Vision To Learn

Preparing children for the school year

Vision screenings, eye exams and glasses for children at no cost

Thanks to Connecticut Sun and Vision To Learn for helping us provide 22 children with brand-new prescription glasses at our Albany Branch last Thursday!

Vision To Learn will be visiting HPL all summer long to provide no-cost eye exams and glasses to children.

Learn more and book your appointment today!

Check out the news stories below!

Fox 61 - Non-profit provides free eye care for children in Connecticut

WFSB - Vision to Learn gives free classes to Hartford Students

HPL Weekly Book Recommendations:

Check out what we're reading

Picking a book can be hard, we're here to help.

Diary of a Misfit

Casey Parks

One of the Best Books of 2022  

The Washington Post & more

This beautiful memoir follows the mystery of a stranger's past while she reckons with her own sexuality, her Southern identity, her relationship with her mother, and her faith.

"A fascinating, engrossing tale about identity and belonging." —Booklist (starred review)

"A brilliantly rendered and complex portrait of Southern life alongside a tender exploration of queer belonging. Parks’ writing is a marvel to witness." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

American Prometheus

Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin 

2006 Pulitzer Prize 

Inspired the 2023 movie!

J. Robert Oppenheimer was a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress.



"The definitive biography.... Oppenheimer’s life doesn’t influence us. It haunts us.” —Newsweek

“A masterful account of Oppenheimer’s rise and fall.. is a tour de force.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

Evelyn Preston Summer Concert Series

José Paulo & Band

Take a break in your day and enjoy some beautiful music!

(it will make you happy- trust us on this)

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, José Paulo’s voice will mesmerize you and his personality will charm you. Take a break in the afternoon and enjoy some music!

Wednesday, August 9, 12:30 - 1:30pm

Dwight Branch

All ages!

P.S. get a preview of his fantastic voice and sound HERE (and wow!)

Keep Reading (and keep moving) Hartford!

Sundays at the Stadium

Last chance to join the fun!

Sunday, August 13, 11:00 am- 1:00 pm

Trinity Health Stadium

250 Huyshope Ave.

Register HERE

Bring a book or magazine to read, and then participate in on-field activities with Hartford Athletic! It's FREE and all participants will receive a t-shirt and pizza.

Still time to win prizes for reading!

Register today and pledge your minutes and

enter to win great weekly raffle prizes!

Spend the last days of summer exploring - for free!

Now until September 4, Connecticut children age 18 and under, plus one Connecticut resident adult can visit participating museums free of charge through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program.

More info and list of museums HERE

Got Tech Questions?

We have answers.

Everyday Tech - learn to use your device

(or learn more about what your device can do for you)

Thursday, August 10, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Camp Field Branch

Register HERE - walk ins welcomed too!

For our YA Friends:

Check out what's happening at YOUmedia

YOUmedia is our digital learning and maker space just for teens.

Learn a new trade from a visiting artist or get project support from one of our amazing mentors. We’re here to help young people explore what they love and turn that motivation into real life gains in the way of college and career readiness.

Check out this upcoming program:

Recording Sessions - with YOUmedia

Monday, August 14, 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Write the songs that will make the whole world sing (and dance)

Albany Branch - Ages 13-19



Bring your music into the world with mentor-guided workshops setting up and recording vocals with FL Studio and Logic Pro.

See all that YOUmedia has to offer HERE

“His whole existence was a mystery. It’s eaten at me all these years. Am I going to die without finding out?” Casey Parks Diary of a Misfit