While we love fall, it’s one season that always seems to pass us by. One minute we’re heading back to school, and the next we’re surrounded by holiday décor, music, and sales.  It’s that time of year when we suddenly find ourselves asking, “How is it November already?” If the thought of holiday shopping and to-do lists sends you into a tailspin, you’re not alone. This season, skip the crowds, stress, and spending, and head to the library! From cards and gifts, to décor and food, we’re offering several programs to help make it a handmade holiday. Read on to learn more about upcoming events and browse recommended DIY (do-it-yourself) titles from our collection.

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of the Native American community. The library is marking the occasion with a series of programs and book discussions and hope you'll join us. We also invite you to explore our collection of indigenous authors and stories. Read on for book recommendations and to learn more about upcoming events!

Our staff are a talented bunch, and as we continue discovering their special skills to share on our blog, we noticed many folks at HCPL are passionate about science and the natural world.  From birding to animal training and conservation, people who work at your library are knowledgeable about nature.  Read on to learn more about our talented team members.

It's that time of year when things start getting spooky at the library! Whether you prefer just a little bit of fear, full-fledged fright, or something in-between, the library is offering a variety of children’s and teen programs to help get you in the spooky spirit. We hope you’ll join us for stories, performances, writing, history, crafts, and more! Read on for details about this month’s spine-tingling fun.

September 15 is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, and also marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America (National Hispanic Heritage Month). The library is excited to celebrate and explore the history, culture, and contributions of the Latino community, and we hope you’ll join us for a month full of music, art, games, film, book discussions, displays, and more. Read on for details about participating in this month’s festivities!

September 9-16 is James River Week, and the library is marking the occasion with programs to educate and celebrate one of our greatest community resources, the James River! Whether you enjoy hiking and biking its trails, spotting dozens of its native bird, fish, and plant species, swimming in its waters, or kayaking, canoeing, or rafting down its class II-IV rapids, join us as we learn more about Richmond’s beloved James River and how we can help protect its future.

That’s a wrap on our Summer Reading Challenge! Thank you to everyone who participated and joined us as we celebrated kindness, friendship, and unity. It is incredible to see what we can achieve together. Read on to learn more about your collective accomplishments!

Laughter is a wonderful way to bring people together, and scientific studies have shown that it can even help improve your overall health by improving circulation and reducing stress. Reading funny books is a great way to connect with your little one(s) and add a dose of laughter to your day. Read on for some recommended funny reads for kids from our collection to get laughing – it's good for you!

Taking road trips with the family is a time-honored summer tradition. What better way to engage the whole family while beating that “Are We There Yet” boredom than by listening to an audiobook together? June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, and whether you’re a new listener or an audiophile, we have an extensive, fun-filled audiobook collection to keep you entertained for miles. Read on to learn more about the joys of audiobooks, and to discover some of our favorite audiobooks from the library’s collection.