News
Draw a Hartford History-Maker:
A Black History Month Community Project

Opening Reception, 6 pm, Thursday, Feb. 2
Hartford History Center
3rd Floor, Downtown Library

Last year, our project So Much More Than a Month, highlighted the lives of African-Americans who made a difference in our community. This year, we asked for artists, of all ages and working in all media, to create portraits of these black visionaries and change makers in our city.

The resulting prints will be exhibited in the Hartford History Center throughout February 2017. Please join us on Thursday, February 2 at 6 pm for an opening reception in honor of these black Hartford history-makers and the artists who volunteered to take part in this exhibition.

Image: Warner Lawson by Joel Agosto, Hartford freelance illustrator

Take Your Child To Library Day
National Take Your Child to the Library Day is Saturday, Feb. 4th. We're celebrating all week.  Drop in for fun activities and a book giveaway while supplies last.
Campfield Branch , Feb. 2, 4 to 5 pm
Goodwin Branch, Feb. 2, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Blue Hills Branch, Feb. 2, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Ropkins Branch, Feb. 2,  11 am to 6 pm
Barbour Branch, Feb. 2, 5 to 6 pm
Albany Branch, Feb. 3, 3 to 4 pm
Dwight Branch,  Feb. 3, 3 to 4:30 pm
Park St. Branch,  Feb. 3, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Downtown— Feb. 4, 11 am to Noon 
Encounters:
A Forum for Public Discussion

  The Declaration of Independence
Reception, Saturday, Feb. 4, 3 pm
Discussion: 3:30 to 5 pm
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
600 Main St.

The Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and the University of Connecticut’s Humanities Institute, are launching a community engagement partnership with a new discussion series called Encounters.
Let's talk about the Declaration of Independence in the galleries of the special exhibition John Trumbull: Visualizing American Independence, which examines the Revolutionary War through the eyes of artists, most notably John Trumbull (1756–1843).  
Above left, John Trumbull's painting at Wadsworth Atheneum. Left, a quote from the Declaration of Independence.
Baby Grand Jazz
Heshima and Ofrecimiento:  Walking In the Footsteps of the Masters 
Sunday, Jan. 29, 3 pm
Center for Contemporary Culture

Heshima Moja is an internationally renowned bassist, vocalist, and composer, who has performed with some of the most important artists in modern music. Heshima and his band combine Afro-Latin music styles to take audiences on a journey throughout the African diaspora.
The band includes: Haneef Nelson on trumpet and flugelhorn; Ron Smith on reeds; Damian Curtis on piano; David Allan Rivera on congas; and Jocelyn Pleasant on drums.

Heshima Moja is featured in The Hartford Courant.

Information about Baby Grand Jazz.

Join Us @thebench
Origami With  Benjamin Parker
Art Basics With Chris Porter


Wednesday, Feb. 1, 11 am to 1 pm
Main Floor, Downtown Library

Paper sculptor Benjamin Parker will demonstrate and talk about origami. Origami is a combintation of ori (folding) and kami (paper).  The principles of origami are used in engineering applicaitons and medical applications. Parker's work with photographer Christine Dalenta, is on view in the ArtWalk on the third floor.

Friday, Feb. 3, 11 am to 1 pm
Repeats
Feb. 8, 17, and 22,  11 am to 1 pm.
Main Floor, Downtown Library

Local artist Chris Porter will explain basic art principles of shape, space and shading. All supplies provided to express your inner artist..  
Park Street Branch Floorplans
 

The Frog Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization Zone hosted a public forum about the progress of the new Park Branch of Hartford Public Library Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Lyceum.

Architect Whit Iglehart of TSKP Studio in Hartford showed building plans for the two-story, 12,000 square-foot building, at Park and Broad streets, on the site of the old Lyric Theater.

HPL CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, state Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, and HPL Board President Greg Davis were featured speakers. Members of the community were invited to comment on the new branch.

Ana Alfaro, secretary of the HPL Board, also spoke about the community's long involvement with the new branch.

The first floor plan, above left  includes a 3000- square-foot Adult/Teen area, a 1250- square-foot Children's area, staff offices, a cafe, bathrooms, an elevator,  and an outdoor court yard.

The second floor plan includes a Learning Lab, a Conference Room,  a 1976-square-foot Community Room, and bathrooms.

Parking spaces will be available on the south side of the building with access from Broad Street.
Rep. John Larson Presents Plan
 U.S. Rep. John Larson presented his plan for new ways of connecting Hartford and East Hartford by rebuilding I-91 and I-84 with bridges and tunnels on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Hartford Public Library. Larson, who grew up in East Hartford and represents the 1st District, estimated that the project would cost about $10 billion for the 6 miles of tunnels spanning Hartford, the Connecticut River, and East Hartford. He said the project could take 10 years to complete.
U.S. Rep Elizabeth Esty of the 5th District spoke in support of the project, as did state Sen. John Fonfara of Hartford.  

Support HPL
Donate to the Library
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.

Programs
UConn Writing Center at HPL
First Saturday of Each Month
Upcoming: Feb. 4
Wallace Stevens Room  

Meet with students, graduate students and professors from UConn Hartford, to discuss your writing and receive feedback. Writing of all kinds and at all stages - planning, drafting or revising - is welcome. 

Visitors are met on a first-come, first-served basis for approximately one hour.

Read more
Poets On Poetry:
The Poetry of Wallace Stevens
Saturday, Jan. 28, 10:15 am to 12:15 pm
Hartford History Center
Downtown Library

Wallace Stevens, an insurance executive in Hartford, was called  "the best and most representative American poet of our time,"  by critic Harold Bloom.  
Poet Jim Finnegan, founder of Friends and Enemies of Wallace Stevens,  is the presenter.
Poets and Poetry holds a monthly book group discussion on the fourth Saturday of each month.
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Lawyer at Your Library
First Tuesday of Each Month, 11 am-1 pm
Upcoming: January 31
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. Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Youth & Family Services
Book of the Week
Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford 
  Chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2016, this poetic, nonfiction story about a little-known piece of African American history captures a human’s capacity to find hope and joy in difficult circumstances and demonstrates how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom’s heart.
Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy.
E Resource of the Week
One Click Digital
Access eBooks and eAudiobooks through OneClickdigital  from Recorded Books. All the titles will play on an iPod, iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Apps now available for Android and Kindle Fire. You will need to set up a new user account to use the service.

Teen Services

Makerspace Mayhem

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

Come to YOUmedia for the twice-weekly Makerspace challenge.

Anime Character Creation

Wednesdays 3-5 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!
Dungeons and Dragons

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 to 8 pm
Albany Branch, 1250 Albany Ave.

Set off for the adventure of a lifetime each Take your characters on an imaginary journey.  




Digital Bling
At Park Branch
  Tuesday, January 31, 2 to 3 pm

Use LEDs, cool fabrics, and a little ingenuity to make a luminous bow tie or glowing jewelry.


Brainiacs Unite
Tuesday, January 31, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Ropkins Branch

Your brain controls everything you do. Get to know the different parts of your brain and then make and take home your own brain hat.




Adult Learning

U.S. Citizenship Classes

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  

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.

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