-
From the Director, January 2025
Your Library Offers Unlimited Value in the New Year Welcome to a new year with your library! January is a time to look ahead and plan for a successful year, and your OCLS library card can help you do just that – often in surprising, money-saving ways. If you’re paying for newspapers, magazines, audiobooks or
-
Q&A with Author Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved authors, and we are honored to welcome him as our next Lillian Louise Pharr Signature Author Series featured author. Sparks’ books, including titles such as The Notebook, A Walk to Remember and Nights in Rodanthe, have sold over 105 million copies in more than 50 languages worldwide. His…
-
From the Director, December 2025
The Best Books You May Have Missed in 2025 December is a great time to relax with a book, and book clubs, blogs, celebrities and newspapers are releasing their Best Books lists for 2025 – a fun way to find your next book. I love discovering new authors and I find as much time as
-
Best Books of 2025: Adult
As chairs of the Adult Book List committee, we are excited to share with you how the committee was formed, how the books were reviewed, and how the list you can now find in the December Books & Beyond newsletter was created. Several librarians from across the whole system met together in person in the
-
Best Books of 2025: Youth
This year marked an exciting first for our library: the creation of our Best Books list for babies, children, and young adults! Two of us had the privilege of leading this new committee, and with a wonderful team of librarians, we set out to find the most remarkable (and often overlooked) books of the year.
-
Shapes & Forms: A Guide to Contemporary Indigenous Literature
The history of Indigenous literature is a lineage that runs deep throughout the American continent. From tales shared through oral traditions to modern poetry and prose, these narratives have often sought to illuminate the lived experiences of contemporary Indigenous reality while covering themes of heritage, nature, community, and preservation. For this Native American History Month,
-
From the Director, November 2025
For many, November is a time to focus on giving and to reflect on gratitude. This season, I’m especially thankful for the staff of Orange County Library System, who dedicate each day to enriching lives through lifelong learning and providing meaningful programs and services to our community both in our branches and across the county
-
Friends of the Library Pumpkin Decorating Contest
The Winners of the 2025 Orange County Library System Pumpkin Decorating Contest are here and ready for Halloween. Earlier this month pumpkins were delivered to OCLS branches and departments for the 2025 Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Orange County Library System. The Friends of the Library help
-
From the Director, October 2025
Connect With Your Community Through Library Events and Programs It’s the start of fall and OCLS is bringing a new season of events, classes and programs to give customers fresh opportunities to learn and connect in the community. From cooking demonstrations to book clubs, technology classes to health and wellness programs, we offer Orange County
-
OCLS Honored at Good Stuff Awards by Horizon West Magazine
On Thursday, September 25, Orange County Library System was one of several businesses honored at Horizon West Magazine’s “Good Stuff Awards,” held at picturesque Southern Hill Farms. OCLS was recognized in two categories: as the winner in Destination for Fun for library pop-up events at the Waterleigh Clubhouse and honoree in Nearby Gem for our
About
From book recommendations to pop culture discussions, the Orange County Library System wants you to join the conversation with library staff about the world around us.
Featured Blog Posts
Tags
100 year celebration activities adult fiction art author author interview authors black history month book recommendations books children children's books crafts cuisine corner digital digital media DIY family film recommendations Freegal friends of the library from the director history home delivery international year of peace and trust interview library library card library staff local wanderer melrose center mobile movies music music national library week our history speaks volumes OverDrive preschool reading Romance Wine & Chocolate summer reading program womens history month YA books YA literature
