National Library Week

This week, April 19-25, is National Library Week! We have had a great year, and we hope you can join us in celebrating all the ways the library transforms lives and benefits our community. Your support, whether you are connecting with us on social media or checking out our digital collection, makes HCPL an essential resource for literacy and learning in Henrico.

“National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.” – American Library Association

This past October, we opened the new Fairfield Area Library. This new library was built specifically with community in mind, with spaces for collaboration, creativity, and learning. Your support for this library in the 2016 bond referendum, your input into the planning and design, and the 2500+ people who came out on opening day, are reasons this gorgeous, modern facility exists to serve our community. We can’t wait to see you there in the future.

HCPL was also recognized twice by Library Journal, the leading journal of the library profession. Varina Area Library was named one of their New Landmark Libraries in 2019, a highly selective award that is given to a small group of libraries once every four years. Varina was awarded for its stunning design that not only meets the needs of the community today, but also looks forward to what the community might need in the future. Your input to the planning process of Varina Library made this award possible.

We were also one of eleven libraries our size to be recognized as a 4-Star Library as part of Library Journal’s America’s Star Libraries in 2019. Stars are awarded to public libraries with high per-capita usage and engagement in terms of library visits, program attendance, circulation, and technology use. We wouldn’t have earned this honor without you and your continued support.

While we have been closed due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, we have again been blessed with an outpouring of support from our community and amazed by the versatility of our library staff. Thanks to all of you who have checked out an ebook, attended a Virtual Storytime, received custom book recommendations through My Next Read, signed up for our newsletter, followed us on social media, sent us questions via Ask A Librarian, and used our online resources. Our staff have enjoyed helping you with your information needs online and over the phone, writing blog posts, planning online learning activities, supporting the Henrico and Virginia Department of Health Call Centers, and even manning an Outreach Call Center for residents to connect with people and resources during this time.

Our mission is to promote reading and lifelong learning, connect people with the information they need, and enrich community life. Your support of libraries ensures that literacy and learning are at the heart of our community.

We are working to find new and more ways to connect with you all online. Learn more about connecting with us today.