Hope is the thing with feathers...

Celebrate National Poetry Month with us

Words in Clay, Words on Paper

an ArtWalk exhibit by

James Finnegan and Michelle Cotugno

Downtown Library, Third Floor

500 Main St.

Through April 24th

Poetry Reading

Saturday, April 9th: 2-4 pm

Learn more HERE.

Blackout Poetry

Tuesday, April 19th, all day

Albany Library

1250 Albany Ave.

Create a combination of poetry and art. For teens and adults

Ekphrastic Poetry

Saturday, April 23rd: 10:30-11:30 am

Burr Mall, 550 Main St.

Ekphrastic poetry is writing poetry inspired by artwork. Write poetry with artist Rafael Osés about the Stegosaurus sculpture located in Burr Mall. All ages welcome. Materials will be provided. Register HERE.

Art Amplified

Saturday, April 30th: 2-3 pm

Downtown Library, Atrium

GRANDE FINALE of Poetry Month

Poetry performances from Sadejah Blake and Ghazi Omair, storytelling from Jedda Williams and dance performances from Spectrum In Motion Dance Theatre.

Beautiful stories written by poets

Hot Milk

Deborah Levy

New York Times Bestseller

2016 Man Booker Prize Shortlist

A haunting dream like novel that tells the story of the relationship between a mother and a daughter. A the daughters search to cure her mothers baffling illness.

"Exquisite prose ... Hot Milk is perfectly crafted, a dream-narrative so mesmerizing that reading it is to be under a spell. — The Independent

The Light of the World

Elizabeth Alexander

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

This is a beautiful memoir from acclaimed poet Elizabeth Alexander. It shares her story of the loss of her husband and also tells the story of the gifts of love, art and community.

"The Light Of The World is, quite simply, a miracle." — Boston Sunday Globe

Watch an exquisite movie about a poet

Paterson

This sweet and poignant film tells the story of a bus driver by day and a poet by night and celebrates finding the joy in the ordinary. Paterson shows us why art matters in our lives.

You can watch the movie HERE (and many more for free with your library card at Kanopy).

"Nearly Flawless.. A film that takes thinking, creating and beauty seriously." — New York Times

Watch the trailer HERE.

Baby Grand Jazz this Sunday, 3 pm

Allegra Levy

“Unquestionably one to watch.” — JazzTimes magazine

Listen to Allegra Levy's beautiful voice HERE.

Or tune in on Hartford Public Library's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Fun Fact: Allegra recently won the John Lennon Songwriting Competition’s Stuck at Home Edition for her children’s song Wash My Hands, which encouraged all to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

P.S. Are you our next Baby Grand Jazz musician?

Apply for our upcoming series HERE.

You + your library card =

cultural experiences you won't soon forget

Life in 2042

CT Forum

Saturday April 9th

7:30 pm – The Bushnell

Take a journey with CT Forum and look ahead to the year 2042 with a panel of futurists, tech experts, scientists and researchers.

Hartford Public Library cardholders get free tickets HERE.

Lost In Yonkers

Hartford Stage

This Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Neil Simon, abounds with Jewish-American humor that highlights the power of resilience and family with great warmth.

Multiple dates available!

Hartford Public Library cardholders get free tickets HERE.

Opportunities for you

Join Our Team!

We've got many great opportunities in various different departments. Join a team of great colleagues and help us make a difference in our community!

Check out our openings HERE.

Vaccine Clinics

1st dose, 2nd dose, booster

or 2nd booster for 50+

Thursday, April 7th, 2-5 p.m.

Albany Library

1250 Albany Ave.

No appointment necessary

List of all clinics HERE.

Together we can make art

Want to learn to crochet?

We can help you!

Join us for a beginners crochet class, will go over the basics and help you gain the confidence to keep at it!

Wednesdays: April 6th & April 20th

Downtown Library

Youth Programming Room

500 Main St.

Just Art

Open Studio Sessions

Last session this Sunday!

Drop in – let us help you create something magical. Nurture that inner artist.

Sunday, April 10th, 1-4 pm

Downtown Library, Café

500 Main St.

All ages welcome!

Hartford History Center celebrates Hartford suffragists

Hartford History Center celebrates the tenacity and perseverance of women suffragists with a beautiful sculpture, The Art of Perseverance, by artist Marilyn Parkinson Thrall and funded by the Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation.

See the work in person:

Hartford History Center

Downtown Library

500 Main St.

Monday-Thursday 10 am - 2 pm

Learn more about the meaning behind all the intricate details in Marilyn's work HERE.

Join the Connecticut Libraries Passport Program

Go on an adventure right in your own state

Want to enter to win a Visa gift card of up to $150? It's easy!

Pick up your "passport" at Hartford Public Library.

Visit at least five participating libraries and get your passport stamped.(Check out a book while your at it!)

Turn in your finished passport at the library by May 6th.

You'll be automatically entered to win a gift card of $150 for adults and $100 for kids and teens!

Get all the details HERE.

“Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me. Nearby is the country they call life. You will know it by its seriousness. Give me your hand.”

― Elizabeth Alexander, The Light of the World

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