Beat The Heat With Reading

Special Notice:

Hartford Public Library (HPL) will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

We will reopen for our regularly scheduled hours on Friday, July 5.

Are you looking for fun activities for the whole family this holiday weekend?

We got you covered!

Beat the Heat with Reading

Join us for our Summer Reading Challenge

Sit back, relax, and pick up a book! Are you or your child reading this summer?

Summer Reading Challenge:

Children & Teens ages 0-19

Take a pledge to read at least 20 minutes a day and get rewarded! Don't miss out on our weekly prize raffles. There's still time to join us, the challenge runs through August 17th.

Check out last week's stats:

Winners of the Yard Goats First Pitch & 5 tickets: Zariyah Epps and Viviana Bathina of Montessori Magnet at Batchelder
Winners of the Yard Goats Prize Pack & 5 tickets: Noel Parnther of Environmental Sciences Magnet School at Mary Hooker and Aarush Bajpai of CREC School - Academy of Aerospace & Engineering Elementary School
Total registered: 1,554
Schools leading registration: SAND School and Montessori Magnet at Batchelder
Libraries leading registration: Ropkins Branch and Downtown Library

Not sure how to register? Check out the video link below, Ms. Fe can help you!

Learn More Here

Adults, don't worry; we have you covered!

Summer Spark:

Adults ages 19+

Discover the wealth of HPL programs, resources, and the City, all while earning stamps to fill your raffle card for a chance to win exciting prizes! You could win a $250, $100, or $50 Visa gift card!

How to participate:

Pick up a card at your Library branch
Complete 9 qualifying activities
Get your stamps
Submit your completed card

Learn More Here

HPL Book Recommendations:

Newly added Young Adult and Children's books to our catalog

Nigeria Jones

Ibi Zoboi

Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner

National Book Finalist Award

"To read Nigeria Jones is to have the honor of being invited to one of the most unapologetically Black, womanist, and liberating worlds ever penned..."

—Frederick Joseph, New York Times Best Selling Author

“An emotional journey…. It is through this story that we see the multilayered truth of Black identity.”

—ALA Booklist

Find it HERE in our catalog

How to Ride Dragonfly

Kitty Donohoe

National Bestseller

New York Times Editiors' Choice

“A child takes readers along on an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland–esque adventure….A beautiful and interesting flight of fancy.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Thin-lined watercolor and ink illustrations by Wilsdorf…. combine a Victorian floral sensibility with an action-packed arc, resulting in small-scale-focused visuals that are equal parts magical and impish.“

—Publishers Weekly

Find it HERE in our catalog

Do you like our book reviews as much as we do?

Yes

You Never Know What You'll Find

Join the Hunt!

Pictured: Felicia Gardner-Miranda, Barbour Library Youth Services Librarian.

Let's explore!

HPL offers a unique scavenger hunt to introduce residents to the city's history and culture. The hunt includes notable events, people and attractions throughout Hartford!

Pick up a scavenger hunt card at any Library location
Visit all 16 of the hunt locations: 9 historic sites and our 7 Library locations
Return your entry card to any HPL branch when you finish. Entries must be submitted by August 17th!

Everyone who completes an entry will receive a thank-you gift and be entered into a drawing for grand prizes of $100 and $50 gift cards!

Visit your local HPL branch to get a card or visit the website to download and print.

Learn More Here