Mental health plays an important role in how we navigate life’s everyday challenges. For teens, it can be stressful juggling school, extracurricular activities, friendships, and family, let alone planning for your future. To help support your wellness, the library offers resources specifically geared toward teens about mental health topics. Read on to learn more.

January 2 is National Science Fiction Day, which honors the significant contributions to the genre by prolific author and editor Isaac Asimov born on January 2, 1920. Asimov is also credited with coining the term “robotics” in a 1941 short story he wrote, and robots do indeed populate a number of the titles in our collection. Read on for kid, teen, and adult science fiction recommendations to help you commemorate the occasion!

Attend summer camp, join the track team, harness magic, and return to the dystopian world of Panem with this year’s Staff Picks list for teens. No matter what your preferred genre is, we think there’s a little something for everyone in this year’s selection of books. Read on to see what made the cut! 

Plus, be sure to also check out our Staff Picks lists for kids and adults.

As we enter the holiday season and near closer to the start of winter, we find ourselves eager to cozy up indoors, get a little crafty, and enjoy culinary comforts with friends and family. If you find yourselves feeling the same, then we hope you will join us to create and celebrate over the coming weeks. Read on to learn more about upcoming events and highlights from our collection.

Discover the Eastern Shore! In the spirit of Summer Reading, we’re exploring all things ocean. What better place to start than Virginia’s coast? Read on to learn more about upcoming programs and titles that explore the region’s unique landscape and history.

Commemorate Native American Heritage Month with the library! Catch a film, join a book discussion, and learn about regional Indigenous culture and history. Read on for program details and to browse recent titles that highlight Native American stories. 

November is Family Literacy Month. HCPL recognizes the power of learning together and offers resources that support literacy and learning for everyone in your family. Preparing your little ones for kindergarten is just the first important step in a lifelong journey of education and discovery. Read on for more about kindergarten readiness tips and resources to support literacy in your family’s early years and beyond.

Spooky season is upon us! It’s a time when shadows dip and dance about, when macabre beings bump and twist in the night, and when one can never be too certain that something isn’t lurking—silent and watchful—in some darkened corner.

To draw you fully into spooky season, we’ve gathered a selection of some of our favorite young adult horror, suspense, and thriller novels of the past few years. These stories are not for the faint of heart. Consider yourself warned!

September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, and we are marking the occasion with film, craft, and history programs that celebrate the culture and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities. Our month-long celebration will culminate in a Familia Fiesta where we'll paint alebrijes, enjoy music inspired by the life and times of Frida Kahlo, and see a performance from the Richmond-based Tradición Dance Company. Be sure to check out other events happening throughout the month!