Black History Month
On Display Through February 28
Hartford History Center

The Draw a Hartford History Maker exhibition kicked off Feb. 2 with a reception honoring the artists who created portraits from photos and biograp hies featured on line in 2016's More than A Month series honoring African Americans who made significant contributions to Hartford.  
Read the biographies illustrated with new portraits on line.
The exhibition runs through the end of February.


Obama Love Story
Screening at SAND/Ropkins
Tuesday, February. 14, 3 pm
SAND/Ropkins

The recent film, Southside With You, is about the first date of Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama in Chicago in 1989. It will be screened at the SAND/Ropkins branch, 1750 Main St. Information: 860-695-7520.  The movie is a perfect love story for Valentine's Day and is part of our Black History month events.


African-American History Bee
Saturday, February. 25, Noon to 3 pm
Center for Contemporary Culture

The 2nd Annual African & African American History Bee is presented by Calling All Brothers. Leslie Mayes of NBC Connecticut returns as host. Participating schools include: Thirman Milner School, Dr. Frank T. Simpson-Waverly School, Fred D. Wish School, and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.

 

Poets On Poetry:
Lucille Clifton
Presented by Jennifer Jean
Saturday, February 25th, 10:15 am
Hartford History Center

Lucille Clifton, Poet Laureate of Maryland, had her poems published by Langston Hughes in the anthology, The Poetry of the Negro in 1957, and was a visiting writer at Columbia University School of the Arts. Jennifer Jean, a poet, is co-director of the Morning Garden Arts Retreats and teaches at Boston area universities.


Malcolm X:
A Collaborative Reading 
Tuesday, February 21
Hartford History Center
Refreshments 5:30 pm; Program 6 pm

Join us in honoring Malcolm X on the anniversary of his death. We will have copies of his writings and speeches available.  If you have a favorite, bring it with you or call us and we will find it and have it for you.  
We welcome readers and spectators.
Information: 860-695-6377. 


News
Take Your Child To Library Day
National Take Your Child to the Library Day is Saturday, Feb. 4th.  Drop in for fun activities and a book giveaway while supplies last.

Albany, February. 3, 3 to 4 pm
Dwight, February 3. 3 to 4:30 pm
Park,  February. 3, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Downtown, February 4, 11 am to Noon 
Encounters: A New Series;
Declaring Our Independence

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

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:
Afro-Semitic Experience 
Sunday, Feb. 3, 3 pm
Center for Contemporary Culture

The Afro-Semitic Experience was co-founded by African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan in 1998. The group celebrates the musical and cultural heritage of the African and Jewish disasporas. Their CDs include Jazz Souls on Fire, which pays tribute to some of the Afro-Semitic Experience's favorite composers, including Leon Thomas, Duke Ellington, Hank Mobley, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Joining Chevan: Warren Byrd on piano and vocals; Alvin Carter Jr. on drums,; Abu Carter Sr. on percussion and vocals; Will Bartlett on saxophone and clarinet; Stacy Phillips on violin, dobro, and lap steel; and Saskia Laroo on trumpet.

Information about Baby Grand Jazz.

Leap Into Learning: Ages Birth to 5
Hartford Public Library Offers many programs for children ages birth to 5.
Downtown, Fridays, 11 am to Noon
Every Child Ready to Read Story Time is an interactive program based talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing.
Albany,  Feb. 8 & 23, 11:30 am to Noon
Blue Hills,  Feb. 9 & 22, 11:30 am to Noon
Born to Read Storytime and Play Group
Stories, songs and finger plays 
Camp Field, Feb. 7,21,28, 10 to 11 am.
Family Storytime
Ages 2 to 5, with adult friends. Hear stories from children's illusrated books, sing songs and make crafts.
Goodwin, Feb. 8, 10 to 11 am.
Little Lego Club
Agest 3 to 5 with parents and caregivers. Build animals, people and places with Legos in our play area.

Join Us @thebench
Art Basics With Chris Porter

Friday, Feb. 3, 11 am to 1 pm
Repeats
Feb. 8, 17, and 22,  11 am to 1 pm.
Main Floor, Downtown Library
Join local artist Chris Porter @thebench for instruction and demonstrations of some basic art principles, including shape, space, and shading. Spend lunchtime exercising your creative abilities. All supplies will be provided. Drop-ins welcome.
 
El Caso de Oscar López Rivera; 
The Case of Oscar López Rivera 

Tuesday, February 7, 5:30 pm
Hartford History Center
Martes 7 de Febrero, 5:30 pm

La pena de prisión de Oscar López Rivera terminará el 17 de mayo de 2017. Únase a nosotros para una discusión dirigida por el profesor Jorge Limeres sobre el caso de Oscar López Rivera y el tema de la conspiración sediciosa.

Oscar Lopez Rivera will leave prison on May 17 after his 70-year sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama.
Jorge Limeres, who has taught college courses on the history of Puerto Rico, will lead the discussion.  Rivera, 74, was sentenced in 1981 after being identified with the F.A.L.N., a Puerto Rican nationalist group linked to bombings in New York and other cities.

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: February. 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
The Author's Table:
Shana Ramos
  Wednesday, February. 8, 11 am to 2 pm
Main Floor, Downtown Library

In A Lifetime Changed, three brothers set off on a scavenger hunt in the forest.   As frustrations set in, they begin to argue. Something life-changing happens. They learn how to set it right and work together. This is a book for all ages. The author has included a puzzle that readers can solve.
Shayna Ramos will  have books for sale.

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Lawyer at Your Library
First Tuesday of Each Month, 11 am-1 pm
Upcoming: February. 7
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.
Youth & Family Services
Book of the Week
Futhermore by Tahereh Mafi
There are only three things that matter to 12-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn't miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it's been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she's about to embark on one to find the other. 
Click here to find a copy
E Resource of the Week
World Book Kids
World Book Kids i ncludes thousands of easy-to-read articles, engaging images and illustrations, interactive games and activities, and teacher resources.

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.


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.

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