DOWNTOWN LIBRARY

Hartford Public Library (HPL) Downtown Library Construction Update

Public service returned to the Downtown Library on November 20th, 2024.

On Wednesday, November 20, at 11:00 a.m., Hartford Public Library (HPL) held a celebratory ribbon cutting to welcome the public back through the Downtown Library’s Main Street doors after almost two years of repairs and restorations.

Starting November 20, you can visit the Downtown Library Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The ribbon cutting celebration marks the completion of the first phase of the renovation. In attendance were HPL President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn, Speaker of the House State Representative Matt Ritter, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, UConn Hartford Campus Library Director Karen Tatarka, and HPL Board Chair David Barrett. Starting November 20, customers can access a large section of the first floor, including adult collections, a small selection of children and teen collections, computers, passports, municipal IDs, and The American Place services.

The Downtown Library will enter the second phase of repair and renovation work in the fall of 2024. During the community engagement and facility review process, HPL recognized a tremendous opportunity to improve the functionality of the Downtown Library’s interior spaces with a focus on operational efficiencies (redesign of ceilings, lighting and HVAC), customer experience and service delivery. Completion of Phase Two is planned for 2025, and will feature an expanded and enhanced Adult Learning Center and American Place including additional classroom and technology training spaces. HPL Studios will have dedicated space for state of the art digital recording, filming and production with tools, spaces and support for content creation, production and broadcasting in partnership with HPATV.

The renovated Library will offer quiet study and community retreat spaces, and additional performing arts and event space to allow for more community programming.

Colorful, intuitive wayfinding, focused collections and greater opportunity for interactive spaces and exhibits in HPL’s Hartford History Center and throughout the Library are the project goals articulated by the community through numerous focus groups and stakeholder discussions held during the design process.