It's National Library Week!

On April 21, we celebrated National Library Workers Day, recognizing the amazing people who make HPL a place like no other. 

Stop by to see these wonderful people at any of our Library locations and show your appreciation for their hard work every day!

SPECIAL DEAL:

Have an old HPL Library card? During National Library Week (April 19 - 25), you can get a free upgrade or replacement card!

To take advantage of this special offer, visit any HPL location during our regular hours and speak with a member of our staff. This special deal is available to both new and returning customers and is valid throughout National Library Week. 

Upcoming Highlights

Thursday, April 23:

Celebrate Autism Awareness Month with a hands-on sensory workshop for children using sand and creativity designed to spark curiosity.

Barbour Library | 261 Barbour Street | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 24:

Close out National Poetry Month with us. Haiku your way through April is celebrating with a recital. Come ready to share your creations. Register HERE.

Downtown Library, Classroom 140 | 500 Main Street | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 25:

Get ready for a dynamic yoga program with Yoga In Our City. All levels of experience are welcome.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 29:

Join us for a cooking demonstration and learn eco-friendly kitchen habits to protect our planet. Register HERE.

Dwight Library | 7 New Park Avenue | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

For more fun and engaging programs and events, click the buttons below!

Last Baby Grand Jazz for the 2026 Season



Another double header to close out the 2026 season of Baby Grand Jazz!

1:15 p.m. – Jamile Trio: Vocalist, composer, and educator Jamile brings a versatile voice and a distinctive artistic perspective to today’s music. Known for her unique heartfelt tone and exceptional vocal control, she moves fluidly across genres from jazz and soul to bolero and the music of her native Brazil.

3:15 p.m. – We had a schedule change, the band will be announced soon!

Sunday, April 26 | 1:15 p.m.

Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Thank you to our 2026 presenting sponsor, The Kaman Foundation, for their generous support, and to our longtime partners, The Hartford Jazz Society and WWUH 91.3 FM, for helping us bring incredible music to the community every week

Book Recommendations

The Serviceberry

Robbin Wall Kimmerer



From the #1 New York Times Best Selling author of "Brading Sweetgrass"

"Despite the dire repercussions of not living in harmony with nature, her beautiful and hopeful prose leaves readers feeling sated, galvanized, and keenly aware of the world around them. A welcome meditation on living in harmony with the earth and fostering deeper connections with one another."

—Kirkus Reviews

Find it HERE in our catalog

Eager

Ben Goldfarb

Winner of 2019 Wilson Literary Science Writing Award | Audie Award Finalist 2019

"Beginning with the early fur traders who depleted beaver populations and leading to those attempting to reverse the negative opinion about beaver's detrimental influence, this comprehensive book provides a well-rounded consideration of a frequently misunderstood species."

—Library Journal



Find it HERE in our catalog

"In the intermountain West, wetlands, though they make up just 2 percent of total land area, support 80 percent of biodiversity."



—Ben Goldfarb, Eager

Tomorrow!

The Kitchen at Futures Inc. is officially cutting the ribbon at HPL's Downtown Library, 500 Main Street. You're invited to join us on Thursday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m.

Registration is encouraged.

Thursday, April 23 | 11:00 a.m.

Downtown Library

Café

500 Main Street

Hartford Circus Fire

Join us for a discussion of the legal aftermath of the Hartford Circus Fire and how it influenced the concept of “mass tort, presented by TheaterWorks Hartford and CT Humanities. Judge Henry S. Cohn, author of The Great Hartford Circus Fire: Creative Resolution of Mass Disasters, will be in attendance in conversation with Deborah Schandler, Connecticut State Librarian.

Registration is required.

Saturday, April 25 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Life Insurance

Learn important information about the beneficiary process, including how to prepare, details your beneficiary should know, and secrets to share with your beneficiary. This session is facilitated by Sharae Salmon of Coverage Clarity Consulting. 

Registration is required.

Tuesday, April 28 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Albany Library

1250 Albany Avenue

Making Waves Film

A film-screening of Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America, in partnership with UConn Hartford of a thought-provoking documentary about ethnic studies shaping the narrative of Asians in America.

Registration is required.

Thursday, April 30 | 12:30- 1:45p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Big Read

HPL’s Big Read is still going strong until Wednesday, May 20. Check out what we have scheduled this week for our Big Read programming.



Wednesday, April 29:

Creative Writing Workshop

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Smell, Tell, and Create

Barbour Library | 261 Barbour Street | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 30:

Creative Writing Workshop

Ropkins Library | 1750 Main Street | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

HPL’s Big Read is centered around Bite by Bite by acclaimed author Aimee Nezhukumatathil and the companion children’s book Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra and Chaaya Prabhat. The Big Read is a dynamic, citywide reading initiative that promotes community connection through literature.

For a full list of programs and events, click HERE.

Special Notice

YOUmedia at HPL's Downtown Library is closed today until Wednesday, April 29, due to construction. YOUmedia will reopen on Thursday, April 30, with regular operating hours.

Resources & Services

Fight Hunger: 

Facing food insecurity? Here's help:

• Text "211Food" to 898211
• Enter your zip code when prompted
• Identify an open food pantry near you
• For more information, click HERE.

Free Medical Rides: 

HPL + Bus or Car Rides = FREE rides to medical appointments for Hartford residents 18+. Contact us or have your provider contact us to schedule transportation to your next verified medical appointment. This service is for those who do not have a transportation benefit through their insurance provider. Please call: (860) 840-1264 for more information.

Your support makes a difference.