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(Lit)erary

  • The book "Once Upon a Time in Florida" on top of a bronze statue of a man sitting on an alligator, located in Heritage Square in front of the Orange County Regional History Center.

    Once Upon a Time in Florida: Capturing Our State’s Rich History on the Page

    This post is brought to you by our community partners at the Orange County Regional History Center. “Generation after generation, Florida has been a collection of cultures, thoughts, and ambitions brought by people from around the world,” writes the executive director of Florida Humanities, Nashid Madyun, in the foreword to a new book, Once Upon…

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  • Design rendering of the future Horizon West branch.

    Looking Ahead to Our Bright Future

    You’ve heard us say it all year long: At OCLS, we’re proud of what we accomplished in the past, and we’re looking forward to a bright future for our library system. Over the past year, we’ve focused on sharing our story and showing you how the past 100 years have shaped us. As we wind…

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  • The History of Orange County Library System: The Storytelling Troupe

    The History of Orange County Library System: The Storytelling Troupe

    Storytelling is an ancient art form that has been around since the beginning of time. Storytellers have always been important in their communities. They are the people who teach life lessons and hold all the stories about their people’s history and culture. Since the inception of public libraries, storytelling has been a crucial offering to…

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  • 5 Cookbooks Chef Mira Can't Live Without!

    5 Cookbooks Chef Mira Can’t Live Without!

    Perfect for aspiring or advanced cooks, Chef Yamira Lee Johnson’s top 5 cookbooks she can’t live without are inspiring, helpful reads for the kitchen. With each recommendation, we journey through Chef Yamira’s culinary career with roots planted in Puerto Rican cooking to her current passion for adapting old favorites into healthy, plant-based recipes. Books Mentioned:…

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  • Cinco Componentes de Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer: El Juego

    Cinco Componentes de Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer: El Juego

    ECRR es una iniciativa cuyo objetivo es brindarle a los cuidadores y padres los recursos necesarios para el desarrollo literario de su hijo. Como padre o cuidador, usted es el mejor maestro, y la iniciativa de “Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer” (ECRR por sus siglas en inglés) provee las herramientas y recursos para ayudar a…

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  • Five Components of Every Child Ready to Read: Playing

    Five Components of Every Child Ready to Read: Playing

    Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) is an initiative created to provide caregivers and families with resources to support their child’s early literacy development. As a parent or caregiver, you are your child’s first and best teacher and the ECRR initiative provides tools and resources to help your child enter school with the skills they need. It…

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  • From the Interim Director June 2022

    From the Interim Director, June 2022

    One of the most important relationships Orange County Library System has is with Orange County Public Schools. We strive to ensure that every school in the county has a library staff liaison who provides them with information about library events and services, and we collaborate with OCPS on a variety of initiatives, like virtual field…

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  • Q&A with Kelly J. Baptist

    Q&A with Kelly J. Baptist

    Kelly J. Baptist is the author of several works for young readers. Her published works include the middle-grade novels The Swag is in the Socks, Eb & Flow and the Isaiah Dunn series. She won the 2015 We Need Diverse Books short story contest with her story, The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.…

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  • The History of Orange County Library System: Friends of the Library Bookmobile

    The History of Orange County Library System: Friends of the Library Bookmobile

    In 1949, the Albertson Public Library board received a proposal for a bookmobile that would reach residents in outlying areas of the county. Believing that no other service would be a greater benefit to the community, Sorosis of Orlando Woman’s Club raised $6,000 to purchase a school bus and convert it into a mobile library…

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  • Switch to Libby

    Attention, OverDrive Users: It’s Time to Upgrade to Libby

    On May 1, 2023, the OverDrive app for iOS, Android, and Windows 8/10 will be discontinued. OverDrive users are encouraged to upgrade to the newer Libby app to browse, check out, and enjoy Orange County Library’s eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazine collection. It’s time to give Libby a try! All your loans, holds, and wish…

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North Orange Branch Closure

North Orange Branch is closed for repair, with an undetermined reopening date. Learn more about the branch closure >