HPL Suggested Activities

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Suggestions from the HPL for reading activities and exploring around Hopewell Borough - including free e-books, book club lists, reading challenges, scavenger hunts, and more. Keep connected to the HPL community on Facebook and Instagram (just click here - no account or login required).

•         - Earth Day 2020
•         - Reading - E-Books, Preschool Story Time Activities, Reading Challenges
                  Book Club Suggestions and Reading Lists, Cookbook Book Club Recipes and Suggestions
•         - Explore Hopewell - Architecture Tour, Explore Historic Hopewell, Past HPL Scavenger Hunts

 

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Earth Day 2020

Earth Day Activities
April 22 was the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. This day is remembered as the launch of the U.S. environmental movement in 1970, where public concern quickly led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air Act (1970), Clean Water Act (1972) and Endangered Species Act (1973). The theme of Earth Day 2020 is Climate Action and while the planned large events will not take place this month, there are ways that each of us can make a difference.

• What You Can Do: HPL Earth Day 2020 Activities and Environmental Links (PDF)
• Earth Day Children's Book Reading List (PDF)
• Five Family Activities for Earth Day (PDF)
• Five Things We all Can Do For Earth Day (PDF)

 

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Reading

E-Books
Online access to e-books for reading on computers and mobile devices.

• HPL E-Book Information and E-Book Catalog
• Project Gutenberg - Over 60,000 free books, freely downloadable in a variety of formats, mostly full texts of public domain books
• Internet Archive - Over 20,000,000 freely downloadable books and texts, plus 1.3 million modern eBooks that may be borrowed with a free archive.org account

Preschool Story Time With Ms. Jennifer
Read-aloud books and activities to extend each story, for toddlers and preschoolers.

• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #1 (PDF)
• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #2 (PDF)
• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #3 (PDF)
• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #4 (PDF)
• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #5 (PDF)
• Story Time With Ms. Jennifer #6 (PDF) - NEW 6/14/20
  
• Ms. Jennifer's Homemade Playdough Recipe (PDF)

Book Club Suggestions and Reading Lists
Reading suggestions from our Book Club, covering contemporary and classic fiction and nonfiction of all types. (Ignore upcoming meeting dates for now.)

• HPL Book Club Update: June Update and July Plans (PDF) - NEW 6/14/20
  
• HPL Book Club Update and Suggestions (PDF)
• More HPL Book Club Suggestions (PDF)
• Book Club - Current 2020 Book List (PDF)
  
• Book Club - Previous 2019 Book List (PDF)
• Book Club - Previous 2018 - 2017 Book Lists (PDF)

Cookbook Book Club Recipes and Selections
Cookbook suggestions from our our Cookbook Book Club. Recipes have ranged from Julia Child to vegetarian to soul food and beyond. (Ignore upcoming meeting dates for now.)

• Some Cookbook Club Favorite Recipes (PDF)
• Cookbook Book Club 2020 Selections (PDF)

Reading Challenges
Fun reading suggestions from our previous Summer Reading Challenges. (No prizes.) Or maybe create your own challenge!

• 2019 Summer Reading Challenge booklet (PDF)
• 2018 Summer Reading Challenge booklet (PDF)

 

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Explore Hopewell

Hopewell Borough Architecture Walking Tour
This is a self-guided version of the architectural walking tour from Hopewell Valley Heritage Weekend 2019, which was sponsored by the Hopewell Public Library and the Hopewell Borough Historic Preservation Commission. Now you can experience Hopewell's architectural history on your own schedule, exploring the range of architectural styles and finding examples “in the wild.”

• Hopewell Architecture Walking Tour - 5/2019 - Self-Guided Tour (PDF)
  

Explore Historic Hopewell
It's great to see so many families out and about. Get to know our beautiful town!

• The Story of the Hopewell Public Library - Explore the busy history of the HPL in Hopewell Borough, starting in 1914 as the Hopewell Free Public Library. The saga includes four locations, multiple purchases of the same building, and combining and splitting with the Hopewell Museum.
  
• Explore Historic Hopewell: Broad & Louellen Streets - Have you really noticed the interesting buildings as you drive into town on West Broad, past the Hopewell Presbyterian Church? Here's a tour guide covering the five historic properties on the block that have connections to the church, including a former schoolhouse, a now-rotated former church, and one of the oldest buildings in Hopewell.
  
• Hopewell Borough Aerial Panoramas - Aerial panoramas looking over Hopewell from six different points along the town. Hopewell does look great! – The buildings glowing in the sun under the deep blue sky, and with the trees not yet filled in.
  
• Hopewell History Map - Explore the Boro online (or take a smartphone along on your walks) using this new interactive map from the Hopewell Valley History Project. Click on addresses to learn more about our town's historic buildings and homes. Explore related photos, postcards and cultural information, toggle between "then" and "now" photos, and watch the borough grow from 1850 to 1910.
  

Past HPL Scavenger Hunts
Explore Hopewell Borough by following HPL's annual summer Scavenger Hunts from previous years. Click for more information, and to download photos and answers. No prizes, no forms, just fun (and exercise!) on your own - although some features may no longer be visible.

• Scavenger Hunt 2019 - "A Peak Experience"
  - Peaks, gables, and rooftops
  
• Scavenger Hunt 2018 - "The Stones of Hopewell"
  - Rocks, masonry statues, and pavers