Juneteenth
Although many believe that the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, freed all enslaved people in the South, the dream of freedom did not become a reality for people enslaved in Texas until two years later. General…
2024 Staff Picks for Adults
We couldn’t let this year come to a close without sharing our 2024 Staff Picks. Find new reads for your TBR (to-be-read) pile or to gift to someone special this holiday season. From feel-good romances to out-of-this-world science fiction, staff read…
Celebrate Juneteenth
Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is when more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom, preceded by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Union Troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on that fateful day in…
2023 Staff Picks for Kids
Whether they’re just learning to read or diving into to chapter books and novels, this year’s Staff Picks list includes titles for all of your little ones, from infants to tweens! Be sure to also check out our Staff Picks lists for Adults and Teens…
2022 Staff Picks
Our Staff Picks lists are here! Whether you’re looking for new books to add to your TBR list or great titles to gift this holiday season, below you’ll find our favorite books we've read this year. Be sure to also check out our favorite Teen and Chil…
2024 Summer Reading Wrap-Up
That’s a wrap on our 2024 Summer Reading Challenge! Thank you to everyone who read and learned with us. Whether it was diving into books, trying new things, or exploring new places, we think it’s safe to say that this summer was quite an adventure…
True Crime Reads
As August is flying by, the season of mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels is fast approaching, but it is still a bit too warm for the often cold, dark setting of haunted houses and who-done-its. True crime is a great genre to fill the need for a…
Jazz Appreciation Month for Kids
From Bebop to Big Band, Dixieland to Ragtime, Swing to Latin, Afro-Cuban to Cool: April is Jazz Appreciation Month! Head to the library with your little ones to learn more about jazz’s history, legends, and influence on music today. Discover the spi…
Black History Month 2023
We're gearing up for a full month of Black History programs, displays, and reading in February. Explore contemporary local street art with Hamilton Glass, learn about Emancipation Towns in our region, research your family’s history with the African…
Black History Month 2025
This Saturday marks the beginning of Black History Month and we are looking forward to kicking things off with a day full of events at Fairfield Library. Listen to Justin Golden perform the Piedmont Blues, test your knowledge of Henrico Black Histor…
Celebrate Pride at HCPL
Happy Pride Month! June 1 marks the beginning of Pride, a month-long celebration of the history and impact of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (questioning), intersex, and asexual identifying community. HCPL offers a variety of program…
Teens Get Crafty (and Spooky) at the Library
The library is your neighborhood hub for hands-on teen creativity! From 3D printing services and technology available in our Digital Media Labs, to books detailing various DIY activities in our catalog, we have tons of tools to help teens tinker on…
Black Lives in Literature: a Juneteenth Reading List
Juneteenth celebrates the end of the institution of slavery in the United States, commemorating the date a Union general issued an order to free all enslaved persons in Texas on June 19, 1865. If you are interested in celebrating Black lives this Ju…
Pride Month Reads from Past and Present
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the stories, contributions, and impact of the LGBTQIA+ community. Along with Henrico County’s recognition of Pride Month, we have some fresh reads that highlight LGBTQIA+ voices, as well as some classics to r…
2023 Staff Picks
It’s that time of year again! We’re reflecting on our favorite reads from 2023, and are eager to share our picks with you. We hope you’ll find new titles to add to your nightstand or to wrap up as a gift this holiday season. Be sure to also check ou…
Loving Day and Juneteenth
June is a month of celebrations. From Pride to graduations to the start of summer, we have lots to celebrate this month. There are two very special days in June that have previously been overlooked, but have been gaining attention in recent years: L…
Jewish American Heritage Month
This May and beyond, discover the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans by browsing titles in our collection. Read on for kid, teen, and adult titles that celebrate stories by and about Jewish voices. EASY (Picture Books) 1, 2, 3…
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025
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 th…
Connecting Communities with Quilts
Quilting bees, stitch-ins, and sewing circles have long been community gatherings. In the spirit of our “All Together Now” Summer Reading challenge, join us to explore quilting and other textile arts this summer. Events include collaborative art ins…
James River Week
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 nativ…
Hispanic Heritage Month: Library Resources & Books From the Collection
We’re gearing up and getting excited for this weekend's Familia Fiesta celebration and other Hispanic Heritage Month events, but the celebration doesn’t end there. You can continue to explore Hispanic voices, history, and culture beyond this month t…
Animal Crossing: Reading Recommendations
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players pack their bags and head to their very own deserted island. On your island, you’ll develop your town, fish, catch bugs, and meet new villagers. The island has everything you could want — except a librarian…
Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth with the library and this list of titles available at HCPL. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Based on the words “June” and “Nineteenth,” the celebration started to commemorate an order issued by a…
April is Arab-American Heritage Month
In 2021, the U.S. State Department officially recognized and designated April as Arab-American Heritage Month. Browse our collection to learn more about the culture, history and contributions of the Arab world. We’ve included some kid, teen and adul…
Black Authors Showcase
This Valentine’s Day, we’re highlighting Black authors we love! Explore a few of our favorite contemporary and classic Black authors for adults, teens, and children. ADULT: I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan Dr. Georgia Young, an optometris…
New Teen & Adult LGBTQIA+ Reads
Happy Pride Month! Pride is an annual commemoration dedicated to recognizing the impact of the LGBTQIA+ community. In celebration, we’re reading across the rainbow and highlighting some of our collection’s newer LGBTQIA+ reads for teens and adults…
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the Library
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we are commemorating the occasion with a month full of programs and displays at the library. In our programs, you'll hear from Asian Americans in the Henrico community as they sha…
Black History Month Events at the Library
During Black History Month, we recognize the enormous cultural contributions and civil rights achievements of African Americans. We are offering a wide array of events for adults, children, and teens including a presentation by the Petersburg Chapte…
Makerspaces
Makerspaces have popped up all over the world in libraries, museums, and on school campuses. Why not have a Makerspace in your own living space? Makerspaces can fuel innovation, critical thinking skills, and problem solving for teens. Depending on t…
Adventure Begins with a Set of Dice: Dungeons & Dragons at the Library
One of the many adventures you can enjoy this summer (and all year) is the game of Dungeons & Dragons. In this collaborative tabletop roleplaying game for all ages, players work together as different characters to defeat monsters, solve puzzles, and…
Women's History Month 2024
Celebrate Women’s History Month with HCPL! What better way to kick off Women’s History Month than with a quote from this year’s All Henrico Reads title, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by author Cheryl Strayed: “I knew that if I…
Native American Heritage Month
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 title…
YA Books and Music: What to Listen to While You Read
Movies and soundtracks are like two peas in a pod, but we’d argue that books and music make a great pair too! What better way to amplify the environment, characters and mood of a story than listening to music while reading? Below you’ll find our pic…
Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
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 (…
Celebrate Pride Month!
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month! What originally began as a day to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising (Gay Pride Day) has since evolved into an official month-long celebration that recognizes the impact lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (…
Celebrate Black History Month
We are offering a wide range of programs in February to celebrate Black history and culture. Join us for a month full of speakers, film screenings, book discussions and more. Read on for upcoming programs and descriptions – we hope to see you at the…
One for You, and One for Me: Reading Side by Side - Twentieth-century Visual Arts Edition
There are many wonderful books produced for children and young adults featuring well-known artists. We’ve paired them here with adult titles so that you and your child can all look, learn, and read together. Our list highlights titles at multiple re…
2021 Staff Picks for Adults
And last but not least, we're sharing our favorite Adult picks! With unique titles that span across several different genres, it's our hope that this list offers a little something for everyone. Click through the links below to learn more about each…
Youth Art Month
Tap into your creative side! March is Youth Art and National Craft Month. In addition to events this March, the library offers art-centered programs all year-round to help foster creativity and self-expression in children and young adults. Whether i…
March Virtual Events
Explore fun kitchen science, challenge yourself with LEGOs, and learn how to bullet journal this March! We have a full slate of events for everyone. Be sure to mark your calendar for our All Henrico Reads virtual event on April 1 at 7:00 pm. Author…
Novels in Verse: Teen Reads
A novel in verse can be free-form, a specific style of poetry, or have poetic structures and devices embedded within. Because of the format, novels in verse can often feel more approachable than traditional prose, using emotion and form to further a…
National Photography Month
Nearly two hundred years ago, the first permanent photograph was taken by Frenchman Joseph Niépce of the view outside his window. Today, during National Photography Month, we celebrate the advancement of the medium. Once an expensive and cumbersome…
Read with Your Eyes Closed
Expand your imagination with an audiobook! Audiobooks allow us to enjoy fabulous narrators and concentrate on the spoken word alone. Best of all, they enable us to bond and listen to stories together! Listening encourages readers to dive into challe…
Nine Romantic Reads for Teens (with Food and Drink Pairings)
What’s better than a feel-good romance to bring you out of a reading slump? Each of these titles is a delight to read, and we’ve paired them with a food or drink so you can snack while you read. Best of all, everything has a happy ending. Novels Fel…
Listening to #OwnVoices
Increased diversity in children’s literature has been a welcome and growing phenomenon over the past few years. Thanks to the work of organizations like We Need Diverse Books- a non-profit started in 2014 by a diverse group of children’s and YA auth…
Black History Month 2024
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…
2020 Staff Picks for Kids
It is December and that means it is time for us to share our favorite books from 2020. We are starting with our favorite books for kids (and those young at heart!). Be sure to keep an eye out for our favorites for teens and adults later this week. P…
2018 Staff Picks for Kids
So many amazing books came out this year, and we wanted to share our favorites with you! Library staff are excited to share their #1 reads for children, teens, and adults this week. Whether you are young or old, children’s books are always a delight…
2023 Staff Picks for Teens
Middle-school firsts, fish-shaped spaceships, cryptid-fueled murder mysteries, dystopian resorts. These are just some of what you’ll find in this year’s list of recommended reads for teens. With titles that span all genres, we hope there’s something…
International Police Procedurals
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 geogra…
Comic Books for Teens and Tweens
It is time to delve into summer reading with our “A Universe of Stories” theme. Consider adding more graphic novels to your to-be-read pile! What is a graphic novel? It’s a book filled with visuals. They encompass all genres, so while superheroes ar…
Unique, Unusual, and Unexpected Finds – Teen Books to read this January!
This post was written by Drew at Twin Hickory Library. When you are browsing through our teen collection, you never know what you might find! For our January post, I decided to take a look at our teen shelves at Twin Hickory and highlight any unusua…
2021 Staff Picks for Kids
It's the end of the year, which means it's time to share our staff's favorite recently published titles. We're kicking this week off with our favorite Children's books, but stayed tuned as we share our Teen and Adult lists over the next few days! Wh…
Celebrate Earth Day
Exactly 50 years ago, April 22, 1970, the very first Earth Day was celebrated. At that time, environmentalism was growing and concerned people were looking for a way to generate even more interest in protecting the natural world. Over the years, Ear…
Do-It-Yourself Gift Giving
The gift-giving season is almost upon us! Here are some fun ideas for thrifty DIY gifts you can create with books from our collection. These crafts are great for beginners and use only a handful of materials. Mason Jars There are endless ways to cre…
Find Your Next Memoir
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 foc…
Freedom Fighters & Hidden Histories
Juneteenth is just weeks away and in commemoration of the holiday the Library has organized a series of programs that centers around Black stories from near and far. Explore the history of Black people in Henrico County by transcribing primary sourc…
Talking about Race with Children
A great deal of research has been done concerning how young children become aware of race. It all points to a very clear fact: kids pick up on racial differences during the very first years of life. Our librarians have pulled together a list of book…
July Events – In-Person and Online!
We have so many new programs coming up in the month of July, both in-person and online! Join us for some awesome movies, stories, crafts, and lots of learning all month long. For in-person programs, face coverings are required for all participants a…
Join a Book Discussion
Every library has a monthly book discussion group, and some locations have several! It doesn’t matter what you enjoy reading, there is a group for you. Because we have so many groups, there is a page on our website devoted to showing what we are rea…
2024 Staff Picks for Teens
Self-discovery, making friends, exploring new worlds, finding your passion: these are just a few of the themes you’ll find on this year’s Staff Picks list of teen titles. If you’re looking for more recommendations in 2025, subscribe to one of our ge…
March is National Craft Month
March is National Craft Month! Tap into your creative side by exploring craft programs, recommended titles from our collection, and online course opportunities available through Universal Class, one of our Research and Learning databases. Additional…
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month starts next week, and we look forward to commemorating the occasion with films, book discussions, and a variety of programs. Listen to the sitar, learn to play Mahjong, practice the art of su…
2022 Staff Picks for Kids
Explore our staff's favorite Children's titles read this year for an array of books to share with your little one! The Kids page on our website is another great resource and includes reading lists by age and grade, a link to our My Next Read service…
Handcrafted Holidays
It’s holiday time once again! Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, consider making your celebration more special by making it a DIY holiday. In the Kwanzaa tradition, the exchange of gifts should be an experience without stress, cr…
Audiobooks for Tweens
One of our favorite ways to experience books is to listen to them. Audiobooks allow a full, immersive experience with different voices for characters, multiple narrators, sound effects, the works! You can customize listening speed, listen on the go…
Classic Spin-Offs
Most of us have heard the old adage, “there are two sides to every story.” The saying encourages us to consider multiple perspectives. As readers, viewing the stories we love through different lenses can open up entirely new worlds! It can be fun to…
Celebrate Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! And while young readers can still enjoy classic verses from authors like A.A. Milne, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Shel Silverstein, there are many wonderful, new poets to explore. Whether you prefer poetry colle…
Stitching Groups at HCPL
This August we are starting a new stitching group at Tuckahoe Library. The Rainbow Stitching Group is for LGBTQIA+ knitters, crocheters, sewists, and fiber crafters to get together and stitch. This is the third stitching group that meets regularly a…
Hispanic Heritage Month: Upcoming Programs
September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! To celebrate, the Library will be offering several programs. Join us for speakers, performances, film screenings, book discussions, and more as we celebrate Latinx history and culture! Rea…
Taking Care of Yourself
It’s hard to maintain balance in your life when you are experiencing stress and anxiety, but that is often when it is most important to take the time to care for yourself. Whether you are looking for a little inspiration, some sage advice on achievi…
Library Resources for Veterans & Military Families
HCPL would like to thank and welcome veterans, service members, and their families to the library. HCPL provides access to several resources, including VetNow, JobNow, and Tutor.com, for those seeking help with veteran benefits, career support, acad…
Upcoming June Programs
Summer is nearly here and we are thrilled to share some in-person and virtual events at the library coming up in June. From Summer Reading kickoff parties perfect for families, to book and film discussions, to virtual teen crafting, there’s a lot ha…
Celebrate A Month Full of Holidays in February with Great Teen Books!
Life is a party – or at least, it can be if you know what to celebrate! Make this February a little more festive and fun by learning about the special holidays and observances occurring this month. Once you have your calendar marked, finish off your…
Creative Careers for Teens: Upcoming Programs
Teens interested in pursuing a career in the arts but aren’t sure how are invited to join us for two upcoming program series where you can meet professionals working in creative fields. Whether you enjoy illustration, or history is more your speed…
Eclipses & Community Science
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 Americ…
Connecting Cultures & Building Community Through Food
Food is a common thread that unites humanity. Beyond sustenance, food teaches us about identity, history, community, and culture. When we share our food, we share our roots. In the words of renowned American chef James Beard, “Food is our common gro…
K-Pop Reads
Are you a member of the BTS Army? Do you belong to BLINK? As interest in K-Pop only continues to grow, more and more books are featuring characters chasing their dreams of K-Pop fame. Aspirational young stars have to learn complicated choreography w…
May is National Bike Month
May is a beautiful time for biking in Henrico! Whether it’s just around the corner, or throughout the region, Henrico County has several trails and bike lanes available. You can even take your bike on the GRTC bus! Read on to learn more about local…
Read Together, Watch Together
Many books have been made into fabulous film adaptations. So what is the best option… read it and then watch it? Watch it and then read it? The choice is for you and your family to make. You could even listen to the audiobook first. Here are some of…
It's Cozy (Mystery) Season
It’s that time of year again when all we want is to stay inside and curl up with a good book. This season, we’re leveling up our cozy with equally cozy mysteries from the library. Cozy mysteries are typically lighthearted, include a quirky cast of c…
Happy Pride!
Pride month might be coming to an end, but we have a great selection of LGBTQIA+ books for you to read year round! There are so many great works of LGBTQIA+ literature out there. While we have tried to highlight a diverse range of experience, this l…
2018 Staff Picks for Teens
There were so many great teen books released this year… it was hard to choose which ones to talk about! There are graphic novels, fantasy, fiction and even poetry on the list, so no matter what you like to read there is something for you. Here are o…
Manage Your Time & Get Organized
This new year, go beyond a simple to-do list to organize your life. These books about time management and organization will help you tame unmanageable messes, tackle projects big and small, and cultivate strategies for productivity to help you meet…
Explore the World: Works in Translation
While travel broadens the mind, our bank accounts can’t always support our wanderlust. Thankfully, there is great literature written by people from faraway places and different cultures, which is nearly if not as stimulating! Reading books that have…
Family Matters
As we gear up for All Henrico Reads, we’re reflecting on some of the themes in this year’s title The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford. Family, undoubtedly, plays a central role in the story as protagonist Dorothy Moy seeks to connect with g…
Back to Nature: Books for Kids
In stressful times, children as well as adults can benefit from interacting with nature. According to a study by the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment & Human Health, spending a minimum of 2 hours per week in nature reduces stre…
2023 Summer Reading Wrap Up
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 a…
Arab American Heritage Month
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time to commemorate the history and culture of the Arab community. Our collection features several titles from Arab and Arab American authors. Read on for a list of titles for children, teens, and adults that…
New Resources for Jobseekers and Veterans
JobNow and VetNow are two great new resources you can access with your library card! JobNow features information and services for job seekers that can help you reach your career goals. VetNow provides support to veterans and their families with a wi…
Science Fiction: Finding Comfort in Possibilities
Aliens, strange worlds, sentient robots, interstellar spaceships… science fiction focuses on worlds and realities that we can only imagine. It can be wonderfully fun and even comforting to escape to these unknowns. Here are some of our favorite titl…
2024 Staff Picks for Kids
Picture and chapter book readers alike are sure to find reads on this year’s Staff Picks list of children’s titles. Dive into beautiful artwork, magical worlds, adventure, and more! Be sure to also check out our Staff Picks lists for Teens and Adult…
Native American Heritage Month
In commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, the library is hosting a series of programs in November. Learn about the practices of regional tribal communities, sample a staple from Native American cuisine, and discuss stories written by indig…
Spotlight on Staff: Lifelong Learning at the Library
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 l…
Get Inspired! Art Books at HCPL
Calling all artists – aspiring, beginner, or expert! HCPL’s collection is full of big, beautiful books of art prints, reproductions, how-to guides, and museum catalogs. These books contain inspiration and instruction for a wide variety of mediums an…
Homework Resources for Teens
The cool fall weather is finally here, but school is in session and your homework is piling up! Don’t worry, the library is here to help you out with resources that will help you get your homework and papers done, so that you can spend more time out…
2020 Staff Picks for Teens
There were some absolutely fabulous teen titles published this year, including wonderfully thought-provoking nonfiction, fantastical adventures, and stunning LGBTQIA+ stories. Here are our favorites! Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Rey…
Native American Heritage Month
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…
Fandom Read-Alikes for Teens
Our festival of fandoms — Fandomonium — is just days away! Not sure what a ‘fandom’ is? ‘Fandom’ is simply the term used to describe the community or subculture of fans around a particular interest. These interests can vary from sports teams, to mus…
Explore STEM Concepts at the Library
Explore STEM concepts at the library! STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based teaching approach that encourages hands-on learning to help students build critical thinking, pr…
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