Hartford Book Festival Kicks Off This Weekend!

A three day festival for book lovers of all ages

Best Selling Author Yaa Gyasi, to Give Author Talk

The 5th Annual Hartford Book Festival & Yaa Gyasi Author Talk

Saturday, September 23, 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

Classical Magnet School

Conversation & book signing with Yaa Gyasi, best selling author of Homegoing. 

There will be a 45-minute discussion at 11:00 am with the author and a 15-minute Q&A. A book signing will immediately follow. Space is limited, reserve your seats today! - REGISTER HERE

The Hartford Book Festival also features:

• June Archer Trailblazer and Keynote Speaker - 12:30 pm
• Abdul-Rahman I. Muhammad Fatherhood Monologues - 2:15 pm
• CT Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim Bell - 4:00 pm

Want more? Check out two more days of activities!

Friday, September 22, 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

Virtual Writer Workshops

Sunday, September 24, 3:00 - 8:30 pm

An Evening of Poetical Musings at The Free Center

The mission of the Hartford Book Festival is to build community using literary art, serving all people of the Greater Hartford area.

Hartford Book Festival info & registration HERE

HPL Weekly Book Recommendations:

Check out what we're reading

We're celebrating Hispanic Heritige Month

Vanishing Maps

Cristina García 

Hilarious and haunting at the same time, this is an epic tale of family, devotion, and the timeless search for home.

"Full of antic energy, very funny though still quite tender . . . " — The Washington Post

"There is something for everyone in its pages." — Washington Independent Review of Book

Daughter of Fortune

Isabel Allende

Oprah's Book Club Pick



A passionate tale of a woman's quest to save her lover, set against the greed, and promise of the 1849 California Gold Rush.

"A masterpiece of historical fiction that is passionate, adventurous, and brilliantly insightful."— Denver Post

"... full of energy and vivacity. It holds out a promise of happiness."— Vogue

We invite you to join us

HPL is about to celebrate a 250-year milestone, and reveal a restored and renewed Downtown Library in 2024.

We're looking for an updated brand that reflects our present and our future. We welcome community engagement and are inviting your feedback.

Hosted by the award-winning brand developers of Miranda Creative, three virtual community conversations will be taking place, to ensure opportunity for those who wish to contribute their voice to this process. 

Register below:

Reading is a superpower

Together with Hartford Federation of Paraeducators, we're celebrating a day of book gifting and family literacy at the Connecticut Convention Center!

Thanks to Dalio Philanthropies and AFT Connecticut, we will be distributing more than 50,000 FREE books through the First Book Marketplace. Come on by!

Saturday, September 23, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

CT Convention Center

100 Columbus Blvd

Learn more HERE

It's Library Card Sign-up Month!

Unlock a world of awesome.

A library card is magic in your pocket. Serious magic.

With access to technology, innovative programming, and educational resources, a library card gives students of all ages the tools to succeed in school.

Sign up for a library card HERE today!

Amal visits Hartford

Hartford hosted Little Amal on Tuesday, September 12th, on her 6,000 mile journey across the United States. Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk.  She has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees.

HPL is home to The American Place, where we offer immigrants and refugees educational programs, jobs training, and a path to citizenship.

It was such an honor to be part of The Walk and it was truly inspiring. We wish Amal all the best on her journey!

A Place Like No Other



HPL offers engaging, educational, and fun programming for all ages. Check out our calendar of programming HERE and head to your favorite branch!

A few highlights for the week:

Family Dinner & Movie @ Park

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Tween Thursdays @ Albany

Ages 8-12

Thursday, Sept. 21 3pm - 4pm

Yoga Story Time @ Barbour

Ages 3-5

Friday, Sept 22 11am - 11:30am

“She has a fixation on love. Strong trouble. The girl left her window open one clear night and it crawled into her body while she was asleep. There's no spell can cure it.”― Isabel Allende, Daughter of Fortune