HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Founded in 1893, Hartford Public Library (HPL) provides materials, programs, services and electronic resources to an information-seeking population of 124,775 residents. The Library’s mission is to provide free resources that inspire reading, guide learning, and encourage individual exploration. Its vision is to be a national leader in redefining the urban public library in the 21st century as an innovative and stimulating place. The mission and vision come to life through its motto A Place Like No Other.
Hartford Public Library aims to ensure that all Hartford residents have the multiple literacy skills to make informed choices that improve their lives and communities. The Library has a downtown Library, six branches, one Library-on-Wheels and one Leap into Learning van.

The Library keeps increasing programming and services to economically disadvantaged city residents in response to growing needs. In Hartford, 44% of the population is Latino, 35% African American, and 16% Caucasian. Over one-third of residents live below the poverty line with four in ten households receiving public assistance (also known as welfare or TANF) and/or SNAP. Serving a large multicultural population, HPL provides resources in more than 70 languages for a population that is 18% foreign born and 21% are non-English speaking. In 2017, the University of Connecticut’s new downtown campus library, classrooms and study areas, were incorporated into Hartford Public Library.

The Library makes the city and the community stronger by providing free and vital access to information and opportunity. Its physical presence provides an anchor for economic development and neighborhood revitalization, and helps to strengthen social bonds and community identity. Over the years, building on its legacy, the Library has focused on its role as an active catalyst for learning, connectivity, creativity, and literacy for all ages. In FY 2018 the Library system received 822,199 visits, answered 108,000 reference questions, and circulated 305,830 items to 89,092 library cardholders. Over 37,000 adults attended 1,710 educational and recreational programs and 3,755 youth focused programs were attended by 70,578 youth and teens. The Library’s 200+ public computers logged over 151,131 sessions.