For Ruth Reichl, food and words have always been linked. “Growing up in my family,” she explained, “You had to have a story at the dinner table. It’s where I learned to write.”

Reichl’s early storytelling training has served her well. One of America’s top culinary voices, Reichl has earned distinctions ranging from the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award to a recent cameo on The Simpsons. A New York Times bestselling author and former Gourmet magazine editor and restaurant critic for The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, Reichl has lived America’s food journey. At All Henrico Reads on March 27, 2025, you’re invited to be part of the experience as Reichl shares insights from her life and her latest book The Paris Novel.

March 1 marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, and the library is offering several programs to commemorate the occasion. Attend a book discussion or film, explore the work of female musicians, artists, and writers, and discover history makers from Virginia and beyond. Read on to learn more about all of our upcoming Women's History Month programs.

July 4, 2026, will mark the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and in anticipation of this milestone, HCPL is excited to announce a new program series supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250). Using textiles as a lens to explore America’s history both past and present, we invite you to join us for demonstrations, hands-on learning, and presentations from local groups, artists, and historians. Read on for more details about our upcoming Hand Crafted program series.  

As Varina Area Library celebrates its eighth anniversary, we’d like to highlight the only HCPL library situated on the Capital Trail! Opened in June of 2016, Varina’s current LEED-certified location on New Market Road replaced the smaller Varina branch which served the community since 1970. Varina Library is a 43,885-square-foot two-story building equipped with designated adult, teen, and children’s areas; study and meeting spaces; a Digital Media Lab; a demonstration kitchen; a grand stairwell for events; and a nature trail. In 2017, Varina won the prestigious Library Building Award presented by the American Institute of Architects in conjunction with the American Library Association. Read on to learn more about this serene and nature-inspired library nestled in the East End!

Calling all super sleuths! Can you spot a plot twist coming from a mile away? Can you identify the murderer by the fifth… no, third chapter? Then look no further.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which raises awareness about people living with a developmental disability such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 6 children have one or more developmental disability.

HCPL has programs and resources throughout the year for people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. There are also many related items in our collections. Read on to learn more. 

School is back in session, and we just want to remind all the hard-working students out there that the library has your back! Between academic workloads, outside-of-school responsibilities, and planning for the future, we know you juggle a lot. We’re here to help, in-person or online, so that you can have a successful year. Read on to learn more about resources available to you at the library.

Did you know that teens can volunteer at the Library? Whether you’re in need of hours for school, or just interested in getting more involved in your community, the Library offers three different ways for teens to earn hours. Read on to learn more about our volunteer opportunities!

Read + Review is fun way to earn community service hours while sharing your opinions on the books you’ve loved recently. Students in grades 6-12 can submit reviews of new titles from the library’s YA collections and we’ll share it online!