The most wonderful time of the year is now upon us – the holidays! There is more to do and seemingly less time to do it: dashing and decorating and dining, and days and days of doing. PAUSE. Let’s take care of ourselves, and help teach our children how to do the same.

If you were inspired by our Do-It-Yourself Gift Giving booklist, stop by the library for one of our holiday craft programs. We have activities for all ages or for the whole family. Come get some hands-on learning experience while celebrating the holiday season, and take home a book to keep crafting!

Go on, admit it—everyone loves animals at least a little bit! You might enjoy cute animal videos, or even have pets of your own, and the library has a lot books with amazing animal stories. Get to know some truly amazing furry friends and learn about their adventures by checking out one of our favorite true stories. Better yet, check them all out and you can learn how a Canadian bear ended up in England, how a dog decided to go to the grocery store on its own, or how a dog named Glory helps to find other lost pets!

If you enjoy helping people, want to make your community a better place, or just need to complete your school requirements, there are great opportunities for teens and tweens to volunteer at the Library and in the community. Read on for more information on volunteering at the library and beyond!

Every November, all across the globe, writers ranging from amateur to expert try to meet ambitious word-count goals as part of National Novel Writing Month. Here at HCPL, we offer a wide variety of resources, programs, and work spaces to support your creative endeavors through NaNoWriMo and beyond.

Our Teen Advisory Boards are once again collecting books as part of the Henrico Christmas Mother Campaign! We are accepting donations of new children’s books at all library locations.

We are drawn to stories about ghosts, hauntings, and the paranormal for many reasons. For some it is thrill-seeking, curiosity, or a need to be scared. Others are drawn to the stories because of the very human history they highlight. Whatever draws you to the supernatural, we have books you will love.

Armchair detective or armchair traveler? You can have it both ways. There is no need to choose between an engrossing criminal investigation and the adventure of foreign travel with a list of international mysteries in hand. The particulars of geography and culture found in the following selection of police procedurals give the reader an authentic sense of place.

Caring for a family member or loved one with dementia can be an all-consuming and difficult task. In honor of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in November, we have put together a list of resources, books, and educational events that can help you care for and engage with your loved ones.