For the Memorial Day weekend, the New Haven Free Public Library will close:

For Independence Day, the New Haven Free Public Library will close:

 

For all our 2018 holiday hours, please refer to Holiday Closings.

Yale’s Lot 51, located on Temple Street between Wall and Elm Streets, is available after 4:30 pm for the public, Monday through Friday and all day on Saturday. Yale’s Lot 51 has capacity for about 70 cars.

Ives Squared is a new space to inspire and contribute to the vibrant civic and innovative culture of the New Haven community. Ives Squared includes a maker space, a collaborative working space, and a café all designed for active learning, networking, and creative exploration. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram for photos and updates!

Thank you to everyone who supported NHFPL during The Great Give, helping us raise over $10,000 in 36 hours ! If you missed the chance to make a gift, it’s not too late: you can still donate online to support NHFPL ! Your donation enhances the city’s contribution to our operations by providing the books and materials, community programs and services, and resources for special projects and innovative ideas that make the library a vital and vibrant place.

Lively one-day neighborhood Festivals usher in the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in downtown New Haven. Community Steering Committees, local arts and business partners, and Festival staff and volunteers host local talent, family activities, and vendors in New Haven’s historic and culturally rich neighborhoods. Learn more, visit artidea.org/neighborhood.

Admission is free. Full schedule of captivating array of new films available at ww.NHdocs.com .

Join us for this unique and exciting family event as we celebrate summer and release live ladybugs into our garden. All ages are invited for a night of fun and learning! Hands-on experiments with Jane Copes from Science Outside the Box; learn about native New England butterflies and plants; and explore Maya’s Magic Garden art exhibit by John Kabala. Rain or shine!



Co-sponsored by Blockwatch 303, the ArtEcon Initiative, West Hills-Westville Management Team and the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance.

The New Haven Free Public Library is partnering with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and others for the 2018 Big Read selection Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric, with related free events offered throughout Greater New Haven. Visit artidea.org/bigread for a full calendar of events.

Come help us care for our community garden supported by the New Haven Land Trust! Whatever your age or ability we can use your help planting, watering, harvesting, and weeding. Thanks to you our garden will be even bigger this year—including fruit trees!

Robert Madison will discuss his rails-to-tra ils book ( Find it! ) so o thers who enjoy the outdoors can learn a little about the old canal and its history. There will be books for sale and a book signing following the discussion. All funds from the book and donations go to the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. to purchase historic plaques to be placed along the path of the canal.

Fair Haven Library will air as many matches of the 21 ^st World Cup as the schedule allows. Light refreshments will be provided. Bring your friends and passion for the “Beautiful Game.” If your favorite team is playing, drop by or give us a call to check on our schedule at (203) 946 8115.

Vegan cooking workshop and discussion on plant based nutrition, reversing and preventing diseases. Presented by Westville resident, Clara Tolbert, who recently acquired certification on Whole Food Plant-Based Nutrition from the T Colin Campbell's Center for Nutrition Studies. To register, please call (203) 946-8117.

Join Probate Court Judge Clifton Graves, Jr. to discuss the basic role and responsibilities of the Probate Court, as well as the court services and expectations.

Unleash your inner engineer as you create with Keva planks! Hosted by Lauren Johnson of SCSU’s Buley Library Makerspace. Families and children/teens of all ages welcome! Children under the age of 9 need adult supervision.

Take a look at the psychology behind identity theft, fraud and scams. Through actual footage of scammers, insights and advice, you’ll walk away armed with the tools you need to keep yourself and your family safe. Free! Presented by AARP Connecticut. To register please call (203) 946-8117.

Fire, earthquake, hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, extreme cold, industrial accidents, they all may occur in your area. Learn the basics of how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Learn about emergency and survival kits. Learn about local emergency management programs, FEMA and American Red Cross guidelines. Presented by Martin Torresquinterro from the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees.

In partnership with the New Haven Free Public Library, Elmseed offers regular weekly drop-in hours to address your business questions and concerns. No appointment or advance registration is necessary. Learn more.

Anne Braden was a fiercely committed anti-racism activist who offers inspiration and guidance for folks who want to work actively for racial justice. Join us for this free screening and community conversation. 

In this classic film, Rick Blaine, who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo. Popcorn included!

What is your New Haven community reading? Check out our list of the most popular books borrowed last month! Visit our catalog and add one of these to your reading list!

 

Casino Island by John Grisham

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea

Origin by Dan Brown

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Late Show by Michael Connelly

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Do you know what your librarians are reading and recommending? Do you want to see highlights of new books available at the library? Sign up for Book News in Your Inbox and select Staff Picks, New Arrivals, Downloadable Ebooks and Audiobooks and more! Subscribe to as many e-newsletters as you like and you will receive email newsletters with brief descriptions of each title as well as links to the library's catalog so you can easily reserve titles of interest.

In 2011, roughly 6-9 million people in the U.S. were estimated to live in a gated community, with 1 in every 2 houses being built behind walls in California alone. Liz Antl-O’Donnell’s recent body of work focuses specifically on gated communities, drawing parallels between this rapidly expanding phenomenon and what is happening in our country today.

A resident of Westville, John Kabala is a folk artist who uses color and abundance of vision in his paintings to create a unique style of art. Many of his pieces involve historical figures, past events, fantasy, childhood scenery and children’s fairy tales.

John Jessen hails from a town that boasts the world’s largest strawberry: Strawberry Point, Iowa. He received his B.A. in Political Science at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and upon graduation moved to New York and worked for Grove Press and later Grove/Atlantic. In 2003, John moved to New Haven and co-founded Bookrounds, a hybrid online/in person book club that met in various restaurants and coffee shops throughout New Haven which, at its peak, boasted over 2,000 members. John has been with the New Haven Free Public Library in various positions since 2004. In 2008 he received his MLS from Southern CT State University. Before becoming the Deputy Director in September 2017, John was Branch Manager of the Wilson Library in the Hill Neighborhood.  

 

What is your role at the New Haven Free Public Library?

 

As the Deputy Director of the New Haven Free Public Library, I am involved in strategic initiatives, operational planning and special projects that impact all of the library locations.

 

What do you enjoy most about working at NHFPL?

 

I became a librarian after I had an ah-ha moment that I could be “selling” books for free! As I started working in the library, I loved working in a place where I could be of service to others and share both my love of reading and search for knowledge. I am honored to be part of a place with a staff often referred to as family. The traditional role of the librarian is changing and I am excited for this future.

 

What book are you currently reading or is on your nightstand waiting to be explored?

 

Currently, I am reading The Man Who Shot My Eye Out is Dead: Stories by Chanelle Benz ( Find it! ). Someone pegged it as a book where every short story seems to be the beginning of a novel and I think this writer is someone to watch. I also recently read The Business Model Navigator: 55 Models That Will Revolutionise Your Business by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger, and Michaela Csik ( Find it! )alongside The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone by Ryan J. Dowd ( Find it! ).

Please join us to celebrate the success of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven students and thank the tutors and donors who helped them succeed. Guest speakers and readers include students whose writing is published in the 2018 edition of Hear Our Voices . RSVP to [email protected] or (203) 776-5899. Learn more ay www.lvagnh.org .  

Pre-register by visiting our website at www.newhavenfinancialempowerment.com or contacting Alexa Campos at (203) 946-7803, [email protected], or [email protected]. 

50+ years of age and just starting or have a computer dilemma? Sign up for one-on-one free computer help at your own pace. To register call 203.946.7001.

A monthly opportunity to receive general legal information during a free 15-minute consultation. Sign-ups start at 5:10 pm.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven presents free classes to help adults learn to read, write and understand more words in a small class setting. 

Weekly conversational English Class for new Americans, co-sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. Learn to improve your pronunciation, listening and speaking skills in an informal English conversation group. Please call (203) 776-5899 or email [email protected] to register for classes.

Come armed with your own needles and yarn – join anytime, newcomers and beginners welcome!

Classes all require some familiarity with using a keyboard and mouse. Classes include different levels for Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, PowerPoint and Keyboard/Mouse/Email. For detailed class schedule please see our calendar.

Stop by the lower level Information Desk for on demand one-on-one sessions on technology and employment assistance. Our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find the answers to many of your questions! 

Meet one-on-one to discuss your individual technology needs. To schedule an appointment at Fair Haven call 203.946.8115; for Mitchell, call 203.946.8117; for Stetson contact Rory at 203.946.8119 or [email protected]; and at Wilson call 203.946.2228.

All levels of training in software, creative and business skills are available through Lynda.com, free with your NHFPL library card. Learn software, creative techniques and business strategies for all levels with thousands of video tutorials. Go at your own pace, follow a curriculum and absorb new skills!

Beginners and experienced practitioners are invited to join this guided mediation brought to you in cooperation with the New Haven Zen Center. Instruction for beginners at 5:45 pm.