Kids are back in school and getting into the swing of new routines. Along with academics, nutrition is an important piece of the school year puzzle, and what better way to find meal inspiration than by checking out some cookbooks from the library? Prepping lunches in advance is a great way to save time during the week, especially if you’re not a morning person. Make meal prep fun and easy and send your little ones off to school with lunches you feel good about. Not only will prepping lunches together encourage parental bonding and full tummies at school, but reading cookbooks can enhance mathematical and literacy skills too. Now that’s some food for thought!

Since 1992, May has been designated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by Congress. The month was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States in May of 1843 and to mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May of 1869—which was predominantly built by Chinese immigrants (asianpacificheritage.gov).

With a library card, you can access stories by and about AAPI voices this month and all year round. Read on for recommendations of kid, teen, and adult titles to add to your reading list.

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Assistant Library Manager at Varina Library and chair of the HCPL IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism) committee Cristina Ramirez has penned a special guest contribution to our blog. Please read on to discover how you can learn more about Latinx culture and history and the library, and how members of the Latinx community can engage with library resources.

Starting June 15, the more books you read and the more activities you take part in this summer, the more prizes you will be eligible to win! Log reading, writing, and other literacy activities online to earn badges and prizes. Summer Reading is sponsored by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library. Keep reading to find out more.

Summer is right around the corner and we’re sharing some local and library resources to help you stay busy all summer long. Read on for our top ten list of fun and free things to do this summer!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Read on for upcoming programs, book discussions, and recommendations – we hope to see you at the library to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage with us!

We are thrilled to announce that Henrico County resident, public historian, author, presenter and filmmaker, Elvatrice Belsches, will be visiting the library to discuss her work on Virginia E. Randolph, a Richmond native who pioneered education initiatives for black students throughout Henrico County and across the South for over five decades.

If you’re a student or have students in your household, a library card can be a key to success—and savings. For families looking for ways to save, a free library card can unlock hundreds of dollars of programs and services to help students succeed. Read on to learn more about free library resources in our community.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and the Library has a full line-up of performances, speakers, film screenings, and book discussions about Indigenous history and culture. Read on to learn more about upcoming programs and recommended titles from our collection!