Ongoing Education

Did you know you have access to powerful learning and research tools that support academic research, continuing education, understanding of current events, and personal interests through The New York Times?

The Learning Network is an award-winning curricular tool with resources for Library users and educators. It publishes 1,000+ resources each year, including lesson plans, quizzes, graph prompts and a writing curriculum.

Upcoming Highlights

Friday, March 6:

Become intentional. Join us to create an affirmation vision board to guide you through the days that seem unmanageable. Register HERE.

Downtown Library, Classroom 139 | 500 Main Street | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

First Fridays of the month with The Legacy Foundation of Hartford. Enjoy pizza followed by discussion topics of today's society with The Legacy Foundation of Hartford.

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

Saturday, March 7:

This dynamic yoga program combines flowing sequences, strength-building poses, and intentional stretching to enhance overall fitness in partnership with Yoga In Our City.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 10:

Connecticut Department of Social Services will be available to assist you with your account information and answer any question you may have. No appointment required.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

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

Baby Grand Jazz



Hartford‑born trombonist Nigel Bello began playing at age six, introduced to the instrument by his father, percussionist Nelson Bello. He has performed with leading artists including Zaccai Curtis, Luques Curtis, Nat Reeves, and Steve Davis. Bello studied with Davis, Dr. Emmett Goods, and Hommy Ramos, and attended both the Litchfield Jazz Camp and the Newport Jazz Camp on scholarship.

Can’t make it in person? Watch the live stream on HPL's YouTube, HPL’s Facebook, or on HPATV.

Sunday, March 8 | 3:00 p.m.

Doors open at 2:00 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

Bog Queen

Anna North

Named Best Book of 2025 by The New Yorker, Publishers Weekly and Esquire 

"Nevertheless, this is a memorable tale of the unexpected linkages of history, land, and female power."

—Kirkus Review

Find it HERE in our catalog

The Bookbinder's Secret

A.D. Bell

"Bell exhibits a superior gift for crafting an engrossing puzzle and a complex, sympathetic protagonist."

—Publishers Weekly

Find it HERE in our catalog

"A colony of moss has no interest in or even awareness of human activity. But if it did..."

—Anna North, Bog Queen

Other Side Film

Join us for a screening and discussion of Other Side, a documentary that premiered to sold-out crowds at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival. It follows the journey of Connecticut’s own Lynda Bluestein, a lifelong activist, facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. This is a patient-directed end-of-life film that provides choice, dignity, and peace of mind.

View the trailer HERE.

Saturday, March 28 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Hartford Plates

Black Tech Futures Media Co., in partnership with The Popular Food Project, invites the Hartford community to a special public screening and discussion featuring the trailer for Hartford Plates: A Story of Food Apartheid and Solutions.

Registration is required.

Tuesday, March 10 | 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture

500 Main Street

Hartford Reads in Color

The quarterly book discussion is here! Join us for an engaging conversation surrounded by Shonda Rhimes book, Years of Yes, hosted virtually by Nzima Hutchings, Visionary Chief Executive Founder and T'challa Williams, Executive Co-Founder, Spokeswomen, Event Coordinator and Liaison of Harford's L.I.T.

Registration is required.

Sunday, March 15 | 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Zoom

ServSafe Certification

Ready to take the next step in your food service career? The ServSafe Food Handler Certification can help you secure employment and advance in the industry. The best part is, classes are free!

Every Tuesday & Thursday starting March 19 - April 2 | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Downtown Library

Classroom 141

500 Main Street

Resources & Services

Warming Centers: 

All HPL locations are welcoming warming centers during the winter months. Stop by to read, relax, and enjoy everything the Library has to offer. Click HERE for hours and locations.

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. Please call: (860) 840-1264.

Your support makes a difference.