Our 2025 Summer Reading Challenge has come to a close, and we want to thank you for a summer full of creativity, connection, and reading. You colored our summer by participating in art-related programs and collaborative library displays, and beat the summer slide by logging millions of minutes in reading. No matter your age, Summer Reading is a fun and helpful tool to set reading and learning goals for ourselves. Congratulations on a great summer! If you participated in Summer Reading and haven’t already taken our survey, please give us your feedback. There’s even a chance to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.

Read on to learn more about your collective accomplishments and this year’s Grand and Branch Prize winners.

Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) was recently honored to receive three National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. The accolades were part of Henrico County’s overall total of 48, which is the most of any county in Virginia for the 20^th consecutive year, and the eighth most in the country for 2024.

Our Summer Reading theme, “Color Our World,” goes hand-in-hand with the abundance of art books in HCPL’s juvenile collection. At the library, your child can delve into the lives and imaginations of artists throughout history, from Audubon to Zurbaran. What’s more, many kids’ art books are filled with illustrations inspired by the artists themselves. And if your child is eager to create their own art, take a look at our books on art technique. Read on for a handful of highlights and how to regularly receive picture book recommendations.

Gardening can take many forms. From pots on a windowsill to a backyard homestead, planting a garden can bring enjoyment and relaxation. It can also bring a wealth of benefits to our environment and the many inhabitants living there. Read on to discover some resources that can support you on your gardening journey, whether you’re just starting out, or a seasoned gardener searching for new insights.

Teens interested in pursuing a career in the arts but aren’t sure how are invited to join us for two upcoming program series where you can meet professionals working in creative fields. Whether you enjoy illustration, or history is more your speed, both series will offer insights into the different opportunities available to those seeking creative careers.

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the stories, contributions, and impact of the LGBTQIA+ community. Along with Henrico County’s recognition of Pride Month, we have some fresh reads that highlight LGBTQIA+ voices, as well as some classics to rediscover or enjoy for the first time. We hope these lists provide you with plenty of rainbow reads for your TBR (to-be-read) list. Happy Pride!

Award-winning picture book authors Hanh Bui and Chiêu Anh Urban will be at the Tuckahoe Library on Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is free and all ages are welcome. Read on to learn more.

School is out, it’s officially summer, and we are gearing up for the launch of our 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s theme —“Color Our World”— is a celebration of the many ways both art and reading can connect us to one another and enrich our lives. Starting June 1, we invite you to join us for a summer full of reading, art, and creativity. Read on to learn more about this year’s challenge and upcoming events!

This May and beyond, discover the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans by browsing titles in our collection. Read on for kid, teen, and adult titles that celebrate stories by and about Jewish voices.