It’s finally here—and just in time to set your New Year’s goals and for our upcoming Cozy Reading Challenge (details coming soon!) We’re excited to announce our annual Staff Picks list full of our favorite things we’ve read this year. To say we enjoy putting it together would be an understatement. Of course, we are always happy to provide book recommendations (check out My Next Reads if you haven't already), but something about compiling them in one place makes our library hearts extra happy. We hope you find something new to add to your night stand, and if you’re looking for books for the younger readers in your life, be sure to check out our kids and teen lists too.

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.

Take a trip through time and space at Henrico County Public Library. Historical fiction is not confined to corsets and hoopskirts. Read on for windows into different places and eras throughout the world.

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.

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. 

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!

Calling all young creators! The library offers its youngest patrons multiple outlets for their creative endeavors. One of our newest art series for kids is the Young Art Explorers Club at Tuckahoe Library. This program is designed to introduce children, grades 3-5, to the fascinating world of art through fun, hands-on projects inspired by stories of famous artists from around the world. Read on to learn more about this new offering and other regular children’s art programs at the library.

If you thought reading challenges were just for the summer, then think again. Fall is quickly approaching and we’re in the mood for chilly weather and even chillier reads. What better way to welcome the new season than with a spooky reading challenge? If you’re ready to read booo-ks and set new ghouls, we’re inviting everyone (including adults!) to participate in our first ever Haunted Henrico Spooky Reading Challenge. Read on for more details.

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!