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African American Read-In

Celebrate African American literature in poetry, story, and song, performed by local luminaries in conjunction with the 36th Annual National African American Read-In.
LEGO Clubs & Classes

Love LEGOs? Build, play, and explore your creativity by checking out a LEGO club or class at a location near you.
ZORA! Fest

Take part in a variety of programs in celebration of the life and legacy of Zora Neale Hurston culminating with the annual Meet the Author event featuring New York Times bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton in the ZORA! Festival’s Education Day, part of the ZORA! Outdoor Festival of the Arts.

Featured Upcoming Events

Jan 31 11:00am

Cuisine Corner: Jamaican Pepper Pot Soup

Online

Feb 4 10:30am

Acrylic Painting: Love Birds

Chickasaw Branch

Featured Classes & Events >

African American Read-In – Adult & YA

The autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman / Ernest J. Gaines.

Gaines, Ernest J., 1933-

Waiting to exhale / by Terry McMillan.

McMillan, Terry.

Showtime at the Apollo : the epic tale of Harlem’s legendary theater / by Ted Fox illustrated by James Otis Smith.

Fox, Ted, 1954- author.

The Nickel boys : a novel / Colson Whitehead.

Whitehead, Colson, 1969- author.

Get a life, Chloe Brown : a novel / Talia Hibbert.

Hibbert, Talia, author.

Cover art for A phoenix first must burn : sixteen stories of black girl magic

A phoenix first must burn : sixteen stories of black girl magic, resistance, and hope / edited by Patrice Caldwell.

The sword and the shield : the revolutionary lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. / Peniel E. Joseph.

Joseph, Peniel E., author.

Cover art for African American poetry : 250 years of struggle & song / Kevin Young

African American poetry : 250 years of struggle & song / Kevin Young, editor.

Ace of spades / Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah, author.

Black was the ink / Michelle Coles [Edited by Elise McMullen-Ciotti].

Coles, Michelle, author.

One-shot Harry / Gary Phillips.

Phillips, Gary, 1955- author.

The two lives of Sara / Catherine Adel West.

West, Catherine Adel, author.

On the rooftop : a novel / Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.

Sexton, Margaret Wilkerson, author.

Well of souls : uncovering the banjo’s hidden history / Kristina R. Gaddy foreword by Rhiannon Giddens.

Gaddy, K. R., author.

Moonrise over New Jessup : a novel / by Jamila Minnicks.

Minnicks, Jamila, 1977- author.

Cover art for Driving the Green Book : a road trip through the living history of Black resistance / Alvin Hall

Driving the Green Book : a road trip through the living history of Black resistance / Alvin Hall, with Karl Weber.

Hall, Alvin D., author.

Cover art for Benjamin Banneker and us : eleven generations of an American family / Rachel Jamison Webster

Benjamin Banneker and us : eleven generations of an American family / Rachel Jamison Webster, with Edith Lee Harris, Robert Lett, Gwen Marable, and Edwin Lee.

Webster, Rachel J., author.

Black TV : five decades of groundbreaking television from Soul train to Black-ish and beyond / Bethonie Butler.

Butler, Bethonie, author.

One of our kind : a novel / Nicola Yoon.

Yoon, Nicola, author.

A passionate mind in relentless pursuit : the vision of Mary McLeod Bethune / Noliwe Rooks.

Rooks, Noliwe, 1963- author.

A bird in the air means we can still breathe / Mahogany L. Browne.

Browne, Mahogany L., author.

This thing of ours / Frederick Joseph.

Joseph, Frederick (Activist), author.

It’s you every time / Charlene Thomas.

Thomas, Charlene (Charlene Verdelle), author.

That’s how they get you : an unruly anthology of Black American humor / edited by Damon Young.

The great misfortune of Stella Sedgwick / S. Isabelle.

Isabelle, S., author.

The princess and the P.I. / Nikki Payne.

Payne, Nikki, 1982- author.

The leaving room / Amber McBride.

McBride, Amber, author.

King of the neuro verse / Idris Goodwin.

Goodwin, Idris, author.

Without fear : Black women and the making of human rights / Keisha N. Blain.

Blain, Keisha N., 1985- author.

Heartsick / Kristina Forest.

Forest, Kristina, author.

African American Read-In – Childrens

Zora Neale Hurston : Southern storyteller / Della A. Yannuzzi.

Yannuzzi, Della A.

Frederick’s journey : the life of Frederick Douglass / by Doreen Rappaport illustrated by London Ladd.

Rappaport, Doreen, author.

Cover art for Someday is now : Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City sit-ins / written by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich illustrated by Jade Johnson.

Someday is now : Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City sit-ins / written by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich illustrated by Jade Johnson.

Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola, author.

If you were a kid during the civil rights movement / by Gwendolyn Hooks illustrated by Kelly Kennedy.

Hooks, Gwendolyn, author.

Cover art for Lift every voice and sing : a celebration of the African American national anthem / James Weldon Johnson illustrated by Elizabeth Catlett foreword by Ashley Bryan music by J. Rosamond Johnson.

Lift every voice and sing : a celebration of the African American national anthem / James Weldon Johnson illustrated by Elizabeth Catlett foreword by Ashley Bryan music by J. Rosamond Johnson.

Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938, author.

My life as an ice cream sandwich / by Ibi Zoboi illustrations by Anthony Piper.

Zoboi, Ibi Aanu, author.

Clean getaway / Nic Stone [illustrations by Dawud Anyabwile].

Stone, Nic, author.

All because you matter / written by Tami Charles illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Bryan Collier.

Charles, Tami, author.

Cover art for Legacy : women poets of the Harlem Renaissance / Nikki Grimes artwork by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Legacy : women poets of the Harlem Renaissance / Nikki Grimes artwork by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, [and 18 others].

Grimes, Nikki, author.

Born on the water / by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson illustrated by Nikkolas Smith.

Hannah-Jones, Nikole, author.

Leon the Extraordinary / Jamar Nicholas with color by Bonaia Rosado.

Nicholas, Jamar, author, illustrator.

Me and the family tree [BOARD BOOK] / Carole Boston Weatherford pictures by Ashleigh Corrin.

Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.

Justice rising : 12 amazing Black women in the Civil Rights Movement / written by Katheryn Russell-Brown illustrated by Kim Holt.

Russell-Brown, Katheryn, 1961- author.

Curlfriends: New in town / Sharee Miller coloring by Luke Healy.

Miller, Sharee (Illustrator), author, illustrator.

How sweet the sound / Kwame Alexander art by Charly Palmer.

Alexander, Kwame, author.

Space chasers / written by Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna art by Alison Acton.

Melvin, Leland, 1964- author.

Freedom celebration : a Juneteenth party / by Angela Dalton art by Keisha Morris.

Dalton, Angela, author.

We dig fossils / by Alliah L. Agostini illustrated by Joelle Murray.

Agostini, Alliah L., author.

Dancing with water / written by Gwendolyn Wallace illustrated by Tonya Engel.

Wallace, Gwendolyn, author.

Jordan’s perfect haircut / by Sharee Miller.

Miller, Sharee (Illustrator), author, illustrator.

A change is gonna come / words and music by Sam Cooke art by Nikkolas Smith.

Cooke, Sam, author.

The incredibly human Henson Blayze / Derrick Barnes.

Barnes, Derrick, author.

This is not a small voice : poems by Black poets / selected by Traci N. Todd illustrated by Jade Orlando.

Coach / Jason Reynolds.

Reynolds, Jason, author.

Carla and the tin can cake party / by Carla Hall illustrations by Cherise Harris.

Hall, Carla, author.

Braided roots / written by Pasha Westbrook illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight.

Westbrook, Pasha, author.

My quiet place / by Monica Mikai.

Mikai, Monica, author, illustrator.

Haircut Day with Dad

Mikai, Monica

Hattie Mae Begins Again

Flake, Sharon G

Small-Girl Zora and the Shower of Stories: A Tall Tale Based on the Life and Work of Zora Neale Hurston

Anatol, Giselle

Get Your Card

Your OCLS library card gets you free access to books, movies, home delivery, online learning resources, sewing studios, makerspaces and much more.

Kids can explore their family roots and earn a Genealogy Explorer Passport with fun activities. Meet local genealogy groups and discover great resources. Perfect for ages 6–12 with a family member present. Teens and adults will also be able to get guidance and talk with experts in the field.

OrisiRisi African Folklore

Share the beauty of African life and culture through a unique folkloric performance filled with drumming, dance and storytelling.

Cholesterol: Knowing What the Numbers Mean

Join Jessica Daly, health literacy coordinator with AdventHealth University, as she discusses cholesterol, the importance of knowing your numbers and what it can mean for your health.

Opera Orlando Presents The Secret River

Let your imagination take hold as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings “herself” reads The Secret River accompanied by music themed around nature, storytelling and resilience.

Storyteller Tales

Build literacy skills with engaging interactive storytimes presented by OCLS’ Professional Storytelling Troupe.

Fiber Arts

Celebrate the season with handmade warmth! December is the perfect time to crochet festive gifts, cozy scarves, cheerful ornaments and snuggly blankets. Whether you’re crafting for loved ones or decorating your home, every stitch adds a touch of magic.

Eatonville Branch Closed on Saturday, January 31

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African American Read-In

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ZORA! Fest

Featured Upcoming Events

Interior Design 101

Plant Clinic

Women in Science Tea Talks

Cuisine Corner: Jamaican Pepper Pot Soup

Book Bouquets

Water Wise Neighbor Program

Acrylic Painting: Love Birds

African American Read-In – Adult & YA

African American Read-In – Childrens

Get Your Card

Family History Fair

OrisiRisi African Folklore

Cholesterol: Knowing What the Numbers Mean

Opera Orlando Presents The Secret River

Storyteller Tales

Fiber Arts

Needs vs. Wants: Character Goals & Motivations

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