Counting Down to Beyond Words

Join us at Beyond Words 2026! This year’s Beyond Words will focus on HPL’s Hartford History Center, in a city long known for exchanging ideas, making history, and fostering civic engagement.

Featuring: Norah O'Donnell, New York Times Best-Selling Author & Emmy Award-Winning Journalist.

Thanks to presenting sponsor Bank of America, the event will celebrate the transformative power of libraries and highlight HPL’s commitment to literacy and community engagement that builds a stronger Hartford.  

Thursday, November 5 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown

200 Columbus Boulevard

Upcoming Highlights

Tuesday, October 20

Join us for a film screening of End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, an incredible story of a small group of Indigenous people who risked their lives to stop the Dakota Access oil pipeline construction.

Downtown Library, Garmany Hall, Main Floor | 500 Main Street | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 21

Come learn the latest line dances to the hottest new music. Register HERE.

Downtown Library, Atrium, Ground Floor | 500 Main Street | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 29

Stop by the Library for Halloween activities featuring candy, pumpkins, and crafts, supported by the Greater Hartford Regional School Choice Office. Costumes are encouraged.

Dwight Library | 7 New Park Avenue | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

Calling all the monsters! Celebrate Halloween with a family-friendly party with music, candy, pizza, and festive activities.

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

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

Book Recommendations

The Amateur

Chris Bohjalian



"Demonstrates timely and empathic socially conscious bravery as he confronts the inherent imbalance of power in such situations and illuminates the devastating impact of such exploitation."

—Booklist Online

Find it HERE in our catalog. Also available as an eBook and eAudiobook.

The Big Empty

Robert Crais



Winner of the 2026 Edgard Award for Best Novel

"While the pace occasionally flags, unexpected twists and a high-voltage finale save the day. This will leave series fans eager for more."

—Publishers Weekly



Find it HERE in our catalog.

"Loss left a hole and sometimes the hole was so big it couldn’t be filled. All we could do was try, but the trying defined us. Trying was everything."

—Robert Crais, The Big Empty

No Scrubs

There's much more to voting than what meets the eye. Voting is paramount to the future of our economy, community, and so much more. We partnered with Jordan from A Design Services to remind you why your vote matters.

For more information, please visit the front desk or click HERE.

Check out our new video HERE.

Artists Talk

Join us for an evening with current ArtWalk artists, Allen Phillips, Chris Allen Cox, Christopher M. Schroeder, Joe Bun Keo, and Jon Eastman, before their show closes on October 31. 

The reception will be held at ArtWalk from 5:00-6:00 p.m., with light refreshments. Then we will move down to the main floor for the artist talk in Garmany Hall from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Group statement:

"when you walk into a gallery, an exhibition space, or the halls of a museum, you are witness to a spectrum of art. sculptures, photographs, prints, drawings, paintings, immersive audio visual installations; all of this is physically manifested by the hard work of museum laborers, whom are often overlooked, underpaid, and exploited. the hanging hardware, lighting, spacing, the intricate arrangements of casework, vinyl lettering, signage, combine to create an experience for visitors. art is work (a lot of work), and work is art, now value it like so, and pay more than respect and attention. it’s the labor of love, not the love of labor. come see the individual artistic practices of those who were creating experiences before punching the clock at your arts spaces."

Friday, October 23 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Downtown Library

ArtWalk, Third Floor

500 Main Street

Spooky Season = Spooky Movies

It’s the perfect season for Kanopy and Chill, sorry Netflix. 

Kanopy features critically acclaimed movies, documentaries, and foreign films. Each month, you get 15 digital tickets to stream on Kanopy. Use them like golden passes to your personal theater; no lines, just great films in the comfort of your home. There’s a Kanopy Kids, for kids, too!

Whether you’re a jump-scare devotee or a psychological horror purist, there’s

something here to unsettle you. Kanopy’s Crypt Collection horror film and TV collection

is now available…free to watch and impossible to forget.

Town Hall Dinner & Discussion

Join HPL and UConn Hartford CoLab for an intimate dinner and facilitated conversation for Hartford residents only.

This is your opportunity to share your ideas, experiences, priorities, and vision for the future of Hartford and to tell us what kind of programs, events, resources, and conversations you want to see in the Library.

Participants will receive a free gift card. Registration is encouraged.

Monday, October 26 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Library

Travelers Center for Arts & Culture

500 Main Street

Level Up

Looking to boost your writing skills? Join us to “Level Up” your writing. Whether you’re writing a college essay, tackling a research paper, or polishing a resume, strong writing skills can open doors. Sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Bulaong Ramiz.

Refreshments will be provided. Registration is encouraged.

Starting on Tuesday, October 27 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Next session will be held on November 17

Downtown Library

UConn Classroom 025

500 Main Street

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.

Your support makes a difference.