You + Child + HPL = A Fun Time For All

Take Your Child to the Library Day

Celebrate this annual tradition with Hartford Public Library! So many fun activities will be held at our branches, including storytimes, all types of crafts, a scavenger hunt, balloons, prizes and B-I-N-G-O. School choice assistance will be onsite too.

Thursday, February 2nd

Boundless Library @ Rawson: 4-5 pm

Friday, February 3rd

Barbour Library: 11 am - 4:30 pm

Campfield Library: 11 am - 4 pm

Dwight Library: 10 am - 4 pm

Saturday, February 4th

Albany Library: 11 am - 1 pm

Park Library: 10 am - 4 pm

For more information click HERE.

A couple for our YA friends

The Sun is Also A Star

Nicola Yoon

National Book Award Finalist

Is it fate or choice that brings people together? This lyrical, beautiful book dives deeply into that question.

"Moving and suspenseful.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review 

“Lyrical and sweeping, full of hope, heartbreak, fate. . . and the universal beating of the human heart." —Booklist, starred review

Dear Martin

Nic Stone

No. 1 New York Times Best Seller

A raw and powerful story about race and injustice told through the voice of a teen.

"Teens, librarians and teachers alike will find this book a godsend. ... Vivid and powerful." — Booklist, Starred Review

"A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice." — Publishers Weekly

What's better than three musicians? How about four!

Ken Serio Quartet 

The Ken Serio Quartet plays with intense energy and grace. Their repertoire is eclectic, covering tunes from jazz standards and compositions to rock and contemporary music, as well as originals. Ken has had a fantastic journey as a musician. Learn more about him HERE.

Sunday, February 5th, 3 pm

Center Church

675 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103

Seating is first come, first seated, starting at 2 pm each Sunday. No registration is required. Concerts will continue to be streamed on HPL's Facebook page and YouTube channel. Learn more HERE.

Attention bird lovers!

Keney Lovebirds Community Birdwalk

Listen to some beautiful poems by Black poets while taking a walk through Keney Park. (P.S. We hear there will be hot cider and donuts too.)

Friday, February 17th, 3:30-4:30 pm

Keney Park Pondhouse (323 Edgewood St.)

All ages and abilities welcome

* Image of Downy Woodpecker in Hartford by Helder Mira — see more of his bird (and cat) photos HERE.

Final days to experience Espejos: Clean

Espejos: Clean – Final Days! Closes February 5th

(Told entirely in English and Spanish — with respective supertitles)

Free tickets to this "groundbreaking bilingual tour de force" are available now for HPL cardholders while they last.

You can pick up passes at your favorite branch or reserve them online HERE.

We ❤️ our community partners!

We get by with a little help from our friends

While our Downtown Library is still closed we are grateful to the many community partners that have stepped up and provided space for our programs. Thank you Center Church for hosting Baby Grand Jazz, TAP adult and teen ESL classes and additional workshops, and thank you to Capital Community College for providing space for our after-school English Learner Success program.

P.S. Moukhtar Mouhammed, (in the red and blue jacket) a junior at the University of Saint Joseph and from the Central African Republic, was a participant in our after-school English program while at Bulkeley High School. He has returned to HPL, to “pay it forward” and help other young people have an opportunity to achieve their dreams. YOU ARE A ROCK STAR MOUKHTAR!

Security officer training

Successful completion of our one-day program qualifies candidates to apply for a Security Officer ID card, issued by the State of Connecticut.

Next class: Feb. 8th

(Register by Feb. 1st)

More info and registration HERE.

COVID-19 vaccine clinics, testing and masks for you

This week's vaccine clinic:

Thursday, February 2nd, 1-5:30 pm

Albany Library

1250 Albany Ave.

Ages 12 and up (no appointment needed)

COVID-19 tests, masks

The City of Hartford will be distributing N95 masks, thermometers and at-home COVID-19 testing kits to Hartford residents. Supplies are available at any HPL branch. For locations and hours click HERE.

“We are capable of big lives. A big history. Why settle? Why choose the practical thing, the mundane thing? We are born to dream and make the things we dream about.” ― Nicola Yoon, The Sun Is Also a Star