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!

In 1949 the Mental Health America organization designated May as Mental Health Awareness Month to bring attention to mental health issues. Mental health is defined as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.” (Medline Plus).

In 2020, 21% of the United States population ages 18 and older, around 52.9 million adults, and 16.4% of youth ages 6-17, experienced a mental health disorder (SAMHSA, October 2021). 5.6% of adults experienced a serious mental illness. The library offers informative resources on the subjects of health and wellness, and is offering educational programs in May to support Mental Health Awareness Month.  If you or a loved one needs support or treatment for a mental health condition, or if you or someone you love is in crisis, the experts at Henrico Mental Health and Developmental Services can help.

Read on to learn more about what’s available at the Library.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Read on for upcoming programs, book discussions, and recommendations – we hope to see you at the library to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage with us!

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 study can still widen and enrich your world. According to Rosetta Stone, learning a new language can help you preserve and improve your brain function, memory, and problem solving skills. You might even be able to connect with individuals in your community who speak the language.  Plus, learning a language can be just plain FUN.

Ready to explore a new language? Read on to learn about how the Library can help!

This Spring, there’s a lot to discover at the library.  We’ve got a full slate of programs suited to every interest, new features added to popular resources, a new catalog look and feel, and of course, new additions to our collection.

Join us for an author talk with local Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist, Chip Jones! Jones will discuss his title, The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South, which was awarded the 2021 Nonfiction Literary Award by the Library of Virginia.

Our online catalog has an updated look and feel. The home page of the new catalog features scrollable carousels with popular entry points for browsing titles in our collection, from new books to bestsellers. 

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 inherited collection of slides, re-watch your decades-old wedding tape, repair a long-lost photograph and much more! 

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. Additionally, stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook pages throughout the month for craft examples created by staff for programs, library displays, and personal projects!