All HCPL locations are closed Tuesday, December 24 - Wednesday, December 25 in observance of the Christmas Holiday.
Story Writing for Kids
One of the very best things about books is that they can take us to amazing places without having to ever leave home. What’s even better is that we can use our own imaginations to create those places and take other people there with our own writin...
Discovering Poetry
In this year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, main character Dorothy Moy is a poet laureate who channels her pain and trauma into her art. Poetry remains a running theme throughout the novel, as Dorothy pay...
Did You Know: Genealogy Resources at the Library
Have you been wanting to trace your family’s history? Getting started can be a daunting process, and with the recent release of 1950s census data, there is more information to uncover than ever! But did you know that your library card gives you fr...
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 unus...
Did You Know: Digitization Resources at the Library
Did you know that you can digitize your memories at the library? Scan old photos, film and slides or transfer a VHS home movie to digital format using equipment available in our Digital Media Labs. Use the library’s resources to see what’s in that...
Humorous Books for Shorter Days
Just this week I noticed that I was starting my days in the dark… which means it is time to lighten up my audiobook choices! Here are some of the funniest books I've listened to recently that can help get you through the dark mornings and early co...
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 ti...
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...
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...
It's Astronomical: The Perseid Meteor Shower
Did you know that the Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak from August 11-13? Enhance your viewing experience by learning a bit more about the science behind this beautiful phenomenon. Browse titles and resources from the Library’s collection...
Did You Know: How to Run a Successful Book Group
There are lots of book clubs out there now, and there's more than one way to run a successful one. From selecting a title befitting your group, to developing meaningful discussion prompts, the library can support you every step of the way. HCPL RE...
Did You Know: One Button Recording Studio
The Fairfield Library has a recording studio. Yes, you read that right - a library with a recording studio! Referred to as the One Button Recording Studio, this space allows you to record podcasts, capture oral histories, conduct a virtual intervi...
Earn Volunteer Hours 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...
Did You Know: Movies, Television & Streaming
The library isn’t just for books and reading! Use your library card to check out movies, documentaries, television shows on DVD, or use Hoopla to stream directly to the device of your choice. HCPL has a great collection of DVDs that can be checked...
Get Organized in 2019
The year is coming to a close and January means a fresh start! Let us help you meet your goals for 2019. This month, we have some great programs to help you plan and achieve your New Year's resolutions. New Year Vision Boards North Park Library Ja...
Celebrating Picture Books at the Library
November is Picture Book Month. We are celebrating these powerful stories, when an engaging text is paired with art that both enhances and elucidates the story line. Keep reading for some expert tips on getting started with reading picture books t...
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 Teen...
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 ...
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 p...
Did You Know: Computer & Digital Media Classes
Did you know that our Area Libraries offer a variety of computer and digital media classes that are completely free to library cardholders? Whether you need the basics or want to learn more advanced skills and software, we have resources to suppor...
Did You Know: Family Resources at the Library
In addition to books, programs, and Storytimes, the Library offers a variety of materials and resources for families. Whether you’re a new parent, in a household with teens, or the caregiver to an elder adult (or all of the above), the Library off...
Two Weeks Left in Our Summer Reading Challenge!
There are less than two weeks left for our Summer Reading program, the One Henrico Reading Challenge. If you haven’t already signed up, it isn’t too late! Simply visit henricolibrary.org/summerreading and get started on a bunch of reading fun. If ...
Amazing Animals: Stories So Unique, it is Hard to Believe They are True!
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 ab...
Did You Know: Book Recommendation Resources
One question library staff frequently encounter is, "Can you recommend a book for me?" And the answer is, of course! Recommending titles is something we love to do! Read on to learn more about library resources that can help you find new titles an...
LGBTQIA+ Memoirs
June is Pride Month, and in celebration, we wanted to share some of our favorite memoirs and autobiographies from the LGBTQIA+ community. Reading about other people’s experiences can help us make connections and build empathy. The authors featured...
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
It has been said that everyone has one novel in them. National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, has been helping that notion become a reality since 1999. It is a simple challenge put forth for any and all to participate: write a 50,000 word nove...
Did You Know: Language Learning Resources
The world is opening up again, and many of us are thinking about taking our next big trip. Where to? Spain? Korea? Vietnam? Wherever you go, studying a language can make your fabulous trip even more fabulous. No travel plans, you say? Language stu...
Spotlight on Staff: Earth Scientists
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 wh...
Legal Research Resources
Did you know that Henrico County’s public law library is housed at the Tuckahoe Area Library? In 2018, the law library moved from the Henrico County Courthouse and became the Joseph P. Rapisarda, Jr. Law Collection. This reference collection inclu...
Fun & Free Things to Do This Summer
Summer is right around the corner and we’re sharing some local and library resources to help you stay busy all summer long. Read on for our top ten list of fun and free things to do this summer! 10. Explore Henrico Parks Visit our friends at Recre...
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...
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 Ch...
Get help with holiday shopping from Consumer Reports
It's the time of year when many of us get together with our loved ones, cook and enjoy a big feast, and afterward, do a little shopping. One great resource for the informed buyer is Consumer Reports, the entirety of which you can access for free w...
Revisit the Founding Era in February and March
This February and March we are hosting programs across the county that explore Founding Era history through primary source documents, with the goal of bringing the community together in dialogue about social issues that persist to this day. The se...
The Stories Behind the Music: Biographies and Memoirs
We are halfway through the summer and our Summer Reading Club. Hopefully you have enjoyed some excellent books so far! One way to explore music is to read about the people creating it. Here are some of our favorite biographies that show just how f...
Espionage Old & New
People are fascinated spy fiction and non-fiction for many reasons. Some are taken with the notion that there are comprehensible, coordinated plots that affect world events. Others enjoy learning about how mixed motivations, conflicting interests,...
Great Mysteries for Kids
Missing dog treats, rhyming kid detectives, bowler-wearing spider sidekicks… these detective series are great for young sleuths or anyone interested in a delightful page-turner! May is mystery month and if you’re tracking down a good read, check o...
World Folktales & Fables Week
March 17-23 is World Folktales and Fables Week, and we’re celebrating by exploring different folktales available in our children’s collection. For thousands of years, communities across the globe have passed down tales that reflect their unique hi...
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 s...
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...
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...
Announcing our Summer Reading Prizewinners!
Summer Reading officially ended on August 31. We hope you had as much fun as we did this summer, visiting the library, learning new things at some of our programs, and reading so many great books! And the Winners are… Heidi R. (Adult) won the Ocul...
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:...
Celebrate Women's History Month!
“How important it is to recognize and celebrate our heroes and sheroes!”—Maya Angelou Women’s History Month is here! This March, let’s take a cue from the great Maya Angelou and learn about our sheroes, past and present. Explore the library’s coll...
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 f...
Botanical Musings
Many of us are familiar with Robert Frost as a poet who uses nature as the setting and focus of much of his writing. His poem “A Late Walk” is rich with images of autumn. Frost describes the seasonal transformation of the landscape in the mown fie...
Spooky Books for Tweens
For many, a fascination with spooky tales starts young, with simple ghost stories and rhymes. As children age, it can be hard to find books with just the right amount of fright. Below is a selection of stories for ages 9-12 that might just be the ...
World War II Books for Teens
This year marks the 75th commemoration of the end of World War II, an event that has produced countless stories of bravery, tragedy, and triumph. These World War II books are not just for history buffs. They are stories that help us connect to the...
Unsung Heroes of the Space Race
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did the impossible. They landed a spacecraft on the Moon and took a step that will be forever remembered. However, their monumental accomplishment would not have been possible without the collective...
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