Happy Pride Month! June 1 marks the beginning of Pride, a month-long celebration of the history and impact of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (questioning), intersex, and asexual identifying community. HCPL offers a variety of programs, some year-round, plus books and resources to support LGBTQIA+ individuals and families. Read on to learn more about upcoming programs and recommended titles from our collection to help you learn about and celebrate Pride!

Summer is officially here, and so is this year’s Summer Reading Challenge! Celebrate both by attending HCPL’s festival of fandoms—Fandomonium — on Saturday, June 24, 1-5PM at Fairfield Library. We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon full of drop-in activities, workshops, cosplay, games, and more!

Our next library profile highlights one of our biggest and busiest libraries —Twin Hickory. Twin Hickory was born in July 2007 when the old Innsbrook Library near Broad Street closed its doors for good. Read on to learn more about the current Twin Hickory location and how its grown over the years!

Explore STEM concepts at the library! STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based teaching approach that encourages hands-on learning to help students build critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills (Virginia Department of Education). Dive into the wonderful world of STEM with several regular programs for children, teens, and families at the library. Read on to find out more!

We’d like to thank Jamie Ford and the community for joining us for an evening of conversation and fun! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did. What a wonderful way to kick-off our return to an in-person All Henrico Reads event!

 This year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by award-winning author Jamie Ford, provides a powerful examination of Chinese-American history. Though fiction, the book ties in real-life events and figures as it details the lives of one family from 1834 until the present. From the first Chinese woman to enter the United States, to the Flying Tigers of World War II, to the early 20^th century plague in San Francisco, Ford weaves Chinese-American history into several of the characters’ narratives. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the history and culture in this year’s featured title, read on to explore other Chinese-American stories available in our collection.

Plus, don’t forget to join us for An Evening with Author Jamie Ford on Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at J.R. Tucker High School for an in-person author talk, Q&A period, and book signing!

In this year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, main character Dorothy Moy is a poet laureate who channels her pain and trauma into her art. Poetry remains a running theme throughout the novel, as Dorothy pays homage to other poets and their verses.

Feeling inspired, I gave myself a mission to read more poetry and to figure out why I liked it. Along the way I have discovered many amazing poets, poetry collections, and writers. The library is a great place to find new poets! April is National Poetry Month, and this month, we challenge you to do the same. Here’s how I did it.

We're gearing up for a full month of Black History programs, displays, and reading in February. Explore contemporary local street art with Hamilton Glass, learn about Emancipation Towns in our region, research your family’s history with the African American Genealogical Society of Central Virginia, taste soul food from a celebrated local chef, discuss Black authors and filmmakers, enjoy theatrical performances with your little ones, and so much more. No matter your interests, we are offering a way for you to engage with Black History and culture this month at the Library.

Tap into your creative side! March is Youth Art and National Craft Month. In addition to events this March, the library offers art-centered programs all year-round to help foster creativity and self-expression in children and young adults. Whether it’s crafting, painting, or journaling, we offer something for everyone. No experience necessary! Read on to learn more about our upcoming programs and recommended resources.