Special Notice

Hartford Public Library’s (HPL) Downtown Library and Hartford’s City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19, to complete repairs following an electrical transformer failure last year. To ensure safety, all power at both sites will be turned off on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19, during repairs.

HPL's Downtown Library will reopen to the public on Wednesday, May 20, at noon.

For hours and locations, click HERE.

Upcoming Highlights

Thursday, May 14:

Learn how worms can make your garden grow, explore our Library compost bin and leave with a treat. For families and children. Register HERE.

Downtown Library, Children's Department, Third Floor | 500 Main Street | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19:

Do you have questions about your Social Security account? The Connecticut Department of Social Services will be available to assist you. No appointment required.

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

Sunday, May 17:

Join Nzima Hutchings and T'challa Williams of Harford's L.I.T. for their quarterly book discussion focused on Jenifer Lewis, The Mother of Black Hollywood. Register HERE.

Virtual on Zoom | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

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

Barbour Groundbreaking

Join us as we break ground on the new Barbour Library. Construction is set to begin this summer.

Free and open to the public.



Wednesday, May 20 | 11:00 a.m.

The future home of the Barbour Library

234 Barbour Street (Lot)

Book Recommendations

Same As It Ever Was

Claire Lombardo

From the New York Times bestselling author of "Most Fun We Ever Had"

"Lombardo is compulsively readable and consistently funny, and it’s impossible to look away as Julia continues to self-sabotage. This domestic drama hits all the right notes."

—Publishers Weekly

Find it HERE in our catalog

Also available as an eBook

Motherhood

Sheila Heti

From the New York Times bestselling author of "Women in Clothes"

"Heti writes with courage, curiosity, and uncommon truth: To go along with what nature demands and to resist it both are really beautiful impressive and difficult in their own ways."

—Booklist Online



Find it HERE in our catalog

"There is something threatening about a woman who is not occupied with children. There is something at-loose-ends feeling about such a woman. What is she going to do instead? What sort of trouble will she make?"

—Sheila Heti, Motherhood

Counting Down Until June 1

Join us on Monday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m. at 500 Main Street as we cut the ribbon and celebrate this exciting milestone.

Fully restored. Fully reimagined. Fully yours.

To check what's new, the week-long list of events, and more, click the button.

America 250

In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, this conversation will explore histories of resistance, innovation, culture, and leadership that have shaped the country. Attendees are invited to engage in thoughtful dialogue and reflect on how these legacies continue to influence our future.

This program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Registration is encouraged.

Wednesday, May 20 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Library

Travelers Center for Arts & Culture

500 Main Street

Liberty Bank Partnership

Exciting news for Hartford Residents!



HPL has partnered with Liberty Bank to launch a new financial literacy and entrepreneurship program designed to support residents in the Central and South End neighborhoods.

This multi-part program includes: 

- Banking, budgeting, and digital skills

- The chance to earn a free laptop

- Small business training

- Opportunities to move on to Liberty Bank’s Academy for Small Business



Programs will take place at HPL’s Camp Field, Downtown, Dwight, and Park Street Library @ the Lyric. With Liberty Bank, we’re working to remove barriers, build confidence, and create lasting economic opportunity in Hartford.

Stay tuned for registration details!

Big Read

This coming week is the last week of Big Read! Check out the lineup below.



Thursday, May 14:

Creative Writing Workshop

Park Street Library @ the Lyric | 603 Park Street | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Exploring Memory Through Spices

Dwight Library | 7 New Park Avenue | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.



Friday, May 15:

Bushnell Park Nature Walk

Downtown Library, Terrace | 500 Main Street | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 20:

Creative Writing Workshop

Dwight Library | 7 New Park Avenue | 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.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.

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.