(Lit)erary
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Book Recommendations: Botanical Horror
Climate change may be scary… but these horror stories are even more daunting! In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd) this month, I’ve compiled a list of botanical horror novels that will surely have you question the power of nature. Don’t Let The Forest In by CG Drews High school student Andrew Perrault finds refuge…
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My Tuesday with Billy
While Florida has housed its fair share of renowned poets over the years, few have reached the heights of mainstream popularity as former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Billy has called Winter Park his home since 2008. From 2008 to 2015, he was the senior distinguished fellow of the Winter Park Institute, which hosts…
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Childrenâs Book Recommendations: Growing Families
Siblings Day is celebrated on April 10. This year, staff member Ethan shares his family’s book recommendations that help parents and children prepare for a new family member. Is your family growing and you want to prepare the little one(s) in your life for the new addition? Do you want to help them navigate these…
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Learning How to Write Poetry for Kids
Does your child want to be a poet, but doesnât know how to do it? These childrenâs book recommendations will help you get their creative juices flowing in no time. Regardless, if they are a beginner or have been writing poetry for a while, these books will both teach them that reading and writing poetry…
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From the Director, April 2025
Connecting Through Culture and Community Being connected to our community and building connections within our community are essential to the strategic plan that Orange County Library System unveiled in October. Since then, weâve worked hard to find engaging and exciting ways to help our community unite with new ideas and experiences â online, in-person and…
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New Release Recommendations: Women’s History Month
Have you ever felt like there are too many books and too little time? Thatâs how I often feel when I look at my ever-growing to-read list. When I talk to people about what itâs like working in Collection Development, I often joke that thatâs the worst part of my job. We are constantly looking…
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Supporting Womenâs Rights â and Wrongs: An “Unhinged Women” Reader
Womenâs History Month sets aside time annually to explore the contributions of women throughout history and celebrate pioneers of womenâs rights, but narratives centering and created by women can always top your TBR list. The ongoing work of feminist thinkers and activists has seen women in media move from the wings to center stage, claiming…
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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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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.
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