds

All Fours

Miranda July

NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR

WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR

TIME MAGAZINE’S TOP 10 FICTION BOOKS OF 2024

"A frank novel about a midlife awakening, which is funnier and more boldly human than you ever quite expect . . . nothing short of riveting."

—Vogue

"All Fours possessed me. I picked it up and neglected my life until the last page, and then I started begging every woman I know to read it as soon as possible."

—The Cut



Find it HERE in our catalog

First Love: Essays on Friendship

Lilly Dancyger

NPR’S “BOOKS WE LOVE”

"A tender, unswerving homage to her found family, but also an insightful study of friendship as identity-crafting." 

—Elle

"In these essays, love is inextricably bound with pain, a duality the author renders with a lyrical and affecting rawness. Cathartic and intense, this leaves a mark."

—Publishers Weekly

Find it HERE in our catalog

This Sunday at Baby Grand Jazz:

O3 featuring GRAMMY® Winner Zaccai Curtis

O3 is a collaborative trio; born out of the Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, Matt Dwonszyk, Corey Garcia, and Brian Simontacchi have been developing the group's sound since 2009. Matt Dwonszyk has been a Connecticut staple for over 15 years. Special guest Zaccai Curtis is one of the world's foremost Latin jazz pianists, having recorded and toured with well-known artists in the jazz scene. Curtis recently won a GRAMMY® for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Catch them this Sunday!

Sunday, February 23 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 2:00 p.m.)

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Baby Grand Jazz performances are free to the public. Can’t join us in person? Shows will be live-streamed on HPL’s YouTube and Facebook.

Thanks to our 2025 presenting sponsor, The Kaman Foundation, for its continuing support and longtime partners, The Hartford Jazz Society and WWUH 91.3 FM. 

Quarterly Book Discussions with H.L.I.T.

Join Hartford’s Literary Integrated Trailblazers (H.L.I.T.) in their quarterly virtual book discussion. The discussions will be based on the book, Communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks. 

“When truth teller and careful writer bell hooks offers a book, I like to be standing at the bookshop when it opens.” —Maya Angelou

Registration is required

Sunday, February 23 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Virtual

Jewlery Making

Join us in celebrating Black History Month with a special event where you can create beautiful African-inspired beaded jewelry with Jackie Bright. Enjoy light refreshments while you craft and connect with others.

Sunday, February 23 | 1:15 - 2:45 p.m.

Downtown Library

Classroom 139

500 Main Street

Knitting with Wilma

Whether you're a seasoned knitter or just starting out, this workshop series is perfect for you. Beginners can learn the basics and start their first project, while experienced knitters can continue working on their current projects. Supplies will be provided.

Adults and teens are welcome.

Registration is required.

Tuesday, February 25 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Downtown Library

YOUmedia, second floor

500 Main Street

A Place Like No Other

HPL offers engaging, educational, and fun programming for all ages.

Check out our full programming calendar HERE

Check out our Family Programming calendar!

Check out our Adult Programming calendar!

Check out our Youth & Teen Programming calendar!

“Grief is a place you can't travel to without being transformed. You eat the seeds and then you become queen of a land you never even wanted to visit.”



―Lilly Dancyger, First Love: Essays on Friendship

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