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Sponsored by: Hartford Public Library
October 31, 2022 2022 Giving Guide

Hartford Public Library

Mission:

We provide free resources that inspire reading, guide learning and encourage personal exploration.

What does your organization do?

We democratize access to information and opportunity. We serve the people of the City of Hartford, our community stakeholders and customers. We are in and of the community, a place like no other.

We are a gateway for immigrants and refugees; an early literacy center for preschoolers; a Wi-Fi hotspot and business office for workers; an exhibit space for artists; a technology resource for residents and visitors; a lender of books and other educational and entertainment materials; a skills training center; the repository of Hartford’s history; and a gathering place for people to relax, explore and grow.

The American Place — our adult education, careers and immigrant services division — has been nationally recognized and is the recent recipient of more than $730,000 in federal grants to expand immigrants’ banking access and bolster citizenship education among immigrant youth.

We also host the Hartford History Center, which holds more than 50,000 books, trade publications, postcards, photographs and pieces of memorabilia, including centuries worth of archives and official municipal documents. The center was recently named a Connecticut History Gamechanger by Connecticut Explored magazine.

The ArtWalk at Hartford Public Library offers one of the largest and most stunning exhibition spaces in the area. The gallery — made possible through generous donors, particularly the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving — highlights local artists across mediums. No two exhibitions are alike. The Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation has been a longtime supporter of the ArtWalk. This season is also funded in part by Suzanne Hopgood in memory of Frank Lord.

A new addition to Hartford Public Library – the Digital Library Lab – is a social enterprise that provides one-stop imaging, digital archiving and photography services for businesses, nonprofits and municipalities, with a focus on 2D and 3D objects and artifacts.

Through a mix of enriching resources, we provide the spark for your conversations, the power for your passions, the courage for your soul and the food for your mind.

Young girls dance on stage during a Diwali celebration at Hartford Public Library.

Goals for the next 12 months.

We recently adopted a three-year strategy that will guide us through 2025. Our goals include:

Goal 1: Continue providing a wide variety of high-quality services and carefully assess priorities, including expansion opportunities

Goal 2: Prioritize community engagement

Goal 3: Expand physical and virtual access to our programs and services throughout the city

Goal 4: Continue to prioritize employee development and internal communication

Time and time again, we have proven ourselves to be a vital civic anchor and we look forward to continuing to work with staff and community members to increase access to our programs and services and identify strategic expansion opportunities.

Fundraising Events/Opportunities

Beyond Words is our annual signature fundraising event. The library goes ‘beyond words’ every day, with diverse and transformative programs and services for our community.

This December, Beyond Words celebrates the creative expression that happens at each library location every day. Save the date for this can’t-miss event, which will be held Thursday, December 8th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. For more information, or ticket purchases or sponsorship inquiries, visit the event website, HPLBeyondWords.com.

In prior years, the fundraiser has welcomed acclaimed authors including Wally Lamb, Victor LaValle, Jacqueline Woodson and Reyna Grande as keynote speakers. Since 2016, over $1.3 million has been raised to support library programming for all ages.

Volunteer Opportunities

Hartford Public Library offers numerous volunteer opportunities across the organization including many at The American Place, the library’s adult education, careers and immigrant services division. These roles can include citizenship mock interview coach, citizenship test tutor, cultural navigator, ESL tutor, immigrant/refugee youth mentor, job readiness coach, literacy tutor and, critically, pro bono naturalization attorney.

Since 2019, Shipman & Goodwin’s pro bono partnership with The American Place has contributed more than $220,000 worth of in-kind legal services to immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship.

“The American Place is very special to me,” says Shipman & Goodwin attorney Bradley Harper. “I believe in its mission and believe that now, more than ever, our community should stand behind our neighbors who are immigrants.”

For more information about volunteering at The American Place at Hartford Public Library, or in another role at the library, call 860-695-6337, email tap@hplct.org or visit www.bit.ly/HPLvolunteers.

“The Digital Library Lab is a new, social enterprise venture that speaks to Hartford Public Library’s commitment to the community, to innovation and to education. In 2019, Hartford Public Library received Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builder Award, which recognizes the library as a nonprofit leader willing to tackle tough issues. Giving to the library is an investment in our collective future. We are thankful for Hartford Public Library for the national example it sets to foster economic mobility, adult education, youth engagement and workforce readiness.”

Joe Gianni

President, Bank of America Greater Hartford

About us

Year established: 1893

Annual revenues: $11.6 million

Total number of employees: 130

Geographic Service Area(s): The Greater Hartford area

top funding sources

City contributions: 73%

Grants: 9%

Earned/other: 7%

Endowment: 6%

Gifts: 5%

Leadership

Bridget E. Quinn, President & CEO

Contact

500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103

860-695-6300

hplct.org

Board of Directors

David Barrett, Chair

Phyllis Shikora, Vice-Chair

Steven M. Harris, Secretary

Rick Costello, Treasurer

Ana Alfaro

Arunan Arulampalam

Melvyn Colón

Andréa Comer

Gregory C. Davis

Andrew Diaz-Matos

Carlos Galdamez

Floyd W. Green III

Suzanne M. Hopgood

Sara Lashetski

Antonio J. Matta

Sarah G. Needham

Daniel P. O'Shea, Jr.

Mark Overmyer-Velázquez

Karen Taylor

Geraldine Sullivan, Director Emeritus

Hon. Mayor Luke A. Bronin, Ex Officio