World War I and America
My Fellow Soldiers:
A Talk about John Pershing

Tuesday, May 2, 5:30 pm
Hartford History Center, 3rd floor, Downtown

Military historian and author, Andrew Carroll, who founded The Center for American War Letters, will give a talk on his new book, My Fellow Soldiers: General John Pershing and the Americans Who Helped Win the Great War. The book examines the American experience in the war based on eyewitness accounts by Gen. John Pershing and other senior officers, and the troops, aviators, and nurses who risked their lives during this conflict. Many of their letters and diaries are published for the first time.
Information on all of our WWI and America programs 
Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in partnership with the Library of America.
Hartford In World War I 
Author David Drury
Thursday, May 11, 5:30 pm
Hartford History Center, 3rd Floor, Downtown
Local historian and journalist David Drury is the author of  Hartford in World War I. He will deliver a presentation on the activities of the Hartford community during the period, accompanied by a slideshow of images provided by the Connecticut State Library.
This program was made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in partnership with the Library of America.
Let's Discuss The U.S. Constitution
Encounters: U.S. Constitution
Saturday, April 29, 2-4 pm
Hartford History Center
3rd Floor, Downtown
The Encounters series is a public discussion program created by the Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, UConn's Humanities Institute, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Discussion leaders engage in topics aimed at strengthening our ability to know ourselves and one another through respectful and challenging dialogue.
Read the U.S. Constitution in advance.
Register: Jasmin Agosto, jeagosto@hplct.org or 860-695-6367
 
April Poet
Poets On Poetry Series
The Poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, Part 2
Presented by John Stanizzi
Saturday, April 29, 10:15 am - 12:15 pm
Hartford History Center
3rd Floor, Downtown
We're winding up poetry month with a second look at Elizabeth Bishop, an American poet and short story writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1956, the National Book Award in 1970, and the Neustadt International Price for Literature in 1976.
John Stanizzi, poet, teaches at Manchester Community College and has published several collections of poetry.

Cinco de Mayo
Mexican Pride
Camp Field, Thursday, May 4, 3-4 pm
Park, Friday, May 5, 4-5 pm 
Cinco de Mayo  honors the culture, achievements and experiences of people with a Mexican background, who live in the United States. Celebrate Mexico’s rich history  with music and stories. Learn new Spanish words and make your own maracas.  
Baby Grand Jazz
Alvin Carter Project
Confluence of Influence
Sunday, April 30, 3-4 pm
Center for Contemporary Culture
Downtown Library
This year's series wraps up with Alvin Benjamin Carter Jr. and his Confluence of Influence. Carter is the drummer with the Afro-Semitic Experience, and worked with the Kenny Hamber Show, Tony Harrington and Touch, Charmagne Tripp, People of Goodwill, and many others. He currently leads LEGACY: The Keepers of Tradition and The Alvin Carter Project.
He is also a lead drummer for Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium, where he plays west Afrikan and Afro-Caribbean drums. Alvin is also an in-demand stage and production manager working for The Litchfield Jazz Festival, The Wesleyan Folk Music Festival, The Legends Show of Baltimore Maryland, The Sigourney Square Festival, Family Day at Keney Park, and The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz.
Joining him is Chris Casey on piano, Morris Trent on bass, and George Blackman Jr. on tenor sax.

The 14th Annual Baby Grand Jazz Series is sponsored by The Charles H. Kaman Charitable Foundation.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 1 pm. 
Information:

Photo by Maurice D. Robertson
 
Meet the Author
Author's Table at Albany
New Wednesday Series Continues
Join us at Hartford Public Library’s Albany Branch and meet local authors as they showcase their work at The Author’s Table. The series runs on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-6 pm, and authors will have copies of their work available for purchase.
May 3: Kenneth Passan;  Monsters Among Us
May 10: Melanie Vaverchak;  There is Something to Learn from Everyone!
May 24: Patrina Dixon;  It's My Money
May 31: Kathy Miranda;  Max and Molly
En Tertulia
Oscar López Rivera 
Park Branch, 744 Park St.
Tuesday, May 2, 6-7:30 pm
Prof. Jorge Limeres will discuss the case of Oscar López Rivera, who is being released May 17, after serving almost 35 years in prison. López Rivera was one of the original leaders of FALN, a group that advocates independence for Puerto Rico.
El tiempo en prisión de Oscar López Rivera terminará el 17 de mayo de 2017. Únase a nosotros en un dialogo con el profesor Jorge Limeres sobre el caso de Oscar y el tema de la conspiración sediciosa.  
Documentary Viewing, Discussion
Gleason
Wednesday, May 10
Center for Contemporary Culture, Downtown
Film at 6 pm; Discussion at 8 pm.
The hit documentary from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival goes inside the life of Steve Gleason, a former New Orleans Saints defensive back who, at the age of 34, was diagnosed with ALS and given a life expectancy of two-to-five years. A few weeks later he and his wife found out they were having a child. A video journal that began as a gift for his unborn son expands to chronicle Steve's determination to get his relationships in order, build a foundation to provide other ALS patients with purpose, and adapt to his declining physical condition-utilizing medical technologies that offer the means to live as fully as possible.

May is ALS Awareness Month. This program is presented in partnership with The Susie Foundation and The ALS Association- Connecticut Chapter.

STEM Programs 

National Weather Observers Day
Saturday, April 22, 
Downtown, Thursday, May 4, 3:30-4:30 pm
Dwight, Thursday, May 4, 4-5 pm
Are you fascinated with the weather? Join other kids at the library and learn how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and other elements affect the weather around you.

Legos in the Library   
Downtown, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30
Ropkins, Thursday, May 4, 3:30-5:00
We have Legos and a challenge for you. What will you create? Do you have what it takes to be a master builder? 
Leap Into Learning
Backpacks of Fun

We have Sprout Early Learning Backpacks available for checkout at four branches. Visit the Downtown Children’s Room, Albany, Goodwin, or Ropkins to pick one up today. You can also place a hold on one and have it delivered to the branch of your choice. 

Browse our choice of backpacks

Programs for Birth to 5
First Friends Play Group
Downtown, Mondays, 11 am - Noon
Our play and picture book areas are reserved for you. Share toys, books, and music while your child meets other children.

Sensational Sensory Wednesdays
Downtown Children’s Room, 11-Noon
Interactive play time for children. Each week children will enjoy a new and exciting sensory, hands-on learning activity. 

Born To Read Storytime, Play Group
Albany, Wednesday, May 3, 17, 31, 11:30-12:30
An interactive program based on the five practices of the Every Child Ready to Read initiative: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. Listen to stories, learn finger plays, and sing songs.

Whoever You Are
Camp Field, Wednesday, May 3, 10-11 am
Join us for an interactive reading of Mem Fox's Whoever You Are. We celebrate all the different kinds of children in our community and all over the world, whoever and wherever they are. Illustrated by Leslie Staub.

Leo Lionni’s Animal Friends
Goodwin, Wednesday May 3, 10, 2-4 pm
Celebrate the art and stories of author/illustrator Leo Lionni with stories and activities.

Book of the Week
Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland bu SuJean Rim
Chee-Kee, a young panda, moves with his parents to a new land of opportunity. Just when he's resigned to never fit in, Chee-Kee finds a way to use his own experience and ingenuity to save the day and show that he's one of a kind in all the best ways . Find your copy.


We Love Your Help
The Hartford Public Library needs your support throughout the year. Please consider making a pledge or donation to help us continue to offer a place that cultivates opportunities, empowers and inspires individuals, and fuels a more prosperous future.
We thank the leaders of Aetna, Travelers, and The Hartford, for their generous support.

Try Biblioboard 
Biblioboard At HPL
Hartford Public Library is introducing an online service that allows users to 
create a book, self- publish an ebook, and browse multimedia content, digital exhibits and books from local authors.
Create an account here.
When you log in at the Library, Biblioboard  knows where you are. You can become familiar with the site by browsing it. To create a book go here.
T o publish an ebook go here.  
To explore go here. .

ArtWalk 
 
WOOD./WORD.
Rafael  Osés and Michael Sweeney
3rd Floor, Downtown
Show Runs through April 30

Michael Sweeney, a woodworker, displays  the books of things we do not know which examines the book as a symbol which prompts consideration of a centuries-old technology that remains an elegant vehicle for exploring one's curiosity.

Rafael Osés ' small word paintings — everyday or esoteric words and phrases, using geometric shapes and simple color symbolism — encourage viewers to consider both the meaning and visual attributes of language.


Exhibition
Carla Ten Eyck: 
see real women:
really see women


Administrative Wall, Third Floor
Downtown Library

Originally commissioned in 2008, Carla Ten Eyck's exhibition, see real women: really see women, is part of the Hartford History Center's permanent collection. In honor of Women's History Month, the Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library celebrates a Hartford-born photographer and her work that asks and answers the question, "When do you feel you are your most beautiful?"

Left,  Marsha #1

The Library Is A Place For All

Read About Your Legal Protections
Hartford Public Library Serves Everyone

All community members of  every religion and ethnicity, whether citizens or immigrants, are welcome at the Library.
Stay informed and connected.

Programs for Teens
Free Comic Books
Saturday, May 6
Downtown
Celebrate Free Comic Book Day at YOUmedia, where you can get your own free comic while supplies last.
This year's Silver Sponsor comics include  Fresh off the BoatBuffy: The High School YearsTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesSpongeBob, Barbie, and more.
Open Mic
YOUmedia, Downtown
Wednesdays, 6 pm
Join us for and Open Mic session every Wednesday. 

Put On Your Game Face

Ropkins,  Tuesdays, 4:45 to 5:45 pm
The popularity of tabletop games is trending. There are thousands of versions, such as Sushi Go, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Survive Escape from Atlantis, and Deception (a more modern murder mystery with bluffing and evasion).
Bring your friends and your favorite games and set up a match.

Stitching Wizardry
Ropkins, Thursday, May 11, 5 pm

Learn how to embroider and monogram by hand and with our embroidery machine.


Dungeons and Dragons
Albany, Thursdays, 4:30-6 pm
Blue Hills,Thursdays, 3-6 pm
Downtown, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3-6 PM
Set off for the adventure of a lifetime each week. The Hartford Courant featured our ttabletop games in Monday's paper.
Writing Workshops At Barbour
Thursdays, 3 to 6 pm
Barbour Branch
Learn the basics of expressing yourself through the written word. .
Our intern, Tinasia, runs the workshops.

Makerspace Mayhem

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd floor

Come to YOUmedia for the twice-weekly Makerspace challenge.

Anime Character Creation

Thursdays, 6-8 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd floor

Animefy yourself and your friends at YOUmedia - or create a new unique character of your own.

3D Sculpting and Design

Thursdays, 6-8 pm
Downtown Library, 2nd Floor 

Learn how to design cool characters and objects to use in animations, video games, graphic design, and more.

Drawing With Kahairi
Mondays and Wednesday, 1 to 6 pm
Consider highlighting products or services, sales or promotions, personal bios, and more. Use images that complement your message, and link your images to supporting resources.
Breaking Barriers
Saturday, May 6, 2-3 pm
YOUmedia is hosting a new Gender & Sexuality Alliance. We'll be talking about breaking barriers while doing a crafting activity.

Writing Coaching
UConn Writing Center at HPL
Saturday, May 6, Downtown,
Wallace Stevens Room, 3rd Floor
Noon- 4 pm
First-Come, First-Served
Bring your writing to us and we will discuss it with you. UConn students and professors will assist with planning your writing project, and helping with sentence structure, clarity and grammar. Creative stories, poetry, non fiction, letters, memoirs and academic essays, applications or letters are all welcome.

Classes at Barbour Branch
Study For Your GED

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am
Barbour, 261 Barbour St.

Take classes in writing and math to prepare you for the GED test. Open enrollment.
Register: 860-695-6349 or 860-695-7400.  

Classes At Mark Twain Branch
Spanish for Beginners
Wednesdays, 6-7:30 pm, Until May 17
Mark Twain Branch, West Middle School
927 Asylum St.

Hartford Public Library card holders can sign up for a beginner Spanish course, on Wednesday, March 22.
The classes cover basic Spanish grammar in a step-by-step approach. Classroom instruction will transition to an online program called “Transparent Language,” for continued studies.Classes will be taught by a native Spanish speaker. Class size will be limited to 20 registrants.
Information: 860-695-6316 and learning@hplct.org
Citizenship Test Prep Class
Tuesdays and Thursday, 6-7:30 pm,
Until May 31
Mark Twain Branch, West Middle School
927 Asylum St.

Each class will focus on many of the 100 citizenship test civics questions. We encourage the community to join us for these lively interactive activities and discussions. The classes are open for U.S. citizens who want to improve their own knowledge of U.S. Civics or enhance their skills to tutor new arrivals on their paths to citizenship.
Information: 860-695-6316 and learning@hplct.org
Read to Succeed (R2S) Hartford
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
3:30-7:30 pm
Mark Twain Branch, West Middle School
927 Asylum Ave.

The classes are a combination of one-on-one instruction with a teacher and computer-based reinforcement activities for adults new to reading.
Information: 860-695-6316 and learning@hplct.org


business-meeting-convo.jpg
Lawyer At Your Library
First Tuesday of Each Month, 11 am-1 pm
Upcoming: May 2
Downtown Library, The American Place 

Meet privately with an attorney from Greater Hartford Legal Aid concerning questions about rights in the workplace. No appointment necessary. Topics include unlawful discrimination, wages and overtime, and rights fo former offenders. Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. 

U.S. Citizenship Classes

Class cycles  range from 12-to-14 weeks and repeat. Legal assistance with application completion and submission included.

Passport Services
You can apply for a passport at Hartford Public Library. Hours are Monday though Thursday, 3:30 to 7 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm.  No appointment is needed and photos can be taken on site.

The Passport office is now located on the second floor.

Online Learning

Accessible through the library website in the Online Education & Research Section. All free with your library card. Log in with your card number and create a user name and password.

  • Learn a New Language: Learn or practice more than 100+ languages using the online learning program Transparent Language.
  • LearningExpress Library™: Build your academic skills in reading, writing, math, and science; prepare for standardized tests, college admissions tests, and professional licensing and certification.
  • Universal Class: Select from over 500 courses in a wide variety of subjects through a program called Universal Class. Learn a new hobby, improve your computer skills, or expand your job or career options. 
  • Career Online High School (COHS)Earn your high school diploma online, must be 24 or older.

American Job Center

Monday-Thursday, 10 am-6 pm
Fridays, 10 am-5 pm,
Main Floor, Downtown

 Looking for a job? Feeling a bit rusty on your interview skills or bewildered by all the new technology a successful job search demands? We can help! CTWorks Capital Workforce Partners and HPL Library have partnered to bring a CTWorks "American Job Center" to the Downtown Library.

Catalog Options
Have you checked out our
mobile-friendly catalog?
Hartford Public Library | 860.695.6300 | hplct.org