Ocls-blog logo

book recommendations

  • Thriving in the Misinformation Chaos

    Thriving in the Misinformation Chaos

    Misinformation has been with us as long as the written word, but it has become a very hot topic in the last few years. Inaccurate medical information can even be deadly during a global public health crisis. The library profession’s traditional response is to promote information literacy – the ability to find and interpret relevant…

    Read More

  • DIY Film Festival: Author Biopics

    DIY Film Festival: Author Biopics

    Learn about the lives of some of 20th century’s greatest writers with these compelling biopics, available for free from Orange County Library System on DVD and our digital streaming platforms.   American Splendor (DVD) In American Splendor, Paul Giamatti lovingly portrays Harvey Pekar, the real-life vanguard for underground comic book storytelling. The film charts Pekar’s…

    Read More

  • 6LatinxAuthors-01

    6 Latinx Authors to Read During Hispanic Heritage Month

    In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we gathered just a few of the most meaningful books written by Latinx authors we’ve read in our lifetimes. This is an ideal time to pick up a new-to-you book and explore the varied, complex experiences of Latinx authors and the characters they’ve brought to life in these stories.…

    Read More

  • Open Hour with a Librarian

    Open Hour with a Librarian

    In the early days of the pandemic, when the library made the difficult choice to close its doors and offer services remotely, we received a lot of comments on social media from customers who were also struggling with how to navigate life in quarantine. A common theme that came up was wanting to know what…

    Read More

  • Five Great Graphic Novels for Teens and Adults

    Five Great Graphic Novels for Teens and Adults

    There exists an unwanted stigma around graphic novels. They are too dark and gritty, some say. The format of this art style does not match with the serious tone of dark narratives, some say. Graphic novels are just comic books with blood, language, and mature themes, some say. None of these three descriptions fully capture…

    Read More

  • #OCLSReads Books for Summer

    #OCLSReads Books for Summer

    Summer has arrived once again and it’s the best opportunity to catch up on some new and popular books as suggested by three of Orange County Library System’s Collection Development Librarians. Most of the suggested titles are available as e-books, digital audiobooks or through the library’s books-by-mail service (or all three!), so you can enjoy a…

    Read More

  • Self-Care Inspiration-01

    Self-Care Inspiration from the Library

    Some of us intend to implement new, healthier habits while staying home, but there still aren’t enough hours in the day. Others have personally been affected by the pandemic, or the past month has led to feelings of loneliness, anxiety or depression. Whatever your situation, self-care will not make everything perfect, but healthy living tends…

    Read More

  • 10ShortBooks-01

    10 Short Books to Help Boost Your Annual Reading Goal

    We’re nearly through half of 2020 and it’s safe to say the year isn’t turning out how any of us envisioned. We are all working together to try to flatten the curve of a global pandemic. It’s the sort of situation we would prefer to encounter in a thick Stephen King book or on the big…

    Read More

  • Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program 2020 Book List

    Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program 2020 Book List

    On April 23, the Florida Association of Media in Education revealed this year’s titles for the Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program (SSYRA). The SSYRA is a statewide initiative to encourage students to read independently to improve reading fluency. Books picked for the annual lists appeal to a wide audience, have literary value, represent different…

    Read More

  • Tiger King Companion

    Tiger King Companion

    Hey all you cool cats and kittens, it’s Melissa at Orange County Library System. If you are like me, you’ve binged Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness while quarantined. After I finished the documentary, I was left with some questions, such as, If you cover someone in sardine oil, will tigers eat them? I cannot…

    Read More