Building a strong foundation for learning begins at birth. To help families maximize early learning during this critical phase of development, Henrico County Public Library has adopted The Basics. This is the first post of a blog series in which we will cover all five principles of The Basics so you can build a foundation for your child's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Here are our tips for maximizing love and managing stress, the first principle of The Basics.

We are debuting a new, on-demand storytime service called Storyline this month.  Storyline offers recorded stories over the phone, and is geared toward preschool and early elementary children and their families.  For people looking for an opportunity to share stories offline, the library will offer newly recorded stories each week.  

Our virtual event lineup for October is full of fun programs for everyone, perfect for the cozy afternoon or evening in. Take a break from raking leaves to discuss what you’re reading, sing and dance along to storytime, or learn something new with us.

Real places have inspired some really good fiction. Often times, the setting can make or break a story, especially when it is somewhere you have been before. Here are some of our favorite novels for adults, teens, and kids that capture the spirit of a place, each paired with a work of non-fiction so you can keep exploring and learning.

¿Qué recursos me pueden ayudar con la escuela, el trabajo, o para disfrutar de mi tiempo libre?

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 reading levels about different well-known twentieth-century artists, making them perfect for reading together or reading side by side.

HCPL has coordinated with our public schools to support students and their families during the virtual start to the school year. We have pledged to provide educational support to our young people and their families. Through our collaboration with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), we have expanded opportunities for ebook access for students, are promoting our new digital cards, and have lots of spaces, including reservable meeting and study rooms, at our many open library locations for educational activities. Read on to learn more about how libraries can help you make the most of virtual learning this school year.

So many of the fairy tales that we read are based on folk tales from around the world. Folk tales are a great way to connect with others across time and different cultures. They are fun stories that highlight many beautiful aspects of being human in ways that everyone can find relatable. Providing children with books that highlight a diverse group of characters is important as it promotes empathy and inclusion.

Summer Reading finished on August 15, and while we are sad it is over, we hope you enjoyed the challenge as much as we did! It was great to see your reviews, connect with you on social media, and read lots of amazing books.