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  • Drawing of a Victorian-era woman standing on pedestrian walkway of Brooklyn Bridge, facing the towers

    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 Brooklyn’s 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, Brooklyn’s Bridge is…

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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

    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

    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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  • Close up photo of a tennis racket and tennis balls sitting on a tennis court at sunset. Test reads Honoring Roger Pharr. Launch of the Lillian Louise Pharr Author Series

    Honoring Roger Pharr: Launch of the Lillian Louise Pharr Author Series 

    Libraries connect us to a wealth of stories — 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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  • Cast of The Girl From North Country. Group of women standing around a microphone singing.

    Discover Girl From The North Country at Dr. Phillips Center and Bob Dylan’s musical soul in the library stacks

    Even if his distinct voice, folky musical style and frequent harmonica use aren’t your cup of tea, chances are you’ve 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. He’s won ten Grammys,…

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  • From the Director, August 2024

    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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  • National Library Week

    National Library Week: Celebrate Your Library All Year!

    Thank you for coming along with me on this blog journey across Orange County Library System! Today may be the final day of National Library Week, but I hope you will celebrate your library all year long by taking advantage of the amazing events, services and programs offered at our 15 library locations. To wrap…

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  • National Library Week

    National Library Week: OCLS Book Bike

    My name is Kaylie Pasternak, and I will be taking you through this year’s National Library Week at Orange County Library System! National Library Week is a time to bring libraries to light and show support for all they do. Today, I will focus on the outreach that OCLS does, specifically through the new book…

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  • National Library Week

    National Library Week: Meet Kaylie

    My name is Kaylie Pasternak, and I will be taking you through this year’s National Library Week at Orange County Library System! National Library Week is a time to bring libraries to light and show support for all they do. Today, I will give you a glimpse into who I am and what working at…

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