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Women’s History Month Collections in Kanopy

Celebrate Women’s History Month this March by watching a film in one of two collections curated by Kanopy: “Notable Figures in Women’s History” and “Directed by Women.” All of these films are available for viewing in Kanopy, a video streaming service available to HPL cardholders. Your HPL card gives you access to 10 movies a […]

--Staff Picks

The Archer by Paulo Coelho

Having previously read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, I felt compelled to read his latest book The Archer. As with The Alchemist, Coelho’s writing strives to inspire the reader, in this case, through the metaphor of practicing archery. The story starts off with a foreigner seeking Tetsuya, who is known as the most gifted archer […]

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Women’s History Month: Pack-Horse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky

During the Great Depression, poor states, like Kentucky, fell even further into poverty as the nation’s economy came to a grinding halt. In response to this national crisis, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the New Deal in 1933 – a series of programs and public work projects meant to support farmers, unemployed, youth, and the […]

--Staff Picks

Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh

Thirsty Mermaids is the latest graphic novel from writer/artist Kat Leyh (Snapdragon, Lumberjanes). This book starts with three tipsy mermaids who have run out of beer and decide that in order to get more, they should conjure themselves some legs and head to dry land. After a night of debauchery in a human bar, they […]

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Haverhill History Highlight Women’s Suffrage

Not until the formation of the Haverhill Equal Suffrage League in May 1914 did the city have a strong impact in the fight for women’s suffrage. Formed with Mary Brinton Briggs as president, and other prominent well-educated women of the city as its members, these women wrote the constitution and by-laws. They also chose to include a […]

--Staff Picks

Good Omens (TV Series)

Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and Crowley (David Tennant) are an angel and a demon, respectively, who have become well acquainted during the last several millennia on earth–one could almost say…friends. They share similar job duties, although on opposing sides. Although their story begins at the beginning of everything, the plot of this series begins as they covertly […]

--Booklists General

Black History Month Collection in OverDrive!

In honor of Black History Month, OverDrive has put together a collection of African American literary fiction. The collection includes both ebooks and audiobooks, and features titles by authors such as Octavia E. Butler, Yaa Gyasi, Toni Morrison, Jesmyn Ward, and Colson Whitehead. Here are a few titles in the collection that are available to […]

--Booklists General

Black History Month: African Americans in Film

“Moving pictures have become one of the greatest revitalizing forces in race adjustment.” Oscar Micheaux, 1st major African American feature filmmaker (1884-1951) As large numbers of African Americans migrated from the rural South to urban areas across the U.S. between the 1910s and 1940s, the racial landscape of America began to shift. As a result, […]

--Staff Picks Kids

“The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart” by Stephanie Burgis

Colleen read The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and this is what she thought… Aventurine is a dragon, the fiercest thing in her mountains, but her family will not let her leave their cave until she is stronger. She sets off on her own to prove she is ready, only to be tricked by a […]

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Haverhill History Highlight on Black History Month

Sidney Mason was the first African American firefighter in Haverhill. He was born in Virginia to enslaved parents, Charles and Delia Mason, and came to Bradford around 1871. He served as a police officer and appointed to the permanent staff of the fire department when the town of Bradford was annexed to the city of […]