The Paws to R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dog) program brings young people and dogs together to practice reading! You can read to a certified therapy dog each month at Gayton and Varina libraries.

This year marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Women’s History Month is a fitting time to remember the women who championed the original suffrage movement, but also those who were excluded from it. This month, we want to recognize and celebrate the women who have continued to fight for equal voting rights for all, regardless of race, class, gender, ability, or education.

HCPL was recognized as a 4-Star Library by Library Journal as part of their America’s Star Libraries in 2019. We were one of eleven libraries of our population size to be awarded four stars, and one of two in Virginia.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan inspires many questions about food, what makes a life fulfilling, and the role of technology in our lives. Explore these topics at one of our upcoming programs based on the novel, and be sure to join us on April 2 at 7:00 pm at Glen Allen High School for an evening with the author.

Every ten years, the U.S. Census aims to count each and every person living in the nation, including right here in Henrico County. The collected data helps to determine things like the number of seats Virginia has in the House of Representatives, and how to distribute $675 billion in federal funds to communities like ours. The Library is providing information about the census and assistance filling out the online form starting this month.

One of our most basic human activities is eating, and children are just as interested in food as adults are. During the winter months when families are stuck inside, our interests frequently turn to food and the joys of sitting around a table together. Parents can use this time to teach math skills, science, culture, and the art of feeding yourself all using the kitchen.

In our All Henrico Reads featured novel Sourdough, the gift of a sourdough starter jump starts Lois’s foray into baking, giving her a new outlook on life. Rejuvenate your relationship with food by baking your own bread! Baking can be a fount of creativity, as well as a delicious form of stress-relief. Our baking collection will help you put that oven to good use!

Our Teen Advisory Boards are an awesome way for teens to develop leadership skills and help the library at the same time. They promote library services, develop programs for families with librarians, give input on teen collection, run annual charity drives, and create youth-led service projects. Read on to learn about the exciting projects we’ve done in the past!

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 Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, performances by Bright Star Theater, and a lecture on African American Art from the VMFA.