from the director
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From the Director, March 2023
As part of our 100 Year Celebration, we plan to share stories about the history of Orange County Library System in each issue of Books & Beyond. We’ll focus on one decade at a time, and this month, we take a look at the 1930s – a particularly difficult time for everyone, including the library.…
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From the Director, February 2023
On January 7, we kicked off Orange County Library System’s 100 Year Celebration at Orlando Public Library with a host of special guests. We were lucky enough to have Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, State Rep. Anna Eskamani and County Commissioner Nicole Wilson join us…
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From the Director, January 2023
In 1923, the city of Orlando was less than 100 years old. Founded in the 1840s as a town called Jernigan, the city had nearly doubled in size by the 1920s, and a building boom was underway. The Angebilt Hotel, which is still located on Orange Avenue, opened to the public in 1923. The Orlando…
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From the Interim Director, May 2022
It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time for registration to open for the library’s annual Summer Reading Program. This year’s program theme is Oceans of Possibilities, and we’re inviting everyone in the community to take a deep dive into what the library has to offer for kids and adults this summer. The Summer Reading…
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From the Director, January 2022
For almost two years now, we have been telling you about all of the ways you can take advantage of your library at home. From home delivery to live online classes to virtual events, we’ve been proud of the many ways we have been able to bring the library to you during this pandemic. But…
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From the Director, December 2021
Our Local Wanderer program launched with a simple premise: Arts and culture are vital to the health and well-being of a thriving community, and everyone should have access to them. We wanted to ensure that not only were our library cardholders aware of the wealth of enriching experiences available to them here in Central Florida, but that people have…
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From the Director, November 2021
It was this month 100 years ago that the first seeds of Orange County Library System were planted. A retired police inspector from Waverly, New York named Captain Charles Albertson, who spent his winters in Orlando, recognized that the city lacked a proper public library. Over the years, he had amassed a collection of 12,000…
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From the Director, October 2021
When this pandemic first started, I remember having conversations about how we could best serve customers, even though we couldn’t invite them to gather in our buildings for storytimes, author talks and computer classes. Our team hustled to find the right tools to convert everything we do to a virtual format, and I must say, I…
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From the Director, September 2021
In our August issue, you may have noticed that we announced a gradual return to in-person events starting in September. That announcement was made before the rapid rise in coronavirus cases in Florida. Out of caution and concern for the safety of our customers and staff, the decision has been made to postpone those in-person…
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From the Director, August 2021
Nothing goes hand-in-hand better than schools and libraries – two institutions dedicated to learning, growth and development. That’s why, every August, we like to feature back-to-school events designed to help parents and kids prepare for the return to the classroom. We’ll have a back-to-school virtual celebration on August 5, with storytimes, crafts and activities to…
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