Weekend Hours Resume!
Saturday hours resume September 8 and continue through June, 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday hours starting Oct 14, 1 – 5 PM
Add comment August 30th, 2007
Back to School at your library
It’s that time of year again…
Summer reading is winding down and it’s time to get ready for school. As those assignments start rolling in, don’t forget about your library and all the wonderful resources available to you!
Search our catalog for books, use our research page to find articles and websites, ask our reference staff for tips on how to find good resources. If you’re burning the midnight oil, you can use InfoAnytime, a 24/7 online service staffed by librarians ready to help you find what you need and get some sleep!
If you’re a teacher, help us help your students by filling out our Homework Alert form before you assign a topic to your class.
The library can help you make this school year a great one. Stop by any of our three branches, call or email us anytime.
Add comment August 21st, 2007
SUMMER READING SEASON KICKS OFF @ LIBRARY
The Hamden Public Library kicked off the Summer Reading Season with two recent programs for the entire family. Henry the Juggler opened the “Get a Clue at Your Library” summer reading theme on June 20 at Thornton Wilder Hall with juggling feats that delighted the large crowd.
On Tuesday, June 26th, the Brundage Community Branch welcomed the East Hartford group “Fiesta del Norte” to a capacity crowd for pizza and popular and folk music from Latin America.
Children can sign up for the summer reading game at any time the library is open, at the main library or either of our two branches. All of the books that children read for the schools’ and the governor’s reading programs can count towards completing the hours of reading required in the library’s summer reading game. Be sure to ask our library staff for reading suggestions and also check out the Kids! Read the Books section of our website, www.hamdenlibrary.org.
The library also hosts many other summer programs for children. Most programs require registration, so please pick up a program flyer at the library for complete details. Information is also available on our website at www.hamdenlibrary.org (and see the Events calendar), or call the Children’s Department at 230-3770, or the Brundage Community Branch at 287-2675, or the Whitneyville Branch at 287-2677. Funding for the summer reading program is provided by the Friends of the Hamden Library and the Hamden Library Board.
Add comment July 10th, 2007
9th Annual Friends of the Hamden Library Book and Bake Sale to benefit Hamden Public Library
Jean Akin, Coordinator of the Friends of the Hamden Library Second-Hand Prose Bookstore, and her volunteers will have books galore and lots more gently used (and some new) books, movies, and recorded books in good condition for sale at their 9th annual book sale. There will be lots of children’s books and jigsaw puzzles, too, in the “lots more” category.
This annual sale takes place in Thornton Wilder Hall in the Miller Memorial Central Library complex at
During the summer, the Friends of the Hamden Library’s second-hand bookstore is open for customers only on Wednesdays from 11 AM to 5 PM and 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
1 comment July 10th, 2007
Summer Reading Begins!!!
Hamden Public Library will be kicking off its summer reading program, “Get a Clue @ Your Library”, on Wednesday, June 20th with a special presentation of “Henry the Juggler” at 7:00pm in Thornton Wilder Hall. Henry is a master juggler who employs balls, clubs, rings, torches and innocent bystanders in his act. Young and old alike are mesmerized by Henry’s funny and colorful juggling. The program is free, sponsored by Hamden Library Board and the Friends of the Library.
Children may begin summer reading signups before the program from 6 to 7 pm. Each child who signs up will receive a free pencil and bookmark, as well as the reading game materials. To play, children keep track of the time they spend reading on a special sheet. After completing each three-hour block of time, they bring their sheet in to the Library to get it stamped, put a game piece on the board and receive a coupon or a prize. Children who complete the entire sheet (15 hours of reading) will receive a “Super Sleuth” award. The program is an incentive to keep kids reading over the summer. Kids choose their own reading on their grade level from the Hamden Public Schools summer reading lists or independently. There is a full schedule of programs over the summer in the Children’s Department – please pick up a schedule at Miller Library or one of the branches. Call Children’s for information – 230-3770. The program runs through August 10.
Add comment June 5th, 2007
New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Steve Collins and Hamden Public Library Produce Grand Finale Rhythm and Reading Program at the Library (with a lot of help from the Children)
Steve Collins brought his drums and the vividly illustrated book The Leopard’s Drum: An Asante Tale from West Africa to Thornton Wilder Hall on May 21 to delight and involve all the children and grownups attending the final Rhythm and Reading Program for this season. One four year-old from the Hamden Youth Services Pre-School Childcare program exclaimed, “This was the best!â€
Nancy McLaughlin, head of Hamden Public Library Children’s Department, and Steve Collins from the New Haven Symphony Orchestra began this collaboration in November 2006. Pre-school children and their parents or caregivers from all over Hamden came to the library and its two branches for seven free programs between November and May. In each session, fine musicians/educators from the New Haven Symphony Orchestra brought the words and rhythms in a well-crafted children’s picture book alive by reading portions of the story, then playing music that demonstrated how stories and music can work together to tell a tale. Children had a chance to join in by playing the instruments, talking to the musicians, or even conducting the orchestra members.
The seven Rhythm and Reading Programs were made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Hamden Library, the NewAlliance Foundation, the Hamden Library Board, and the hard work and enthusiasm of our Children’s Department and Branch library staff.
To see more pictures visit the photo gallery.
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Contact: Judy Lhamon Â
203-287-2686
Add comment May 28th, 2007
Lost Library Book Received in Mail from Georgia after 19 years!
Children’s Department Head Librarian Nancy McLaughlin received a book in the mail this week that was due on May 14, 1988! The unnamed library patrons from Lilburn, Ga. were kind enough to include a note that says “We lost this book when we lived in Hamden, CT and we paid for it. Since then we found it and I’m returning it to you. Don’t worry about the purchase price we paid. Thanks!â€Â The title is Clipper Ship by Thomas P. Lewis.
 Ms. McLaughlin exclaimed, “We can still use this book because it’s a short historical novel in chapters and we need these titles. This book is in decent enough condition to return to our collection. Beginning readers who enjoy a good historical tale will be able to borrow this book again soon.â€Â Â
1 comment May 12th, 2007
Hamden Public Library’s Last Sunday Open Until Fall is May 6
The last day of Sunday hours this season at
Add comment May 4th, 2007
Volunteer Appreciation Day 2007
Library Director Bob Gualtieri and Mayor Craig Henrici congratulated all library volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day event on Wednesday, April 25. Here are some scenes of Mr. Gualtieri, Mayor Henrici and volunteers of all ages, including Volunteer of the Year Lester Hankin (with the yellow rose). Mr. Hankin spent 11 years as a member of the Library Board and 5 years as Chairman of the Library Board and was very active on two other Town commissions. Joan Chain accepted the second Volunteer of the Year award for her sister, Louise Keane, as it was awarded posthumously.
Pictures are also available at http://hamdenlibrary.org/photos/
Add comment April 28th, 2007
InfoAnytime 24/7 Reference Service “May Madness Challengeâ€
Library Director Bob Gualtieri announced today that “Hamden Public Library is seeded #3 in the North Division of the InfoAnytime May Madness Challenge that begins May 1st.†InfoAnytime is a real-time, web-based reference service available 24/7 provided by professional librarians that has been available through www.hamdenlibrary.org (and 167 other public and academic library websites) since late August, 2006. Researchers using InfoAnytime through our website qualified Hamden Public Library to participate in this standard Elimination Tournament because, as of mid-March 2007, we had the 8th highest number of completed reference sessions among the 136 public libraries participating.
“The InfoAnytime librarians provide a seamless experience that matches our high standards of service,†said Mr. Gualtieri. “All of the librarians have received extensive training in order to most effectively offer research assistance in an online environment.â€
InfoAnytime transactions occur through chat software that appeals to many younger users. Transcripts of all transactions are reviewed by InfoAnytime and provided to researchers. The average wait time to connect to an InfoAnytime librarian is 1 minute and 30 seconds. The average session time is 18 minutes. A library card is necessary to connect to many databases through InfoAnytime, but it is not necessary to connect to an InfoAnytime librarian.
Check out InfoAnytime at www.hamdenlibrary.org and help your library win a full year of InfoAnytime for free! Call 287-2680 for further information
Add comment April 23rd, 2007