Celebrate Black History Month with the NHFPL!

This February the New Haven Free Public Library is honoring the historical achievements of Black Americans and recognizing their central role in our nation's history, as well as celebrating the ongoing history that is being created every day. Visit your local branch for special programming and free giveaways (while supplies last).

Explore All Our Programming

Featured Children's Events

Click HERE to see ALL upcoming Young Minds programming!

String Art!

Wednesday, February 1, 4-5 pm | Mitchell
Come join the SCSU Buley Makerspace to make string art! String art is a creative way to reuse yarn to make decorations for your home or a fun Valentine's gift!

STEAM Explorers!

Wednesdays, 4-5 pm | Ives

STEAM Explorers is a space for science and technology exploration for kids together with their caregivers! Let's explore science with fun, hands-on activities.

February 1: LEGOs

February 8: Dreaming and Building

February 15: Maple Sugaring

February 22: Optical-Illusion Thaumatropes

Ruth and the Green Book

Saturday, February 4, 11 am-12 pm | Fair Haven

Join New Haven author, playwright, and photographer Calvin Ramsey as he discusses his book Ruth and the Green Book in honor of Black History Month. 

Wonderful Books and Where to Find Them

Saturday, February 4, 11-11:30 am | Ives

The New Haven Free Public Library, in partnership with the Yale Affinity Groups, is excited to bring you this book club for families focusing on topics of social importance! In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be reading Alma's Art by Roda Ahmed. Join us in person in the Children's Room!

Puppeter - Iyaba Ibo Mandingo

Saturday, February 4, 12-2 pm | Stetson

Join us for a puppet show and create your own puppets with Iyaba Ibo Mandingo.

Modern Pop Art Experience

Saturday, February 4, 2:30-4:30 pm | Ives

Join pop artist Michael Albert for a hands-on collage workshop and presentation. Create your own mosaic collage based on the artist's cereal-box cubist art and receive a free signed poster!

Celebrate Alma Thomas

Wednesday, February 8, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

Alma Thomas was one of America’s most important black painters. Learn about her life and make your own painting inspired by her amazing work!

Black History Month Concert

Saturday, February 11, 11 am-12 pm | Ives

Come join the Haven String Quartet for a family-friendly concert celebrating music by Black composers! The quartet will perform works new and old, including Florence Price’s beautiful Adoration, excerpts from Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s Five Folk Pieces, and living composer Jessie Montgomery’s exiting Strum. Stick around afterward for a chance to try a violin, viola, or cello in our “instrument petting zoo!”

SC Presents Black History Month Celebration

Saturday, February 11, 2-3 pm | Wilson

A fun celebration of power and purpose through the art of storytelling with Sweet to the Soul and S.C. Poetry, drums, and singing for all to enjoy!

Black History Crafts for the Entire Family 

Saturday, February 11, 2-4 pm | Stetson

Celebrate Black History in the Village with crafts for the family.

Yoga and Mindfulness with Miss Terese 
Monday, February 13, 3:30-4:30 pm | Fair Haven
A 60 minute yoga program for children and teens. Led by certified yoga instructor and occupational therapist, Terese Betts.

Nurturing Families joins Stay and Play / Quédate y Juega

Tuesday, February 14, 10:30-11:30 am | Fair Haven

Nurturing Families is a FREE service for families who are pregnant or recently had a baby in Fair Haven and neighboring towns.

Wacky Wednesday Fun! - LEGO Club

Wednesday, February 15, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

We'll bring the LEGOs, you bring the creativity!

I Am Every Good Thing

Wednesday, February 22, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

We’ll read I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and create our own “I am” statements to display in the library (or take home)!

SWANA Presents Black History Month Celebration:

From the Outhouse to the Whitehouse

Saturday, February 25, 12-4 pm | Wilson

Join Sisters with a New Attitude (SWANA) Women's Support group to celebrate Black History Month with an art exhibit: From the Outhouse to the Whitehouse, African drumming, food and more! There will be fun for everyone!

Stetson Branch and ConnCORP Presents: Ujamaa Market

Saturday, February 25, 1-5 pm | The Lab at ConnCORP

Come show your support and shop with over 25 Black vendors. Located at "The Lab at ConnCORP", 496 Newhall St., Hamden, CT.

Click HERE to see all upcoming Young Minds programming!

Featured Teen and Tween Programs

Ani-Wednesday @ the Teen Center

Wednesdays, 4-6 pm | Ives

Come down to the Teen Center on Wednesday afternoons to watch great anime, sample Japanese snacks, and discuss what makes these stories transcend their culture to be entertaining to everyone.

Black History Month with After School Arts
Tuesdays, 3-4 pm | Fair Haven
All supplies provided. Open to teens and tweens.
February 7: Basquiat Crowns

Learn about famous artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat and craft your own cardboard crown.
February 14: Valentines for Everyone

 Valentine's Day is for all types of love, and you will make cards for anyone in your life that you love - including yourself!
February 21: Elizabeth Catlett Printmaking

Artist Elizabeth Catlett was famous for creating art for ordinary people while still conveying messages of justice. We will learn about the artist and then create our own Catlett-inspired prints.
February 28: Black Superhero Showcase

Watch a mash up of black superheroes in film and on television while playing games, coloring, and browsing graphic novels.

Students for Educational Justice 

Black History: Healing and Resistance

Thursday, February 23, 5-7 pm | Ives

Join the Students for Educational Justice and the NHFPL as we celebrate Black History through the lens of healing and resistance!

Classic Cinema: "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" 

Saturday, February 25, 1-3:05 pm | Fair Haven

Join us for a classic film each month. Popcorn and soda are on us! Rated PG. Open to tweens, teens, and adults.

Library Updates

Library Holiday Closures:

All New Haven Free Public Library locations will be closed on Saturday, February 18 and Monday, February 20 for Presidents' Day. Ives Main Library will be closed Tuesday, February 21 and will have a delayed opening Wednesday, February 22 at 1:30 pm for our annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser.

For all our 2023 holiday hours, please refer to our Holiday Closings.