To promote and support literacy and learning; to provide free and open access to information and ideas and to help people participate in our democratic society.

The Library was founded in 1774 as The Librarian Company by a few subscribers to purchase a "collection of useful and religious books". In 1838, in harmony with the movement towards lyceums and literary culture that was spreading across the country, a new organization, The Hartford Library Association, with taxpayer support, opened to the public. The name was officially changed to the Hartford Public Library by a special act of the Connecticut General Assembly on May 9, 1893.

The Library was located at the Wadsworth Atheneum from 1844 to early 1957. On January 2, 1957, a new building opened at the present site. By 1996 it was very clear that a renovated and expanded Library was necessary, and that same year a $19 million city bond issue was approved by the voters of Hartford. Another $18 million was also approved by the Hartford citizens in 2000, and the Library is raising $5 million in a capital campaign to complete the project. The work should be finished by early 2003. The renovation and expansion of the Central Library will take the Library into the 21st century fully equipped to serve the citizens of Hartford, and indeed, the entire greater Hartford region.

For customers seeking to do research, and explore our holdings, we have an online, computerized catalogue, Caroline, named after our first Chief Librarian, Caroline M. Hewins who served from 1875 – 1926. It is easy to use and our staff is glad to help customers find materials from our collection of approximately 500,000 items. Special collections include the Hartford Collection which comprises works by Hartford authors, works published in Hartford, and works about Hartford. We also have the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection, and the Patent and Trademark Collection. The Library is now accessible to the blind, visually impaired and hearing impaired.