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  • From the Director May 2023

    From the Director, May 2023

    When I look back at what things were like at the library in the 1950s, I see some similarities to the library of today – Orange County was growing, and the community needed more libraries to adequately serve its needs. In fact, the Annual Report for 1952–1953 was titled: To a Growing Community, From its…

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  • DIY Film Festival: National Poetry Month

    DIY Film Festival: National Poetry Month

    Celebrate Poetry Month with films from our digital section.Or request them through free home delivery, There’s quite a large selection.Either way works For they’re just some of the perks Of Orange County Library System’s movie collection.   Howl (Available on Kanopy, Hoopla & DVD)Allen Ginsberg was an angel-headed hipsterNot to mention, a 1950s poetic tricksterBut no one is laughingThanks to…

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  • Great Movie Soundtracks of the Last 15 Years

    Great Movie Soundtracks of the Last 15 Years

    A great score can elevate a whole movie to heavenly heights if given to the audience at the right moments. Soundtracks, on the other hand, impress moviegoers with recognizable music, or unrecognized music that everyone really ought to recognize. From classical compositions to eclectic swirls of different genres and styles, music is just as important…

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  • 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…

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  • Stay Fit While Staying at Home

    Stay Fit While Staying at Home

    Keeping myself active and motivated has been difficult over the last few weeks. Even with the “home gym” my husband and I created, I still hit a rut when it comes to exercise. Luckily for me, I have found new inspiration through the wonderful world of the internet. Below are some of my new discoveries…

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  • Great A24 Films on Kanopy

    Great A24 Films on Kanopy

    Few independent studios have been as prolific and interesting as A24, a studio responsible for recent films such as The Lighthouse (2019), Midsommar (2019) and The Farewell (2019). In addition to their rising prestige in the independent film scene, A24 has created some fantastic movies. Thankfully, most of them are available on Kanopy, a streaming service…

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  • Five Tips to Help Maximize the Number of Books You Read

    Five Tips to Help Maximize the Number of Books You Read

    Reading. The most enriching activity an individual can perform – if you do not include cooking or frolicking through a field of freshly grown sunflowers. As a bibliophile, I find that my mind is constantly overcome with thoughts about how I can read more, despite my best attempts to focus on how to flip an…

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  • Concerts in Quarantine with Stingray Qello

    Concerts in Quarantine with Stingray Qello

    If you’re anything like me, you’ve been missing live music during the stay at home order. Seeing talented musicians perform their craft uncut and imperfect with the energy of the crowd all around you is a feeling like nothing else. While we can’t check out our favorite local and touring bands for the foreseeable future,…

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  • A True Crime Aficionado’s Guide to At-Home Entertainment

    A True Crime Aficionado’s Guide to At-Home Entertainment

    True crime became my favorite genre of media after I read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood in the 8th grade. Initially, my gnawing need to consume true crime stemmed from the desire to learn everything I could to avoid being kidnapped and brutally murdered. However, over the years, I became more enraptured by understanding the…

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  • Free Online Resources from Educational Technology Companies and Your Public Library

    Free Online Resources from Educational Technology Companies and Your Public Library

    In response to unprecedented school closures and the need for learning from home, School Library Journal published a list of resources that are currently available to students, educators, and parents during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can find these resources listed below in blue. Orange County Library System also makes available databases, listed in orange, that are free and…

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Thanksgiving Closure

Orange County Library System will be closed starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 and remain closed through Friday, November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving. The library system will resume normal business hours on Saturday, November 30. Learn more about library closures >

Upcoming Southwest Branch Closure

Southwest Branch will be closed Monday, December 2 through Thursday, December 5 for replacement of the HVAC system. The book drop will remain open. We plan to reopen for normal business hours on Friday, December 6.