Summer is nearly here and we are thrilled to share some in-person and virtual events at the library coming up in June. From Summer Reading kickoff parties perfect for families, to book and film discussions, to virtual teen crafting, there’s a lot happening at HCPL next month. Read on to learn about fun educational programming coming up at your library.

Starting June 15, the more books you read and the more activities you take part in this summer, the more prizes you will be eligible to win! Log reading, writing, and other literacy activities online to earn badges and prizes. Summer Reading is sponsored by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library. Keep reading to find out more.

Spring is here and we are so excited to see you at our upcoming May programs! Learn how to get snacks from your garden, join us for fun role-playing games and trivia, and relax with us in our ongoing meditation program. Plus, we are happy to announce several in-person book discussion groups and storytimes starting in May. Read on to see what we have coming up at the library.

This week is Resilience Week, and we are again partnering with Greater Richmond SCAN to share titles for young readers that celebrate and uplift stories of resilience. This is also the first week of Mental Health Awareness Month, and we want to share library resources that can additionally support mental health and wellness. Read on to learn more about Resilience Week, and explore recommendations from our librarians.

The public library might not be the first place people think of when they hear the words ‘improv comedy’. However, in Henrico County, that is exactly where folks can go to learn more about improv, and even give it a try!  Improv programs have been happening at Libbie Mill Library since it opened in 2015, but recently, these programs have made the shift to an online environment. Until the end of the summer, middle and high school-age teens can join monthly virtual programs dedicated to easy improv gameplay with their peers.

We have a bunch of fun programs coming up this April! Test your knowledge at one of our trivia nights, learn about the weather with hands-on experiments, or learn to create audio recordings for music, podcasts, and more. Here are just some of the awesome events coming up this month.

Explore fun kitchen science, challenge yourself with LEGOs, and learn how to bullet journal this March! We have a full slate of events for everyone. Be sure to mark your calendar for our All Henrico Reads virtual event on April 1 at 7:00 pm. Author Robin Sloan will join us to discuss his bestselling title, Sourdough. Read on for highlights from our upcoming programs.

One of our favorite ways to experience books is to listen to them. Audiobooks allow a full, immersive experience with different voices for characters, multiple narrators, sound effects, the works! You can customize listening speed, listen on the go, and find narrators you enjoy, who inspire you to keep listening. Some wonderful audiobooks happen to be for the tween crowd. These audiobooks are targeted at ages 8-12 and include adventure, fantasy, ghost stories and more. Read on for our picks – all of which are available through our digital collections for easy streaming.

Recreate the serendipity of discovering a book on the shelf at the library by requesting a Book Bundle for curbside pickup. Librarians will surprise you with a selection of staff-favorite titles from a variety of genres and for readers of all ages.