history
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The History of Orange County Library System: Proud Past, Bright Future
One hundred years ago, there was no permanent library in Orlando. The only library that existed was a small circulating collection of books owned and loaned by the Sorosis of Orlando Woman’s Club, a philanthropic women’s organization that still supports education and local charities to this day. Recognizing the demand for a real public library…
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Women’s History Month: Knitting Espionage – Grandma’s Knitting a Scarf. Or is She?
Women’s contributions to the great wars of the 20th century stretch beyond keeping happy on the home front, nursing and factory work. Women of all ages knitted to facilitate espionage efforts, both on the home front and the front lines. Knitting is essentially made-up variations on two stitches, knit stitches that resemble the letter V…
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Zora Neale Hurston: The Storyteller and Her Town – Q&A with Author Rae Chesny
Award-winning social expert and author Rae Chesny will be joining us at Eatonville Branch to host a three-day event series called Zora Neale Hurston: The Storyteller and Her Town. Library staff have also partnered with Eatonville Chamber of Commerce and ZORA! Festival as part of the project. This program has been funded by the Community…
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Our History Speaks Volumes: COVID-19
The most important events in Orange County Library System history are often those that dramatically improve or expand library service: November 11, 1921 – Captain Charles Albertson donates his personal library to the city of Orlando. November 8, 1923 – Albertson Public Library, the first public library in Orange County, opens. August 7, 1966 –…
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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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Our History Speaks Volumes: What Happened to What Happened To Forrester?
It’s a dark and stormy night and you’re but days away from finishing your library book. But, what’s this? Something stirs on the check-out receipt you’ve creased into a bookmark: It’s the dreaded due date! You watched helplessly for weeks as the date crept slowly, but inevitably towards you. Callously devouring your renewals until all…
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Our History Speaks Volumes: West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center
On August 8, 2001, West Oaks Branch opened its doors for the very first time. Twenty years later, the branch continues to provide integral library services to the residents of Ocoee and Western Orange County. West Oaks Branch began as one of several library branch locations that opened in the early 2000s, under Orange County…
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Our History Speaks Volumes: Remembering Glenn F. Miller (1937–1996)
On November 1, 1970, Library Director Clara Wendel retired having served 27 years as head of Orange County Library System. She was succeeded by Glenn Miller, who became only the third library director in OCLS’ nearly 50-year history. Originally from Saginaw, Michigan, Miller began his career in library service in 1958, working as a reference…
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The Story of Pride
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City became the unlikely catalyst for the struggle for LGBT+ rights. At that time, there were laws against being homosexual which extended to prohibiting the sale of alcohol to homosexuals and dancing with someone of the…
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Our History Speaks Volumes: Sorosis Women’s Club
In 1893, 10 Orlando women gathered to organize a study and social group. They named their group the Sorosis Club, after the Latin word for sisterhood, and shortly thereafter began meeting regularly at members’ homes to discuss literature and civic matters. With Sorosis growing, regular club events moved to the Knox-Bacon Building, an historically preserved…
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