Hours
Mon - Tue: 10-6
Wed - Thu: 10-8
Fri: 10-6
Sat: 10-3
Come Bloom With Us (June 13 - 18)
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BPL Celebrates Juneteenth
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday; on June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. 

Bloomfield has events planned all weekend long, so come join in the fun! On Saturday, June 18, there will be a parade beginning at 11 am at First Cathedral, marching down Blue Hills Ave., and ending at the Fire House. After the parade, BPL will host a live concert at 1 pm on the McMahon Wintonbury Library lawn. Alika Hope and the Ray of Hope Project will be performing songs celebrating Juneteenth and Black history. Please enter from Cottage Grove to Rockwell and park at the Early Learning Center. Bring a chair or enjoy our new benches. Enjoy FREE ice cream with your FREE library card at the show! On Sunday, June 19, stop by the Fire House for the Juneteenth Cookout anytime between 2 and 6 pm, and come see us at the BPL table. We will have giveaways promoting our summer reading program. We hope to see you!
Online Resource Highlight
This Week's Featured Events
The Evolution of Hip-Hop: Music, Technology, and Culture
Monday, June 13 at 6:30PM
Ain’t nothing but a party, y’all…
 
In celebration of Black Music Appreciation Month, we are excited to welcome back Jaeme Brennan McDonald, Musician and Educator, to talk about the evolution of hip-hop. Join us as we take a ride through hip-hop’s glorious history, from its birth at a birthday party in 1970s Bronx, all the way to its musical and cultural dominance that we experience throughout our modern lives. For Adults.
Book Repair and Mending Workshop
Thursday, June 16 at 7PM
We welcome you to learn about book repair and mending at this workshop with BPL Staffer Jean-Michel. He will give a demonstration and we encourage you to ask questions. For Adults.
All CT Reads Book Discussion: This Town Sleeps
Friday, June 17 at 9:45AM
Join the Cora J. Belden Library and Bloomfield Public Library on Friday mornings this summer to chat about the All CT Reads books! We are kicking it off with This Town Sleeps by Dennis Staples. Tune in on Zoom at 9:45 am for a brief coffee chat, followed by the main book discussion at 10 am.

Engaging in a secret affair with a closeted white man, an Ojibwe man from a northern Minnesota reservation navigates small-town discrimination before a ghost leads him to the grave of a basketball star whose murder becomes linked to a local legend. Copies of the book are available for pickup at the the Library. E-book and audiobook options are available through Overdrive/Libby.
Juneteenth Celebration Concert with The Ray of Hope Project
Saturday, June 18 at 1PM
We are so excited to invite you to an all-ages, live, in-person concert in celebration of Juneteenth! Join us on Saturday, June 18 at 1:00 pm on the McMahon Wintonbury Lawn at 1015 Blue Hills Avenue. There will be parking at the Early Learning Center and at the Blue Hills Fire Department. Bring a lawn chair, relax, and enjoy this outdoor concert. The library will be open from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, so stop by for your FREE library card, to check out materials, or to stop in and say hi!

Entertaining you and your family and friends will be the award-winning Alika Hope and The Ray of Hope Project. Libraries, schools, and museums throughout the U.S. have enjoyed working with The Ray of Hope Project to create performance pieces that connect today's social issues to those of 19th-century enslaved people and abolitionists. The ultimate goal of this project is to help people connect with history to explore their own sense of freedom and responsibility for today's social justice issues, and to use this exploration to affect positive change in our world. 
In-person at McMahon Wintonbury
Recurring Programs
Late Opening on Thursday, June 16: BPL Opens at 1PM
Every other Thursday through August 25
Prosser Library and McMahon Wintonbury Library will be closed from 10AM - 1PM as we prepare for the next phase of our buildings project. We are preparing to move out of our current buildings and into different space(s) by September 1, 2022. The future is bright!
Easy Treats for July 4th: Firecracker Cupcakes
Starts Monday, June 13
In this second of a 4-part video series, Youth Services Librarian Nicole Dolat will show viewers of all ages how to make an eye-catching cupcake dessert for a Fourth of July picnic (or any occasion)!
Mystery Book Discussion: An Unsuitable Job for a Woman
Monday, June 13 at 4PM
Handsome Cambridge dropout Mark Callender died hanging by the neck with a faint trace of lipstick on his mouth. When the official verdict is suicide, his wealthy father hires fledgling private investigator Cordelia Gray to find out what led him to self-destruction. What she discovers instead is a twisting trail of secrets and sins, and the strong scent of murder. Copies of the book are available at the Library. For Adults.
Atlantic Magazine Discussion Group
Tuesday, June 14 at 11AM
Discuss current events as reported in the Atlantic Magazine. All are invited to join the conversation or to just listen. The conversations will be facilitated by Elizabeth Lane, Library Director. Copies of the articles are available at Prosser, McMahon Wintonbury, and BPL Online (ResearchItCT). For Adults.
Library Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 14 at 6PM
All meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Bloomfield Public Library are open to the public, including this virtual meeting.
Welcoming Wednesday Storytime @ McMahon Wintonbury
Wednesday, June 15 at 10:30AM
Join our children's librarians at McMahon Wintonbury for an in-person program. We'll share stories, songs, rhymes, and more! Class size will be limited so that all participants can practice social distancing. Masks are required for adults. Best for ages 5 and under.
In-person at McMahon Wintonbury
Gentle Yoga with Pia Oliveri 
Wednesday, June 15 at 11:30AM
Pia is the Owner and Director of Wabi-Sabi Yoga and Wellness Center in Windsor, CT. Through yoga, meditation, and breathwork, she believes healing happens from the inside out. At this class, we will start with meditation and breathwork followed by seated postures and standing postures with the assistance of a chair. For Adults.
Meditation
Wednesday, June 15 at 1:30PM
Take a guided meditation journey break out of your day with our community partners at Seabury. Seabury is an active life plan community located in Bloomfield. This program is open to all.
Library Building Committee Meeting
Wednesday, June 15 at 6PM
All meetings of the Library Building Committee are open to the public, including this virtual meeting. View the agenda and more information here.
Teen Anime Club: Multi-town event
Wednesday, June 15 at 6PM
Join together with fans from West Hartford, Avon, and Bloomfield for a virtual anime club, hosted by Jeannette Hall (facilitator of the former West Hartford Sci-Fi and Anime Club). This group is open to teens with an interest in anime, manga, cartoons, comics, video games, and other related things. For Grades 6-12.
Pokemon Club
Thursday, June 16 at 4PM
Join Miss Nicole for an afternoon of all things Pokémon virtually on Zoom! We'll do an activity together, and then watch some Pokémon episodes or a movie through Miss Nicole's shared screen. For Children, Tweens, and Teens.
Fun Friday Storytime @ Prosser
Friday, June 17 at 10:30AM
Join our children's librarians at Prosser for a in-person program. We'll share stories, songs, rhymes, and more! Class size will be limited so that all participants can practice social distancing. Masks are required for adults. Best for ages 5 and under.
In-person at Prosser
Book Shelf: LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Month
Love is Love
by Fleur Pierets
Children's Book
The Insiders
by Mark Oshiro
Middle Grade Book
Boys Run the Riot
by Keito Gaku
Teen Book (manga)
Queer Love In Color
by Jamal Jordan
Adult Book
What are you reading? Tag us and let us know on Instagram or Facebook @bplct
  • Starting March 21: Masks are optional in BPL. Social distancing is still required. Please wear a mask if you are experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms and be gracious to those who choose to wear a mask. Masks available upon request.
  • Computers/browsing/reference services/study space available
  • Technology services (computer, printer, scanner, copier, fax)  
  • Call ahead for curbside delivery, or email print requests to askbplct@gmail.com
  • Visit the Event Calendar for virtual programs (or view Printable Event Calendar)
  • Museum Passes for free or discounted admission to many area attractions
  • Laminate a copy of your Vaccine Card for free (COVID-19 Vaccine info)
  • BPL Online library is always open — read, watch, listen, research!
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