Last Chance for Baby Grand Jazz



You don't want to miss Haneef Nelson!

April 28

Center for Contemporary Culture (CCC) at the Downtown Library

2 p.m., Doors open to the public (Please come through the Arch Street entrance)

3 p.m., Concert

This jazz group creates a sound that's both timeless and classic. Hartford based Haneef N. Nelson works as a composer/arranger, bandleader, sideman, musical curator, and educator. His earliest education in Jazz came from the Jazzmobile where he studied with Eddie Preston, Cecil Bridgewater, and Donald Byrd among others. He also studied with Dave Burns at the Long Island High School of the Arts and attended The Hartt School to study with Jackie McLean, Raymond Williams, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, and more. He has taught at The Hartt School, UMASS Amherst, Amherst College, Keene State College and currently teaches at the University of Rhode Island. 

Haneef N. Nelson, trumpet/flugelhorn

Nathan Edwards, tenor/soprano sax

Andrew Wilcox, piano/vibraphone

Matt Dwonszyk, bass

Akin Hobson, drums

We love their sound and their energy! Get a preview HERE

Learn more our about entire line up of concerts HERE

We're celebrating the 20th season of Baby Grand Jazz with the support of a generous three-year sponsorship from The Kaman Foundation. Our free series features accomplished jazz musicians and bands from around the region. 

HPL Weekly Book Recommendations:

Check out what we're listening to

We're Celebrating National Poetry Month!

We Are All So Good at Smiling

Amber McBride

National Book Award Novelist

A beautiful young adult novel about clinical depression and healing from trauma.

"Stunning... Readers will revel in the depth of Whimsy and Faerry’s relationship, all the while finding solace and relief in the calculated messiness of their search for wholeness." —Booklist, starred review

"McBride shares visceral insights into the experience of deep clinical depression. I found reading this beautiful book to be one of the most validating experiences of my life." —Nic Stone, The New York Times

Find it HERE in our catalog

We Speak Your Names

Pearl Cleage

A beautiful keepsake book that recognizes African American women with heartfelt rhetoric celebrating their strength, magic, sensuality, kindness and faith.

"The author of the Oprah's Book Club novel What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day offers a collection of poetry, her first in two decades. The Atlanta-based writer composed the title poem specifically for Winfrey's celebration of black women."

—bn.com

"Cleage took my feelings I keep written across my heart and mind about my iconic black heroes and placed them into this poem." —Goodreads

Find it HERE in our catalog

Teen Career Day

Learn about eco-friendly careers!

Join us for an unforgettable career day for teens! HPL and UConn join forces to ignite youth interest in STEM careers. Participants can earn volunteer hours and gift cards!

We hope to see you at one of our events!

Friday, April 26

1 - 2 p.m.

Albany Branch

Thursday, May 9

4 - 5 p.m.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric

Learn more and register HERE

Penning and Reading More 2024

With Hartford's L.I.T

Celebrate National Poetry Month with the Barbour Branch and Hartford's L.I.T (Literary Integrated Trailblazers)!

Tuesday, April 30

1 - 3 p.m.

Barbour Branch - For Teens and Adults.

Join us as we introduce new poets and poetry books to the community.

Learn more HERE

Books Through Time: 250 Years of Reading

Poetry Edition

Lucy Cooper Summers

(1920-1995) 

Poet, Community Organizer, Housing Advocate

Committeewoman

tonight i wore you all over.

even my smile was a little bit yours.

and i questioned matter keenly—

the way you would have had me do.

going back home

i clutched my pocketbook

—Lucy Summers, 99 Patches

Find it in our catalog HERE

Learn more about Lucy HERE

Arthur Lyman “Shrimp” Johnson

(1918-1999)

Athlete, Civil Rights Activist, Small Business Advocate, Radio Station President, Poet

I didn't mind

Cause I was running away

From the bitter trails

Of every day.

—Arthur Johnson, Beyond Ourselves: community impact index; a perspective on Black networking, associational relationships, and community agendas.

Find it in our catalog HERE

Learn more about Arthur HERE

Creating Well-Being. Together.

We are highlighting many of the health and wellness programs at our branches.

Art Therapy Series @ Ropkins: Unwind with Puzzling

Wednesday, April 24

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Ropkins Branch - For Adults

A piece of a puzzle that can help you achieve peace of mind.

Celebrate Earth Day

Thursday, April 25

5 - 6 p.m.

Downtown Library - For Families

Select seeds, plant, water and nurture in a sunny spot.

Yoga Story Time

Monday, April 29

11 - 11:30 a.m.

Barbour Branch - For Youth and Family

Join Ms. Fe for stretching and storytelling fun!

For more information and resources on Health and Wellness, click HERE

This project is funded by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number U24LM014070 with the University of Iowa, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, and the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.

Did you miss the Pop-Up Library?

We have good news! It's still here!

Come on down!

HPL and UConn Library Hartford will host a the final pop-up Library on Thursday, April 25 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Hartford Times Building, Zachs Atrium. Get a library card, learn how to access e-books and tell your HPL story.

Learn more HERE

“The only way out is through.”

―Amber McBride, We Are All So Good at Smiling