Upcoming Highlights

Thursday, January 29:

Throwback Thursday! Learn about the past with film, trivia and more.

Albany Library | 1250 Albany Avenue | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

A weekly adult exercise class suitable for beginner and those returning to a fitness journey. Register HERE.

Ropkins Library | 1750 Main Street | 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Monday, February 2:

Stop by anytime to decorate a Black History Month section of the mural and add your voice to this shared work of art. Once complete, visit the circulation desk to see the finished piece. This program runs every day until Saturday, February 28.

Albany Library | 1250 Albany Avenue | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

A writing workshop for those interested in participating and perfecting their craft for the REACH Book Author Contest. The contest is open to all students from K to 5th Grade.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric, Children's Area | 603 Park Street | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 3:

Join our three-week Knitting Circle and learn the basics of knitting in a fun, relaxed setting. Perfect for beginners. All materials will be provided. Register HERE.

Downtown Library, Café | 500 Main Street | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

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

Baby Grand Jazz



Tenor and soprano saxophonist Matt Parker, born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, fell in love with jazz after hearing trumpeter Maynard Ferguson in concert and soon began studying under legendary saxophonist Jimmy Cavallo. As a teenager, Matt performed professionally in New Orleans before moving to New York to study with Jane Ira Bloom, Barry Harris, and Junior Mance.

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

Sunday, February 1 | 3:00 p.m.

Doors open at 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

Center for Contemporary Culture (CCC)

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

Salt Bones

Jennifer Givhan 

A Library Journal Stellar Selection

"Taut with a mother's fierce love and the corrosive power of secrets...this is storytelling at its most urgent and haunting."

—Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez 

Find it HERE in our catalog

Wearing My Mother's Heart

Sophia Thakur

"Through powerful polyphonic narration, Thakur presents profound exclamations of affection for the ever-deepening nature of mother-daughter relationships, while simultaneously grappling with how violence, imposed assimilation, and exclusion affect Black youth."

—Publishers Weekly

Find it HERE in our catalog

"Intergenerational trauma is like a train leaving the station against our will—it keeps barreling relentlessly down the tracks."



—Jennifer Givhan, Salt Bones

Take Your Child to the Library Day!

HPL in partnership with Greater Hartford Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) bring you a week of family fun at all Library locations starting Monday, February 2, until Saturday, February 7.

Activities include an RSCO scavenger hunt, Super Bowl party, slime party, Pete the Cat appearance, face painting, comic workshop, and more.

Check out the full schedule of events by clicking the button!

Author Talk

You're invited to an evening with Suzanne Hopgood, longtime Hartford resident and former HPL Board member. Suzanne will be in conversation with Chion Wolf, Host of Audacious on WNPR, celebrating Suzanne's new book, Get Your Own Coffee: Underestimated, Overlooked and Now the Boss. Books will be available for purchase on site.

Tuesday, February 10 | 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Snow date: Thursday, February 12

Downtown Library

Café

500 Main Street

For more information, contact Jessica Dolan, HPL's Assistant Director of Development, at jdolan@hplct.org or (860) 695-6325.

A Chance To Get Creative!

HPL's The American Place has teamed up with Hartford Film Company to offer you a chance to win a cash prize. All you have to do is create a video and post it on social media about smart money habits.

For rules and regulations, click HERE.

Check out THIS example video to get started.

Valentine's Day Special

Are you getting tired of the same old Valentine's Day tradition? Try something new this year. Our friends at Theater Works Hartford and Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) are offering FREE tickets to upcoming shows that just so happen to be just in time for Valentine's Day.

Theater Works' The Counter runs Thursday, February 12 - Sunday, March 15 (tickets are now available)

HSO's Romeo and Juliet: A Theatrical Concert runs Friday, February 13 - Sunday, February 15 (tickets will be released tomorrow, January 29)

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.