Hartford Public Schools and Hartford Public Library Launch BOUNDLESS Partnership

Collaboration Introduces a New Model for Urban Learning


On December 14, Mayor Pedro Segarra, Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Beth Narvaez, and Hartford Public Library CEO Matt Poland introduced a new learning partnership called BOUNDLESS.

BOUNDLESS brings educators and resources from Hartford’s schools and libraries together in a formal and far-reaching partnership to deepen learning opportunities for students and adults, and advance the shared goals of cultivating academic excellence, equity, and college and career readiness.

The BOUNDLESS partnership will train and connect classroom teachers and library staff to provide seamless, one-on-one personal human attention to students of all ages to create more powerful learning experiences. It will link students and educators in each system to the resources of both systems. It will give students access to traditional and digital resources across many platforms, including books, video, audio, periodicals, data, and the Internet and will ultimately provide broadband and wireless access for all students. BOUNDLESS connects the school system and the library system and the adults in those systems to enhance student learning.

BOUNDLESS offers budget efficiencies in addition to learning benefits. By sharing resources, the district and the library don’t have to BOTH invest in redundant resources. By making one investment and sharing it, the city is able to save taxpayer dollars.

BOUNDLESS was piloted through the Goodwin Library Branch and schools in the surrounding neighborhood. Students participated in collaborative activities including children’s book authors visits, field trips and visits to schools by the HPL Library-on-Wheels. The pilot demonstrated and provided insight as to how schools and the library can collaborate effectively to deepen learning opportunities for our children. BOUNDLESS will be expanded to other neighborhoods over the next several years.

Other key upcoming BOUNDLESS initiatives include:

• Developing a new YOUmedia center at Hartford Public High School


• Launching of Youth Voice and Leadership event in 2016


• Opening the Mark Twain branch of the library as a fully integrated and collaborative space at West Middle school, providing increased access to the entire community


• Providing a Hartford Public Library Card to all Hartford Public Schools students