NEA BIG READ

Join the New Haven Free Public Library, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and the National Endowment for the Arts in our celebration of Rebekah Taussig's Sitting Pretty. Get a calendar of events at artidea.org/Read. Borrow a copy of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body at any library location!  

Explore library events, micro branches, and more!

Library Service Updates:

Due to staff training, all locations of the New Haven Free Public Library will have a delayed opening at 1 pm on Wednesday, May 17. 

All locations will be closed for Memorial Day on Saturday, May 27 and Monday, May 29.

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

Featured Adult Events

Click here to see ALL upcoming adult programming on our calendar!

Mitchell Branch Seed Library Opening

Monday, May 1 | Mitchell

The Mitchell Branch Seed Library opens for the 2023 season and welcomes both new and experienced growers alike. We welcome patrons to both take and to donate seeds while also discovering books and other information about gardening. 

Fair Haven Day

Saturday, May 6, 11 am-5 pm | Fair Haven

Join us for the Fair Haven neighborhood festival of the Festival of Arts and Ideas. 

Laurel City Swords

11 am-1 pm

Thrilling and interactive historical re-enactments of Middle Ages' combat and competition!

NCAT Bicycle Safety Class

12-2 pm 

Ride safely on New Haven streets with classes from New Haven Coalition for Active Transporation.

Westville Artwalk Kickoff 2023!

Monday, May 8, 5-7 pm | Mitchell

Start off Westville’s 2023 Artwalk Festival at the Mitchell Library! Presented in partnership with the Westville Renaissance Alliance.

Jewelry Making

5-7 pm

Have fun painting and making jewelry with local artists Amira Brown and Kimkelly Meyers.

Live Music

6 pm

A special performance by singer Myles Tripp.

Blind and Low Vision Resources with UR Community Cares

Monday, May 8, 5:30-7:30 pm | Ives

Join UR Community Cares to learn about a wide range of tools and devices for blind and low vision individuals which are usually difficult to find locally. Participants will receive a free directory of resources.

Garden Exchange and Pollinator Celebration

Tuesday, May 9, 5:30-7 pm | Wilson

Join community gardeners, library patrons, environmentalists, entomologists, and passersby for our second annual Wilson Branch Garden Exchange & Pollinator Celebration. We will be giving away Milkweed seedlings, seeds, and gardening resources to the soundtrack of live music. Light refreshments will be provided.

Como Hacer un Plan de Negocios 

Jueves, 11 de mayo, 6-7:30 pm | Fair Haven 

Lleva la Contabilidad y Finanzas de Tu Pequeña Empresa 
Jueves, 25 de mayo, 6-7:30 pm | Fair Haven 

Únase a Celeste Tapia, Coordinadora de Relaciones Comerciales de CEDF, para eventos son en persona y en español. Celeste ayuda a los empresarios a prepararse para solicitudes de préstamos exitosas a través de la programación educativa de la organización. Nacida en Argentina, Celeste es bilingüe, lo que le ha permitido liderar la expansión de las ofertas de educación empresarial en español de CEDF. Gratis pero es necesario registrarse. Por favor llamar al 203-443-0746 o al 860-617-9162 para más información. 

Dr. Jessica Cerdaña in Conversation: Pressing Onward

Presented in Partnership with Community Foundation of Greater New Haven

Wednesday, May 17, 5:30-7:30 pm | Ives

Thursday, May 18, 5:30-7:30 pm | Fair Haven

Join Dr. Jessica Cerdaña in conversation about her new book, Pressing Onward: The Imperative Resilience of Latina Migrant Mothers with Jenny Medina Morris. This program is presented in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. 

Humanist Association of Connecticut Book Discussion: Supreme Inequality... By Adam Cohen

Saturday, May 20, 2:30-4:30 pm | Wilson

Join a monthly book club hosted by the Humanist Association of Connecticut and discuss great books. This month's selection is Supreme Inequality: the Supreme Court's Fifty-Year Battle for a More Unjust America. All are welcome!