(Lit)erary
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From the Director, March 2025
Womenâs History is Our History March is Womenâs History Month and what better place than your library to discover and celebrate the stories of great women all month long. This yearâs theme is âMoving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.â OCLS is a treasury of resources â if you want to chat about a…
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The Best Time to Read Black Literature
So many little things have become intrinsic to me as a person through reading. There are lines that I quote daily. There are passages I tear up just thinking about. There are words that have become essential to my vocabulary. I can barely begin to express in words how much reading has changed my life.…
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Book Recommendation: “Aphrodite and the Duke” by JJ McAvoy
I judge books by their cover. I know it is not what people should do, but when you have worked at as many bookstores and libraries as I have you start to know what will capture your attention. That is how I discovered Aphrodite and the Duke by JJ McAvoy. When I saw Aphrodite and…
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Brooklyn’s Bridge: a Victorian Woman in a Man’s World
Featuring all Orlando talent for 17-performance show run in February 2025 Join us for the world premiere of Brooklynâs Bridge, a new musical. Following a workshop performance at Illinois State University in October 2019, a development production at Montclair State University in July 2021 and concert performances at Dr. Phillips Center in January 2024,âŻBrooklynâs BridgeâŻis…
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Black Librarianship is Black History
This year, as we focus on the theme of African Americans and Labor set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the Founders of Black History Month, we reflect on how African Americans contributed to vocations across the workforce. Whether through agriculture or service-led industries, education or entrepreneurship, Black…
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From the Director, February 2025
Welcome to Your Library Be Welcoming is an important pillar of our strategic plan. A big part of being welcoming is making sure our facilities, programs and services are accessible to every member of our community. This month in Books & Beyond, you will see changes to text color and size in our event listings…
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From the Director, January 2025
Be Connected to Your Library in 2025 Welcome to a new year at Orange County Library System. Whether you are new to our system or a long-time library user, discover fresh ways to connect with us through opportunities and experiences at our 15 locations. Writers, let us help you make 2025 the year you finish…
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Honoring Roger Pharr: Launch of the Lillian Louise Pharr Author SeriesÂ
Libraries connect us to a wealth of stories â both on the shelves and in the lives of the people who support them. One of those stories is that of tennis great and Orlando native, Roger Pharr, an avid library user with deep roots in the community.  A lifelong Orlando resident, Pharr was born in…
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Discover Girl From The North Country at Dr. Phillips Center and Bob Dylanâs musical soul in the library stacks
Even if his distinct voice, folky musical style and frequent harmonica use arenât your cup of tea, chances are youâve heard of Bob Dylan. A talented singer-songwriter whose soulful, philosophical lyrics have been the voice of Americana counterculture for decades, Dylan is the recipient of almost every award for music imaginable. Heâs won ten Grammys,…
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From the Director, August 2024
Summer has been a busy and exciting time at Orange County Library System and I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy some of the Summer At Your Library programming offered in branches, at pop-up events around the county and virtually. Nearly 5,000 kids and adults participated in our summer reading challenge, building literacy skills…
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