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  • From the Director, November 2024

    From the Director, November 2024

    Breaking New Ground on the Future of Orange County Library System Just a couple of weeks ago, we were delighted to have been asked by the City of Orlando to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Southeast Government Center in Lake Nona. That center is going to be the site for the new Lake…

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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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  • From the Director June 2024

    From the Director, June 2024

    You don’t need to spend a ton of money this summer to experience new things and get a taste of adventure – you can stay close to home and immerse yourself in scientific exploration, comedy, art, cultural experiences, music and more. Because this summer, Adventure Begins at Your Library – that’s the theme of our…

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  • From the Director, May 2024

    From the Director, May 2024

    This month, OCLS has some great news to share for those living in the Horizon West community. At our April meeting, the library’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the budget for the Horizon West Branch. That means that we are now officially on the path toward opening our first new branch in nearly a…

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  • From the director with the cover of Books & Beyond

    From the Director, April 2024

    Every April during National Library Week, we try to share with you the value that libraries bring to the community. From books to programs to meeting spaces to experiences, we provide an awful lot of stuff for a wide range of people. But this National Library Week, I want to focus the conversation on you…

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  • From the Director, March 2024

    From the Director, March 2024

    Every year, Orange County Library System holds a Staff Development Day in November, where we bring everyone together to learn, network and get to know their colleagues. A big part of the day is celebrating milestones. We’re lucky to have a lot of staff who’ve made working for the library not just a job, but…

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  • From the Director, February 2024

    From the Director, February 2024

    If you’ve been reading Books & Beyond over the past year, you’ve heard us talk a lot about diversity and inclusion. In the past year, we have placed an emphasis on making sure that everyone knows that they belong at the library. We want to meet people where they are, no matter their stage in…

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  • From the Director Header - December 2023

    From the Director, December 2023

    When we kicked off our 100 Year Celebration on January 7, we promised you that a few good things were on the way: mobile services, programs in the community so people who can’t get to a library can still take advantage of what we have to offer, and a commitment to elevating community conversations with fun and…

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  • From the Director, November 2023

    From the Director, November 2023

    This year, we’ve focused a lot on what our library system can do to be more supportive of our community. We want to be involved and engaged with those doing good things around us.  So, when we learned that Orange County was open to having us participate in the annual Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive, a…

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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.