It’s official: the HCPL Summer Reading Challenge starts this Saturday, June 1. With plenty of programs, prizes, and fun for everyone, let your summer adventures begin at the library! Read on to learn more about this year’s challenge.

April is Community Science Month, a celebration of the public’s power to gather information, collaborate with scientists, and contribute to new discoveries. You don’t have to be an expert to aid in the scientific process! This year, the Great American Eclipse (April 8) falls within Community Science Month, and we’re excited to mark the occasion with programs about how eclipses work. We’ll also explore other projects you can participate in from home. Read on to learn more about upcoming events as well as resources and titles to spark your interest in different scientific topics. 

The word memoir comes from the French word “memoire,” meaning memory. Unlike biographies, memoirs are not just facts about a person’s life; they are the author’s memories. Their feelings and emotions are integral to the story being told. Memoirs focus on a specific period or event in an author’s life, often of a critical nature. In her memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, this year’s All Henrico Reads author, Cheryl Strayed, shares her memories about the circumstances that led her to take a solo hike and the impact the journey had on her life. If this year’s All Henrico Reads title has you craving more memoirs, read on for more fascinating reads from our collection!

This year's All Henrico Reads title, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, has us reflecting on trails: their origins, where they lead us, and the experiences they provide along the way. Read on for upcoming related programs and recommended travelogues, meditations, and guidebooks on trails.

Multilingual interpreter.  Lionfish hunter.  Master Naturalist.  Believe it or not, these aren't the professions of characters from recent bestsellers - they're areas of expertise belonging to some of our incredible staff here at HCPL.  In addition to library collections and programs, our staff members serve as incredible resources for the community. As students head back to school this fall, remember it’s never too late to learn something new and expand your knowledge and skills, especially with a little help from library staff. Read on to learn about some HCPL staff specialties, and stay tuned to our blog over the coming months to get to know more about the diverse skillsets of our amazing staff.

As we continue to highlight our staff as living resources, we thought we’d shine the spotlight on the performers in our midst.  While librarians are stereotyped as being quiet and introverted, it turns out that many of us are far from shy!  Read on to learn about our talented staff members with backgrounds in the performing arts.

It is HCPL’s goal to create an environment where everyone feels welcome to connect, learn, and grow. We recognize that the needs of our community are diverse, and aim to provide opportunities for all library users to learn and socialize. Our staff work to design and offer program series that are welcoming for patrons, both young and old, with varying developmental and intellectual needs. Read on to learn about our available programs, resources, and titles from the collection!

The library will host a full line-up of programs for Black History Month. Whether you watch a performance, attend a lecture, view a film, or participate in a book discussion, we hope you will visit the library over the coming weeks to learn with us about Black history and culture! Read on for a full list of upcoming events and recommended reads from our collection.

We are thrilled to announce that All Henrico Reads, our signature author event, will feature author Cheryl Strayed, who will discuss her bestselling memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail! We invite the community to join us on Thursday, March 28 at 7PM at Henrico’s new Sports and Events Center for an in-person discussion, Q&A with the author, book sales from Book People, and a book signing. Read on to learn more about the event and how to take part in this year’s all-community read!