Special Notice

HPL's Downtown Library has resumed Sunday hours. Hours of operation are 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Click HERE for hours and locations.

Upcoming Highlights

Saturday, September 19

A safe space for single mothers to build relationships and access resources, in the hope of empowering each other as they navigate motherhood, their careers, and personal lives. All mothers are welcome.

Albany Library | 1250 Albany Avenue | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Monday, September 21

We’ll be creating an immersive VR experience where you walk through iconic MTV music videos. We'll use rotoscoping, stop motion, and 3D modeling to bring it to life.

Downtown Library, YOUmedia, Second Floor | 500 Main Street | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 22

Have questions about your Department of Social Services (DSS) account? The Connecticut DSS is available to assist you. 

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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

14 More Days

September is Library Card Sign-up Month! This month only, if you visit any HPL location to sign up for a library card or renew your existing card, you will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a FREE iPad.

We will select the winner at the end of the month.

Book Recommendations

Leave Your Mess at Home

Tolani Akinola

Most Anticipated Book of 2026



"Powerful... There are multiple messes in Leave Your Mess at Home; I loved reading about every one of them."

—Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of "Real Americans"

Find it HERE in our catalog.

Beginning Middle End

Valeria Luiselli



"A beautiful, maybe perfect, novel."

—Tommy Organe, author of "Wandering Stars"



Find it HERE in our catalog.

"Dr. Ali has helped her realize, that sometimes she is primed for the fight even when none is brought to her."

—Tolani Akinola, Leave Your Mess at Home

ArtWalk Opening Reception

Join us in welcoming artists Allen Phillips, Chris Allen Cox, Christopher M. Schroeder, Joe Bun Keo, and Jon Eastman to ArtWalk for their exhibition, art is work / work is art, on Friday, September 18, at the Downtown Library.

Enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar while exploring the group show's multidisciplinary practices.

This ArtWalk show is funded by the Roberts Foundation for the Arts and Suzanne Hopgood in memory of Frank Lord.

Friday, September 18 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Library

ArtWalk, Third Floor

500 Main Street

Dance America

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with an afternoon of live music at the Albany and Ropkins Libraries. Ed Fast & CongaBop feature Afro-Cuban-inspired rhythms and hard-bop harmony fused to create soulful originals and creatively arranged jazz standards!

The concerts are presented with support from the Evelyn A. Preston Memorial Fund, administered by Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions.

Friday, September 18 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Albany Library

1240 Albany Avenue

Tuesday, September 22 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Ropkins Library

1750 Main Street

Book Festival

Join HPL and Hartford’s Literary Integrated Trailblazers for the 8th Annual Hartford Book Festival this Saturday!

This year's theme, Keeping the Focus LIT, will celebrate literature, poetry, storytelling, and the arts, featuring live performances, open mics, author talks, workshops, panel discussions, family activities, and more!

Registration is encouraged.

Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Downtown Library

Travelers Center for Arts & Culture, Main Floor

500 Main Street

Film Screening

The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a film by Jeff McKay, follows the scientists and community activists as they take a peek into the dazzling world of nature’s tiniest superheroes. 

Watch the trailer HERE.

Registration is encouraged.

Saturday, September 26 | 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Travelers Center for Arts & Culture, Main Floor

500 Main Street

Tech Time

Get a FREE CompTIA A+ training certificate to jump-start your IT career.

Classes are held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at West Middle School, 44 Niles Street.

Make Money with Food

This 1-hour info session introduces the ServSafe certification. Learn how the program works, ask questions about food service careers and register.

No experience is required. Registration is encouraged.

Tuesday, September 29 | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

500 Main Street

Resources & Services

Voter Registration: 

Your vote matters — Register to vote at any HPL location. For more information, please visit the front desk or click HERE.

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.

Your support makes a difference.